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Leaving Aberdeen Harbour
502 A Leith registered fifie leaving Aberdeen Harbour. The white building seen behind the sails is the Round House, the Harbour Master's office, on the New Quay at Fittie.
The fifie was a fast wind-powered sailing boat favoured for herring fishing on much of Scotland's east coast from the 1850s until well into the 20th century. Its main features were the vertical stem (front) and stern (back) and the wide beam (width) making them stable in the water.
Fifies had two masts, a main dipping lugsail and a mizzen sail. Fifie's were increasingly decked following the recommendations of Captain Washington's 1849 report into the Moray Firth fishing disaster.
See SCRAN's webpage on Scottish sail powered fishing boats for more information on the subject.
The Tidal Harbour is in the background, beyond the landing stage of Pocra Quay's Lower Basin. Waterloo Station
641 This photograph shows the corner at the end of Regent Quay in the late 19th century. The building in the centre of the image, with pediment, is the offices of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company and to its left is the entrance to the Waterloo Railway Station.
The railway station was opened by the company on 1st April 1856. It was built to supersede an existing station at Kittybrewster. Waterloo was once the station for all railway passengers and goods going between the city and the north.
Trains coming and going from the south stopped at a nearby, but unconnected station on Guild Street. It had opened two years earlier in 1854 and was operated by rival railway company, the Scottish North-Eastern. Passengers with connecting trains would need to dash along Trinity and Regent Quay or wait for a bus. Connections were not guaranteed.
It took Parliament to settle the differences between the companies. This saw the construction of the Joint Station, opened in November 1867, and the creation of the Denburn Valley Railway. Both Waterloo and Guild Street subsequently became stations for the transport of goods only.
The buildings shown in this photograph were altered and eventually demolished in the 20th century. Remnants of the station can still be seen today in a small yard and the railway line following the old canal path and joining the main tracks heading north at Kittybrewster.
On the right of this image can also be seen an building, likely a goods shed, of the Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Steam Company. This passenger ship service was founded in 1865 and had offices at 43 Marischal Street.
The building to the left of Waterloo Station, far left here, was the site of an establishment called Berry's Hotel and served as various pubs until the late 1960s. It looks like it was closed or being refurbished at the time of this photograph.
To the left of this image would be Commerce Street and Regent Quay. Waterloo Quay would begin to its right. A School of Dolphins: Brewster at Tillydrone Library
2173 A class designed dolphins and then held a vote to see which design was the best. The winning design consists of the Scottish Saltire Flag because this year is really important for Scotland - the Commonwealth Games, the Independence Referendum to name a few. It also includes the Kittybrewster school emblem. Treasure 33: The Pedigree of the Cruickshanks of Stracathro
2321 Among the Local Studies collection of family trees is a chart from 1847 entitled Pedigree of the Cruickshanks of Stracathro. The title initially referred to the Cruickshanks of Langley Park but this has been scored out and replaced with Stracathro. A pedigree is a form of genealogical table. Collections of pedigrees were first made in the 15th century and, according to The Oxford Companion, were "a matter of aristocratic pride and of practical necessity for legal purposes". The term pedigree comes from the French 'pied de grue', meaning crane's foot, due to the resemblance of the genealogical lines to the thin legs and feet of the bird.
The pedigree of the Cruickshanks was compiled by E. G. G. Cruickshank, who features in the 10th generation detailed on the table.
The pedigree begins with the earliest ancestor at the top of the document with lines dropping down to succeeding generations. Each generation is given a Roman numeral and individuals within each generation are assigned Arabic numbers. The pedigree begins with "John Cruickshank first in Strathspey m. Mary Cumming of Elgin" and extends down to an incomplete 12th generation. The individuals in the 11th generation were mostly born in the 1870s.
The information listed on a family tree is dependent on the sources available and the purpose for which it was created. The information given on the Cruickshank's pedigree varies but typically includes an individual's date of birth, marriage details and date of death. Additional information is also supplied as is the case with the 7th generation of Cruickshanks - Margaret Helen is described as the daughter of Rev. Gerard of Aberdeen, author of a book whose title is unreadable, and sister to a Colonel Gerald. Details of army service are supplied for some individuals and many of the Cruickshanks were involved in the administration of India or served in the army there.
