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Albyn Place
24 Albyn Place leading west to Queens Road. Aberdeen High School for Girls, designed by Archibald Simpson as Mrs Elmslie's Institution (1837-39) is on the left of the picture. c.1880 Bridge of Grandholme
160 An engraving showing Grandholm Bridge over the River Don from a drawing by James Giles. The inscription in the bottom right indicates that the engraving was printed at the Deaf and Dumb Institution.
This drawing likely looks west up the river and in the middle distance shows the Cruive Dikes, a complex of weirs and sluices across the River Don built for the purpose of fishing. Remains of these are located not far to the east of the modern Diamond Bridge.
Some information on the ownership and operation of the cruives is given in the book The Annals of Aberdeen (Volume II, 1818) by William Kennedy, on pages 207-209.
In the far distance is Grandholm Bridge. Aberdeen City Council's Historic Environment Record states that the bridge was built by the firm of Leys, Masson and Company in 1810 to improve access to its Granholm Works. It was a wooden bridge with a small lodge and was known locally as the "White Bridge."
The 1810 bridge was replaced by the present steel structure, built by the Motherwell Bridge Company, in 1922. Brig o' Balgownie over the River Don
168 An engraving showing the Brig o' Balgownie over the River Don from a drawing by James Giles. The inscription in the bottom right indicates that the engraving was printed at the Deaf and Dumb Institution.
The title of this engraving describes the Brig o' Balgownie as the Bridge of Don. This is due to it serving as the main bridge over the river until the construction of the bridge known today as the Bridge of Don in 1827-30 by engineers John Smith and Thomas Telford.
This image likely looks south east along the river, towards the bridge, from between Tam's Hole and Black Nook. This was an important salmon fishing area in the past. Some information on the catching of fish on the river is given in the book The Annals of Aberdeen (Volume II, 1818) by William Kennedy, on pages 206-211. River Don, Aberdeen
169 Near the Brig o' Balgownie over the River Don, Aberdeen. Caption reads: "Drawn by J. Giles, Aberdeen. Near the Bridge of Don. Printed at the Deaf & Dumb Institution" Aberdeen Savings Bank, Union Terrace
178 Aberdeen Savings Bank, Union Terrace, 1894. Aberdeen Savings Bank was established in May 1815 "for receiving such small sums as may be saved from the earnings of tradesmen, mechanics, labourers, servants etc". As the bank became more successful, they moved from premises in the Guestrow to a new building in Exchange Street. By the 1890s, the directors decided that a new site was necessary, especially as the population in the city was moving westwards. This illustration, by the architect William Kelly in 1894, shows the building that was to be constructed at the junction of Union Terrace and Diamond Street at a cost of £11,000. The design is of Renaissance style, with the central entrance leading to an inner porch lined with red and grey granite, then a short flight of steps led to the main telling office. This office had a deeply panelled ceiling and dome partially filled with painted and decorated glass. Coats of Arms of the City and Lord Provosts were also displayed. The counter and desks were made of mahogany and oak with wrought iron and wrought copper grills. In the 1960s, a large extension was built on an adjacent site and, in 1983, the bank became part of the Trustees Savings Bank in Scotland and in 1999 became part of Lloyds TSB. James Beattie's House
362 This house stood in Crown Court at 36 Upperkirkgate, Aberdeen. It had an internal stone stair and some of the rooms were oak panelled. James Beattie was born in 1735 in Laurencekirk and in 1760 he was appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy at Marischal College. He died at this house on 18th August 1803 and was buried in St. Nicholas Churchyard.
His house became the home of an advocate, but in the 1850s and 60s it was used by the Aberdeen General Dispensary, lying in an vaccine institution which supplied advice and medicines to the sick and poor. In more recent times, the area behind the Upperkirkgate was cleared and redeveloped as the Bon-Accord Shopping Centre.
Correspondent Ed Fowler suggests that the items that can be seen in front of the house are likely early Victorian laundry mangles. This would account for the trail of water draining from its position. The tarpaulin that is visible would have been to protect the wooden rollers and gears from the elements. The drying area was probably in the garden beyond the Dispensary building, to the north, as no improvised window drying jibs are visible. The Aberdeen New Savings Bank
764 The new Aberdeen Savings Bank, Union Terrace. Designed by William Kelly, 1896.
Aberdeen Savings Bank was established in May 1815 'for receiving such small sums as may be saved from the earnings of tradesmen, mechanics, labourers, servants etc'. As the bank became more successful they moved from premises in the Guestrow to a new building on Exchange Street in 1858.
