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Wellington Lodge
811 A photograph showing Wellington Lodge on the corner of Justice Mill Lane and Holburn Street.
The top of Holburn Street, towards Holburn Junction, was previously known as South Street and later as Wellington Place. In the background of this image, on the far left, can be seen the John Smith designed Water House on Union Street.
Wellington Lodge stood across the road from Holburn Church, roughly where the Glentanar Bar stands today. It can be seen on the large scale Ordnance Survey town plan and map sheets from the 1860s.
The property appears to have belonged to the Whytes of Dalhebity, Cults. For some time Wellington Lodge was the residence of Helen Whyte and she was likely the house's final resident.
Helen Whyte died aged 85 on 31st January 1898 (death notice: Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 09/02/1898, p. 4). Newspaper references suggest she was involved in various charitable activities. She was the daughter of Baillie John Whyte, a merchant, and had a brother also called John Whyte (1845-1904), a prominent citizen and advocate.
Another death notice indicates that Mary Ann Hardie, of 48 Victoria Road, Torry, was employed for 38 years as the servant for Miss Helen Whyte. Hardie died in 1895 (death notice: Aberdeen Journal, 17/08/1895, p. 4).
Newspapers also suggest the villa was the home of Miss Mary Murray Gordon. She would likely have been a relation of James Murray Gordon who was a partner in the same law firm as John Whyte, Helen's aforementioned brother.
Wellington Lodge was probably demolished shortly after the death of Helen Whyte. It made way for the extension of the larger tenement buildings on Holburn Street that can be seen in the background of this photograph.
The Aberdeen Weekly Journal's 'Granite Chips' column of 17th May 1899 (p. 9) states "A very large and handsome block of buildings for Mr Peter Farquharson has been erected in Holburn Street, stretching from the office of the Union Bank of Scotland to Justice Mill Lane." This most likely refers to this development.
David Miller in Archibald Simpson, Architect, His Life and Times 1790-1847 (2006) states that this villa was designed by Simpson for Mrs Yeats of Auquharney (page 174). Duthie Park
2192 A postcard image, likely from the early 20th century, looking east across the northernmost section of Duthie Park's Upper Lake, towards the bandstand.
As can be seen on old large scale Ordnance Survey maps, the northern section of the lake was originally lobed shape as visible here. It was made more cohesively rounded at some point in the mid-20th century.
This part of the Upper Lake has traditionally been used for pedalos. Isabella Henry as La Belle Electra
2998 Isabella Henry was famous to the theatrical world as La Bella Electra. For a long time she was Walford Bodie's foremost performing assistant.
As part of the act she would have electricity passed through her body to illuminate arc lights in her mouth or to be dramatically emitted from her fingertips.
She also regularly faced death by electric chair. This image comes from an album of her sister, Annie Henry, held by Aberdeen City Libraries.
Isabella also performed as a chorus comedienne under the name Miss Bella Skene, and signed the postcards to her sister as "Lib". Isabella died in Glasgow in 1919 aged 42. Treasure 102: Newhills Convalescent Home and Sanatorium
323 Aberdeen City Libraries has a large and significant collection of historic photographs. This month we are highlighting a collection of images of Newhills Convalescent Home and Sanatorium in the 1930s.
The album contains 58 photographs of the home's buildings, grounds, staff and patients. The institution is shown at different times of the year and celebrating special occasions. The majority of the images are delightful portraits. We do not have names for the individuals shown but the pictures convey a sense of the life and community of the home. If you are able to identify any of those photographed, we would be pleased to hear from you. The Newhills Convalescent Home was founded by Christian Catherine Smith in 1874. She was the wife of Rev. James Smith, the minister of Newhills Parish Church. It was shortly after arriving in the parish that she recognised the potential for a place for ill people to come to rest and regain their health. Annual newspaper reports on the home described its purpose as being for "the benefit of respectable persons in humble life who appear to be failing into dishealth, or are convalescing after non-infectious ailments."
The convalescent home was started at Dykeside Cottage in Newhills. It was a great success and operated at this location for 7 years. In 1882 a new building just north of the parish church was constructed to meet the rising demand for treatment. By 1900 patients with tuberculosis were admitted, with the home operating a sanatorium department from 1902.
Learn more about this Home's history in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Provost Alexander's Maze
531 A lay-out plan of Provost Alexander's Maze in Hazlehead Park. The drawing is credited to D.J.A. and dated 10/11/86. The plan has been created by the office of David Welch (1933-2000), Aberdeen's influential director of parks, here credited as the Director of Leisure and Recreation, for what would have been the City of Aberdeen District Council.
The plan states that the maze was opened on 19th October 1935. The total length of hedge is given as 2,318 metres or approximately 1.5 miles. The direct route to the centre is 443 metres.
As indicated by the name, the maze was a gift to the city by Lord Provost Henry Alexander (1875-1940), given as he neared the end of his provostship (1932-1935). The maze was officially opened by the Provost, his wife and their children. An account of the ceremony features in the Press & Journal of 21st October 1935, page 8.
The maze was designed by W. B. Clark, Aberdeen's superintendent of parks, and construction was overseen by a gardener called Mr Shirran.
Alexander intended the maze as an act of gratitude for all the pleasure Hazlehead Park had given to him and his family and as a source of enjoyment for many years to come:
"It had been said in connection with monuments that brass and stone perished. But the sound of joyous laughter of happy youth, which he hoped would be heard in the maze generations after they had gone, would be the best and most permanent memorial."
Document dimensions: 48 x 38 cm. |