The tiny handwriting, use of abbreviations and sparse punctuation makes the document challenging to read so familiarity with the subject matter and names of places is useful. A later interpreter of the document has made a number of annotations in pencil. For example, one of the later additions points to an individual and reads "Is this W. Robertson of Auchinroath? Yes!"
In addition to a listing of descendants the pedigree is annotated with a number of original notes and a description of a coat of arms. The latin motto of Cavendo tutus translates as 'Safe through caution'. One note, quoting "an old paper", describes from where the family came prior to being in Strathspey. A note on the other side of the chart states that "distinguished Officer and Author the late Colonel Stewart of Garth" links the family to the Royal Family of Stewart and suggests the name of Cruickshank derives from "some deformity in the first cadet of the house."
Attached to the document is a letter dated 23 October 1927 from a Jim Bulloch to City Librarian G. M. Fraser. Bulloch explains that he got the pedigree from a Mr. Mackintosh of Elgin, thinks it is quite rare and that the library might like it for its collection. It has stayed in the Local Studies collection to this day.
The Gazetteer for Scotland website states that in 1775 Patrick Cruickshank, listed at No. 11 of the 7th generation, bought the estate of Stracathro in Angus. The property was subsequently inherited by his brother Alexander Cruickshank (1764 - 1846). Alexander hired the Aberdeen architect Archibald Simpson to build Stracathro House between 1824 and 1827. The Palladian Scottish country house still exists today.
University College London's Legacies of British Slave-ownership website indicates that Patrick and Alexander, and two other Cruickshank brothers, owned plantations on the Caribbean island of St Vincent that used slave labour. See Alexander Cruickshank's entry in the database here: 'Alexander Cruikshank of Stracathro', Legacies of British Slave-ownership database, http://wwwdepts-live.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/8590 [accessed 9th June 2020]. In 1833 when Britain abolished the ownership of slaves the government granted £20 million in compensation to former slave-owners. Alexander Cruickshank made three claims for compensation, two of which were successful.
In 1874, Stracathro House and estate were sold to Sir James Bannerman, Lord Provost of Glasgow, and father of Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. The country house was later used as a World War II hospital and owned by Tay Health Board before being sold to private owners in 2003. Treasure 34: A Selection of Original Scots Songs in Three Parts
2322 Although the union of the Parliaments between Scotland and England had taken place almost a hundred years before, as the 18th century was drawing to a close there was still much fascination regarding the differing cultures. In time, Victorian society would give this fascination a renewed vigour, helped by Queen Victoria's passion for Scotland - including the establishment of Balmoral Castle as her residence North of the border. Before that time though, in the late 1790s, books were produced offering English readers an insight into their neighbours' traditions.
One such book was entitled 'A selection of original Scots songs' edited by Franz Haydn and published between 1790 and 1794. The book is designed to introduce the reader to the music and lyrics of traditional songs in Scotland. Haydn's book reproduced the songs along with corresponding music, and also offered a glossary to help with the more obscure language.
Burns' song 'My Heart's In The Highlands' - more popularly regarded today as a poem - makes an appearance in the selected works by Franz Haydn. With the collected works produced between 1790 - 1794, this was at a time when Burns began to suffer from the illnesses which would eventually end his life just a couple of years later.
Robert Burns
Celebrated across Scotland every year, Robert Burns Day takes place on 25 January and is an opportunity to remember Scotland's Bard and his work. Known the world over as the National Poet of Scotland, Robert Burns (1759 - 1796) was born in Alloway, Ayrshire. Burns' early life was one of balance; he toiled on his family's farm by day, and was taught reading and writing by candlelight at night. He conversed in Scots, while learning passages from English texts to further his studies. Although regarded by history largely as a poet, Burns also composed many songs - perhaps his most famous work 'Auld Lang Syne' being one of the few traditionally remembered in song form. One of our treasures this month celebrates Robert Burns' work and that of many other traditional Scottish musicians. Aberdeen Grammar School
2383 The Grammar School premises shown in this image were opened in 1863. After 1882 they were added to at various times.
The bronze statue of Byron that stands outside the school, and is visible in this photo, was by Pittendrigh Macgillivray and was unveiled in 1923. The rector at the time of this photo, Sir James J. Robertson, was then the only headmaster of a Scottish school to be knighted while still in office. He received the honour in July 1956.