By the 1890s, the directors decided that a new site was necessary, especially as the population in the city was moving westwards.
This photograph shows the building that was constructed at the junction of Union Terrace and Diamond Street at a cost of £11,000. The design is of renaissance style, with the central entrance leading to an inner porch lined with red and grey granite, then a short flight of steps led to the main telling office. This office had a deeply paneled ceiling and dome partially filled with painted and decorated glass. Coats of Arms of the City and Lord Provosts were also displayed. The counter and desks were made of mahogany and oak with wrought iron and wrought copper grills.
In the 1960's a large extension was built on an adjacent site, and in 1983 the bank became part of the Trustee Savings Bank in Scotland, and in 1999 became part of Lloyds TSB. Davie do a' thing
2038 A portrait of "Davie Do a' thing", the nickname of David Anderson of Finzeauch. Anderson earned his nickname by his skill at mechanics. Joseph Robertson in The Book of Bon-Accord records how in 1610 Anderson removed a large rock known as "Knock Maitland" or "Craig Metellan" that had long obstructed the entry to the city's harbour. He is said to have floated a large raft made of empty casks out to the rock and fastened it underneath while the tide was low, when the tide rose it lifted the rock and vessel allowing Anderson to sail both into the harbour. He died young on 9th October 1629 and was buried on the south side of the entrance to the Old Kirk. Stop 11: Early Health Services at Aberdeen General Dispensary, Vaccine and Lying-in Institution, 1823
2310 We have to use our imagination a little as the street known affectionately by locals as the 'Gushie' no longer exists other than Provost Skene's House which has the address of 45 Guestrow. In 1823 The General Dispensary, Vaccine and Lying-In Hospital opened in Guestrow, a street that ran parallel to Broad Street from where approximately the Illicit Still is today to where it joined Upperkirkgate.
The General Dispensary, Vaccine and Lying-in Hospital gave free medical advice and treatment to all that required it. These early health services were provided for poorer families often living in the East End of Aberdeen who couldn't afford to pay for medicine, vaccines or to see a doctor. Although a team of doctors were employed at the Institution, young medical students from across the road here at Marischal College also undertook some of their training at the Institution.
The Lying-In part of the Hospital was for women who, once they had had their babies, would 'lie in' for a few weeks as they had such poor living conditions at home. In 1880 it was recorded that 3327 cases were dealt with in that one year alone. It wasn't until 1892 that midwives were employed, recognizing the need for specialist nursing care for pregnant women. This greatly improved the nursing care provided and understanding of the specific needs of mothers and babies.
A famous daughter of Aberdeen who has shaped midwifery throughout the world is Maggie Myles (1892-1988) who wrote her groundbreaking book Textbook for Midwives 'With Modern Concepts of Obstetrics and Neo-natal Care' in 1953, the year before she retired. Maggie produced a further nine editions, each kept up-to-date with the latest developments and best practice. The book has been translated into many languages and is recognized as the leading international textbook for midwives. The book is now in its 15th edition. Born in 1892 in Aberdeen the daughter of a housepainter and former domestic servant Maggie Myles life story is truly remarkable. Migrating to Canada soon after leaving school Maggie would rise to become the director of midwifery education in Philadelphia and Detroit before returning to Scotland in 1939 to be Midwifery Tutor at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion in Edinburgh.
Memories:
Heather's memories of Billie Maver and the General Dispensary
Nora recounts her memories of Maggie Myles
Edith shares her memories of Maggie Myles Edward Hall
2389 In March 1885, the City Librarian, A.W. Robertson, reported to the Free Public Library Committee that he had examined all the volumes that were to be transferred from the Mechanics' Institution, "and a note taken of any injury or imperfections, or both, that may have been found therein". He discovered that, while many were unsuitable due to their poor condition, others required repairs including fixing leaves and plates, re-attaching books to their covers and mending corners, and believed that this work "could be done most economically and conveniently on the library premises".