This image comes from the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Stephen's, Christmas card of 1956. Burnieboozle House
2603 A photograph of Burnieboozle House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
This was a country house located to the north west of Craigiebuckler House, at the end of what is now Burnieboozle Crescent. The house could be accessed by a road going south from Burnieboozle Farm on Hazledene Road.
Judging by Ordnance Survey mapping, the building looks to have been demolished as the area was developed for housing in the late 1950s. The house's location is now a children's play area in the centre of a modern housing development.
There is an excellent plan by surveyor James J. Beattie of the lands and house of Burnieboozle in 1848 available on the National Library of Scotland website here. It features a detailed illustration of the house's exterior, showing an extended conservatory and gabled entrance, a floorplan of its two floors and a map of the estate's land. The Silver Fin Building
2661 The illuminated office block of the Silver Fin Building towering over Union Street, as seen at night from Rose Street.
The Silver Fin Building was completed in 2017. The building was the work of property agents, FG Burnett and CBRE, acting on behalf of the developer Titan Investors.
The 132,000 sq. ft. development had an estimated starting budget of £65 million. In 2015 the construction contract was awarded to the Sir Robert McAlpine company.
In addition to the tower block, the development includes a new Scottish granite façade on Union Street. Preparatory demolition at the location started in late 2014. It was previously the site of the Bell's Lounge pub.
The building is 13 storeys high, with four car parking floors and nine occupied floors. It sits just to the east of the near contemporaneous Capitol office development.
Privately owned serviced office provider, Orega, let approximately 20% of the building around the time of completion.
The building's name comes from the vertical aluminium fins which form part of its cladding and were designed to catch the light. Town House Extension Foundation Stone
2757 The foundation stone of the Aberdeen Town House extension on Broad Street.
As stated on the stone, it was laid by Lord Provost Robert S. Lennox on 17th November 1975.
The city architects responsible for the extension were I. A. Ferguson and T. C. Watson. It was built by Taylor Woodrow Construction (Scotland) Ltd.
The stone also makes reference to a casket buried five metres below the foundations to commemorate the dissolution of the Corporation of the City of Aberdeen as part of local government reform.
The casket ceremony was held on 15th May 1975 shortly after the last meeting of the Aberdeen Town Council which was being replaced by the City of Aberdeen District Council.
The casket ceremony was the final act of John Smith as lord provost. The official switch over of councils was marked by the "Bon-Accord" bell of the West Church of St Nicholas tolling from 11:50pm to midnight on 15th May. Earlier in the day saw a fireworks display at the Queens Links, pipe bands and a special lunch and church service for members and officials of the corporation. See local newspaper coverage from the time for more details on the occasion.
Around 80 people, including councillors, family and Taylor Woodrow employees watched Lord Provost John Smith place 29 items of interest into the copper clad box. Smith joked, "About the year 3048, an unsuspecting archaeological digger may come upon this box and he will no doubt remark on my genius."
Among the buried items were copies of the Press & Journal and the Evening Express, local books, records and cassettes of Scottish music, local government data, sets of coins of the realm and postage stamps, local stones, a phial of North Sea oil and plans for the Town House extension.
The casket was placed on a crane hook by Aberdeen Town House project manager Tom Nisbet and guided into the ground by foreman Andrew Benzies.
The ceremony was reported in local newspapers and the July 1975 issue of the construction company's magazine, Taywood News. ROBERT GORDON'S REMUNERATIVE RELATIONS WITH DANZIG
2874 In 17th century Poland, business was at its peak. At the time the country had the same population as Russia. The port town of Danzig - now known as Gdansk - was a worldwide trading centre to which many people migrated in order to make their riches.
It may be a shock to you, but in 1570 the number of Scottish immigrants in Poland was estimated to be 30,000. This is an immense number of immigrants when compared to the relatively small population of Scotland in the 16th century. One of these migrants was Robert Gordon (1668-1731), later to be the founder of Gordon's Hospital; which is now known as Robert Gordon's College and the Robert Gordon University.
Robert Gordon was a merchant trader during his time in Poland and he was successful from early on in his career. With a fortune of £10,000 amassed in Poland he invested in the rebuilding of Marischal College, lent money to estate owners and funded Robert Gordon's School for Boys.
In his Founder's Day oration of 1935, former Gordonian, Sir Alexander Roger, described presenting to the Polish government a photograph of the letter Robert Gordon wrote in 1700 from Warsaw to the people of Aberdeen, describing his plans to set-up up his hospital, and the reaction from the recipients:
"My Polish audience were more than ordinarily interested to learn what the writer of that letter, with a fortune strenuously acquired from Poland two hundred years ago, had been enabled to found a college in Scotland which today offered inestimable benefit balanced and liberal education to a thousands boys." Aberdeen Press and Journal, 27th April 1935
The image to the left is a reproduction of a painted portrait of Robert Gordon taken from The History of Robert Gordon's Hospital Aberdeen 1729 - 1881 (1896) by Robert Anderson. CONCLUSION
2880 Sadly, my report ends here. It has been a great pleasure researching the relationship between two countries with which I strongly identify. I was born in Poland and moved to Scotland when I was 6 months old along with my family. I can relate to both parts and consider myself a citizen of both countries. I hope you have enjoyed reading this report and are encouraged to research into your own family ancestry. Maybe you'll find some Polish heritage. Who knows? But most of all I hope you have become more knowledgeable on the matter, possibly making our community more aware of racism and prejudice and helping to tackle these very important issues in Aberdeen.
Sources and References
'Scots in Poland, Poles in Scotland' from The Krakow Post
link
Aberdeen Press and Journal, Saturday 27th April 1935
Aberdeen Press and Journal, Friday 13th September 1931
Wikipedia entry for Alexander Czamer
link
'Scotland and Poland' from #ScotlandIsNow
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'Polish "most targeted group" in prejudice in Aberdeen' from BBC News
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'Alexander Chalmers, Scottish Mayor of Warsaw' by Ross 'Teddy' Craig
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'History of Gordon's' from Robert Gordon's College website
link
'Scots Diaspora' by Andrew Elliott
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'Did you know?' from Mapa Scotland: the Great Polish Map of Scotland
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'Papers Relating to the Scots in Poland (1576-1798)' from Electric Scotland
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Jeannie Henry Bodie a.k.a. Princess Rubie
2997 In 1890 the magician Walford Bodie married Jeannie Henry (1869-1931), eldest daughter of David Henry (1839-1903), a road surveyor from Macduff, and Margaret Skene Henry (1843-1912). Jeannie performed with Walford as an illusionist and mind-reader called Princess Rubie until her retirement in 1930.
Jeannie was one of as many of eight daughters and four of them went on to play important parts in the Bodie show. One of her sisters was Annie "Nan" Henry (1880-1970) and this image comes from an album of hers we hold at Aberdeen City Libraries. Union Terrace Gardens
3115 A busy scene in Union Terrace Gardens. In the foreground a child rides a coin-operated, motorised toy car, while others practice with marching batons. A large number of people sit on the benches on what looks like an overcast day. Many have bags suggesting they may have been shopping.
In addition to the prominent city coat of arms, floral displays marking the centenary of local newspaper, the Evening Express, and the Scottish Salvation Army are visible. Beyond the gardens, the marque of His Majesty's Theatre advertises the musical Cole starring Una MacLean. The centenaries and musical indicate the image likely dates from August 1979.
This photograph comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Union Terrace Gardens
3116 People gathered in Union Terrace Gardens to play draughts and enjoy the evening. This image likely dates from the 1970s.
This photograph comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Aberdeen Airport
4188 A photograph showing passengers disembarking a British Airways plane on arrival at Aberdeen Airport. The passengers, dressed in business attire, are walking down Scottish Airports branded movable stairways that are marked "Aberdeen". This photograph likely dates from the late 1970s or early 80s.
This image comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Aberdeen Beach
4194 A photograph showing people enjoying Aberdeen Beach on a sunny day. A group of mostly adults are sat in deckchairs in the foreground while children play by the water behind.
This image likely dates from the 1970s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Aberdeen Beach
4196 A photograph showing an older couple towards the sands of Aberdeen Beach on a sunny day. In the distance figures are shown enjoying the seaside.
The enclosed play area, with shelter, was located on the sands between where the Beach Boulevard meets the Esplanade and the Beach Ballroom.
This image likely dates from the 1970s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Aberdeen Beach
4202 A photograph showing people enjoying Aberdeen Beach on a sunny day. The image shows the stretch of promenade and beach between the Beach Boulevard junction and the Beach Ballroom.
An enclosed play area with shelter can be seen in the middle distance. Closer to the foreground are changing huts. On the side of the latter is a blackboard displaying high and low water temperatures.