Edward Hall worked for the William Jackson bookbinders at the time and was sent by the company to carry out this work, including all the gilt lettering.
After the first six months of the new public library, and the wear and tear on the books "being already large and accumulating from day to day", the library committee were considering the appointment of a library binder to maintain the stock and repair minor faults before the volumes needed total rebinding. In August 1886, Mr Hall was appointed at a wage of twenty-three shillings weekly. Although other binding work was still undertaken by local firms William Jackson and John Avery, the Librarian was pleased to note in his annual report for 1885-86 that "The results of the experiment so far have been satisfactory, justifying the expectation that it would effect a saving both of time and of cost of rebinding".
The library bookbinders' wages and working hours were regulated by agreement with their trade union and in the 1890-91 Library Committee Minutes, it is noted that the Bookbinders and Machine Rulers' Consolidated Union had agreed a reduction in the bookbinders' working week from 54 to 51 hours.
After the Town Council made a resolution that all staff should retire when they reached the age of 65 years, the Library Committee had to ask Mr Hall to retire in May 1935. At this time his wages were £3.15. 6 per week.
In an interview with the People's Journal reporter, he expressed his disappointment that he was unable to complete his 50 years' service, even though he was then 72 years old. The Library Committee agreed that he would receive a weekly allowance of 16/8 (sixteen shillings and eight pence) in recognition of his long and efficient service.
At his retiral presentation, he was presented by the City Librarian, G.M. Fraser, with "a beautiful chiming clock with Westminster and the new Jubilee chimes". Aberdeen Eye Institution
2424 The doric portico and entrance to 142 King Street during its time as the Aberdeen Eye Institution. Previously known as the Aberdeen Ophthalmic Institution, this specialist eye hospital was founded in 1835 by Sir James McGrigor and Dr. John Cadenhead. It was originally located on the south end of Belmont Street and moved to 142 King Street in 1903.
142 King Street was built by the architect John Smith as his family home and office in around 1817. The expansion of King Street and nearby streets surrounded the villa with access from King Street was through a small pend. After the Aberdeen Eye Institution the building was occupied by the Boilermakers Social Club into the early 2000s.
This image comes from an Annual Report & Abstract of Accounts for the hospital from the 1911. Aberdeen Local Studies hold a number of these reports from the period 1896 to 1913. Aberdeen Eye Institution
2425 A small ward in 142 King Street during its time as the Aberdeen Eye Institution. Previously known as the Aberdeen Ophthalmic Institution, this specialist eye hospital was founded in 1835 by Sir James McGrigor and Dr. John Cadenhead. It was originally located on the south end of Belmont Street and moved to 142 King Street in 1903.
142 King Street was built by the architect John Smith as his family home and office in around 1817. The expansion of King Street and nearby streets surrounded the villa with access from King Street was through a small pend. After the Aberdeen Eye Institution the building was occupied by the Boilermakers Social Club into the early 2000s.
This image comes from an Annual Report & Abstract of Accounts for the hospital from the 1911. Aberdeen Local Studies hold a number of these reports from the period 1896 to 1913. Aberdeen Eye Institution
2426 The interior of 142 King Street during its time as the Aberdeen Eye Institution. Previously known as the Aberdeen Ophthalmic Institution, this specialist eye hospital was founded in 1835 by Sir James McGrigor and Dr. John Cadenhead. It was originally located on the south end of Belmont Street and moved to 142 King Street in 1903.
142 King Street was built by the architect John Smith as his family home and office in around 1817. The expansion of King Street and nearby streets surrounded the villa with access from King Street was through a small pend. After the Aberdeen Eye Institution the building was occupied by the Boilermakers Social Club into the early 2000s.
This image comes from an Annual Report & Abstract of Accounts for the hospital from the 1911. Aberdeen Local Studies hold a number of these reports from the period 1896 to 1913. Newhills Convalescent Home and Sanitorium
2477 A postcard photograph showing Newhills Convalescent Home and Sanitorium. The institution was founded, initially in a different building, by Christian Catherine Smith in 1874. The home was integrated into the NHS in 1948 and later bought by Aberdeen Town Council in November 1953. It operated as a care home for the elderly until 1980 when it was sold into private ownership. March Stone 11
3193 This stone is located, at the back of the pavement, about 36 metres west of the junction of Craigton Road and Woodlands Avenue. It is marked "11 ABD".