This image likely dates from the 1970s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Pitmedden Garden
4207 A photograph showing three boys admiring the fountain at Pitmedden Garden.
Pitmedden Garden is a Natural Trust for Scotland property. Their website describes it as a "re-created Scottish Renaissance walled garden with vibrant floral designs and Museum of Farming Life."
Concerning its history, the website states "the Great Garden dates back to 1675 when it was originally laid out by Sir Alexander Seton." [...] "In the 1950s Pitmedden was gifted to the Trust who re-created the garden based on 17th-century plans after it was ploughed up to grow vegetables during the Second World War and used as a kitchen garden for over 100 years."
This fountain is detailed in an entry on Historic Environment Scotland's CANMORE website (CANMORE ID: 338622). Quoting a guide pamphlet by Dr James Richardson, designer of the garden restoration, it states "In the re-creation of the Great Garden of Pitmedden, the National Trust for Scotland not only has established once again the site of the original fountain but it has erected a further fountain as a focal point in the centre of the Great garden. The sculptured stones that compose this second fountain have an interesting history as seven of them formed, at one time, part of the Cross Fountain of Linlithgow designed and executed by Robert Milne, King's Master Mason, to commemorate King Charles II's Restoration. These detached fragments were given by the Ministry of Works. Three fragments of the original Pitmedden construction have also been worked into the composition of the fountain."
Looking west, a stairway up to Pitmedden's terrace garden and Pitmedden House can be seen in the background.
This image likely dates from the 1970s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Castle Fraser
4208 A photograph showing an interior within Castle Fraser, near Sauchen in Aberdeenshire.
The property belongs to the National Trust for Scotland who describe it on their website as "one of Scotland's largest tower houses, with an impressive portrait collection." A couple of portraits can be seen in this image.
This image likely dates from the 1970s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Castle Fraser
4209 A photograph showing the round tower and east wing of Castle Fraser.
Historic Environment Scotland on their CANMORE website state that "the Round Tower provides an excellent viewing platform of the landscape in all directions (although even from here Bennachie cannot be seen, contrary to some 19th century pictures of the Castle). The elevated position allows the topographic setting of the Castle and its designed landscape to be appreciated."
This image likely dates from the 1970s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Kellie Castle
4211 A photograph showing the southern elevation of Kellie Castle, or Kelly Castle, near Arbirlot and Arbroath in Angus. The castle sits in a wooded area next to a small river call the Elliot Water.
Historic Environment Scotland's Canmore website, states his that this historic tower house, also once known as Auchterlony, was "the seat of the Elliot family from the 14th to the 17th centuries but the building itself appears to date from the late 15th century at the earliest. After standing in ruins for some time it was restored in the mid-19th century and is still occupied."
This image likely dates from the 1970s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Cullerlie Stone circle
4220 A photograph looking north west from Cullerlie Stone Circle at sunset. A house on the road towards Garlogie can be seen in the background.
The stone circle is located approximately 11 miles west of Aberdeen. Not far south from the Loch of Skene.
Aberdeenshire Council's leaflet The Stone Circle Trail (2022) describes Cullerlie as follows:
"Restored Stone Circle, comprising circa 10 m in diameter. Within the stone circle, 8 small kerb cairns were added which when excavated contained burnt bone, charcoal, flint tools and pottery. The central cairn is the largest, at 3.4 m in diameter, and is the only one to have a double kerb. This stone circle is seen as a later development of the Recumbent Stone Circle tradition."
Historic Environment Scotland's website suggests the stone circle may be around 4,000 years old. It describes Cullerlie as "an unusual site, with few parallels. However it may be best regarded as a rare survival of what once may have been a type of monument common in the lowlands of north-east Scotland."
This photograph likely dates from the 1970s or 80s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department Crathes Castle
4221 A photograph of Crathes Castle looking west across one section of its walled garden. This historic property can be found approximately 16 miles to the south west of Aberdeen. It is not far north of the River Dee before Banchory.
Kniphofia (Red-Hot Pokers) are the tall flowers in the foreground of this image. The garden's distinctive topiary yew trees can be seen on the left.
The castle is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. Their website states that "Alexander Burnett built the castle in the 16th century, an intricate maze of turrets, towers, oak panels and painted ceilings, many of which survive beautifully to this day."
This image likely dates from the 1970s or 80s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's Publicity department. |