The then marker was described in 1698 as a long stone and in 1780 as a large stone, again earthfast and with a saucer mark.
Woodlands Avenue leads to an early 21st century housing development built on the grounds of the still extant Woodlands House, which later served as a hospital. See the institution's NHS Grampian Archives catalogue entry for the history of the hospital (reference: GRHB 17).
A slide of this image was kindly lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston so that we could create a digital copy for public use.
The image was taken in the early 1980s when Colin worked as a teacher at Bridge of Don Academy. He led several current and former pupils, and staff members in an investigation into the location, physical condition and public knowledge of Aberdeen's historic boundary markers. Newhills Convalescent Home and Sanitorium
3810 A group portrait of patients and staff at the Newhills Convalescent Home and Sanatorium in the 1930s.
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. The couple lived in the nearby church manse. Christian grew up in North Ayrshire and demonstrated concern for the welfare of others from a young age.
Christian married James Smith on 14th April 1869 and it was shortly after arriving in the parish that she recognised the potential of the place as somewhere ill people could come to rest and regain their health. The convalescent home was subsequently started at Dykeside Cottage. It was a great success and operated at this location for 7 years.
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."
In 1908 Christian Smith stepped down as head of the home due to ill health and was replaced by a publicly elected executive board. This was led for many years by Dr. Walter A. Reid and during his tenure the institute was modernised and extended.
In 1948 the home was incorporated into the National Health Service. Due to issues of staffing and its unsuitability during winter, the decision was taken to close the home. Patients were transferred to other local hospitals and in the same year the home was sold to Aberdeen Town Council.
The buildings were subsequently operated as a home for the elderly and homeless until March 1980 when it was sold into private hands.
After leaving the manse in 1917, Christian Catherine Smith, the founder of the home, lived at 2 West Craibstone Street. She died there on 6th December 1924 aged 81. She was buried at Newhills Church and the then minister Rev. Andrew Currie led a memorial service. He described the Newhills Convalescent Home as "an institution not only for the healing of bodies, but a place for the comfort of hearts and the cure of souls." Christian Smith's name can still be seen today in one of the church's stained-glass windows. Milne's Institution
4210 A photograph of the front, north elevation of Milne's Institution, now Milne's Primary School, in Fochabers, Moray.
A Neo-Tudor (Scots Elizabethan) quadrangular, 2 storey building, it was constructed to a design by architect Thomas Mackenzie in 1845-6.
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 Market: before and after demolition 6
4365 The before image looks east towards the western elevation of Aberdeen Market. A cabin with seating for the restaurant Cafe 52 is in the foreground on the left. Taken on 01/09/2021.
The after image shows a now clear view over to Market Street. The distinctive façade of Rox Hotel, previously the Mechanics' Institute and Bon Accord Hotel, is in the distance. Taken on 05/09/2023.
This composite image is part of a series by Roddy Millar showing Aberdeen Market and its surrounds before and after it was demolished.
George Walker
4371 A photographic portrait by George Washington Wilson of Baillie George Walker (1821-1910). It comes from an album of photographs by Wilson of the Aberdeen Town Council of 1883. This is held in the collection of Aberdeen Local Studies at Aberdeen Central Library.
Walker, a good friend of Wilson, was a well-known bookseller, councillor and local cultural figure. He hailed from Huntly before moving to the Granite City.
At a meeting at the Music Hall on on 25th March 1884 Walker seconded the motion of Professor Alexander Bain (1818-1903), a philosopher, early psychologist and independent thinker, for the adoption of the Public Libraries Act by the Town Council. The motion passed with 891 voters in favour and 264 against.
Walker was one of a number of speakers at the opening of Aberdeen's first free public lending library in March 1886, then located in the Mechanics' Institute on Market Street. Praising the preparatory work done by the town's first librarian, Andrew W. Robertson, Walker stated that Robertson had "turned night into day in his efforts and that it was absolutely necessary that he takes a well-deserved holiday during the summer."
Walker remained a champion of the library service for the rest of his life. He donated his extensive 21 volume journal to the library and these remain in the Local Studies collection. These idiosyncratic volumes are a unique cornucopia of local history and culture. John Duguid Milne
4372 A photographic portrait of John Duguid Milne (1822-1889), an Aberdeen advocate.
On 20th March 1883 Milne read a paper titled The success of free public libraries in industrial towns, and the necessity for a free public library in Aberdeen to the Philosophical Society of Aberdeen. The paper was also published by the society as a pamphlet shortly afterwards. A copy of this paper is held by Aberdeen Local Studies.
Milne draws together the experiences of free public libraries from England and around Scotland. He also points to the example and popularity of John Anderson's library in Woodside, which had opened in 1881.
In the section 'Who should move for a free library?' Milne writes:
"The Free Library is not especially for the wealthy, nor even for the well-to-do, but for the people, for the industrial classes; and it is for the industrial classes themselves to say if they want it. They have also the power in their hands, as they form a majority of the ratepayers." (page 17).
Milne was the director and legal advisor of Aberdeen's Mechanics' Institute. He ends his paper by stating that should the Public Libraries Act be adopted by Aberdeen, the Mechanics' Institute was prepared to hand over to the Free Public Library their whole stock of books and their substantial premises on Market Street.
Milne's paper, and the offer within, was likely a determining factor in the initiation, and ultimate success, of Professor Alexander Bain (1818-1903) and Baillie George Walker (1821-1910) putting forward a motion for the adoption of the Public Libraries Act at a meeting in the Music Hall on 25th March 1884. This meeting took place around a year after the first reading of Milne's paper.
Opening in March 1886, the Mechanics' Institute building did become the first location of Aberdeen's new Free Public Library and its collection of books formed the core of its stock. If you look at some of the older items in the collection of Aberdeen City Libraries today, stamp marks for the Mechanics' Institute can still be seen. Bust of Professor Alexander Bain
4373 A photograph of a 1891 bust of Professor Alexander Bain (1818-1903) by sculptor Henry Bain Smith (1857-1893).
Alexander Bain was a philosopher, educationalist, early psychologist and free thinker. At a public meeting on 25th March 1884, he put forward the successful motion for Aberdeen to adopt the Public Libraries Act and create a Free Public Library. This noble enterprise would first open in the old Mechanics' Institute building on Market Street in March 1886.
Bain was an autodidact from an impoverished family. He had studied at the Mechanics' Institute prior to entering Marischal College so he knew well the importance and potential of libraries and public education.
A new purpose built Public Library for Aberdeen, now known as the Central Library, opened on Rosemount Viaduct on 5th July 1892. Two months after first being open to the public, with a Lending Department and Reading Room, a Reference Department opened on the second floor on 29th August.
Three days before this addition, the Library was presented with the first of a number of marble busts which would grace the Reference Department until the 1960s.
It was this bust of Alexander Bain, the professor of logic, who had been an early champion of Aberdeen's public library. The bust, funded by public subscription, was work of the sculptor Henry Bain-Smith. Bain-Smith was also the artist of the Burns Statue on Union Terrace.
The bust of Professor Bain is now in the collection of the Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums (AAGM), having been gifted by the Libraries in 1999. The entry for the bust on their online catalogue contains further details on Bain's life and work. Bridge of Grandholme
36 An engraving showing Grandholm Bridge over the River Don from a drawing by James Giles. The inscription in the bottom right indicates that the engraving was printed at the Deaf and Dumb Institution.
This drawing likely looks west up the river and in the middle distance shows the Cruive Dikes, a complex of weirs and sluices across the River Don built for the purpose of fishing. Remains of these are located not far to the east of the modern Diamond Bridge.
Some information on the ownership and operation of the cruives is given in the book The Annals of Aberdeen (Volume II, 1818) by William Kennedy, on pages 207-209.
In the far distance is Grandholm Bridge. Aberdeen City Council's Historic Environment Record states that the bridge was built by the firm of Leys, Masson and Company in 1810 to improve access to its Granholm Works. It was a wooden bridge with a small lodge and was known locally as the "White Bridge."
The 1810 bridge was replaced by the present steel structure, built by the Motherwell Bridge Company, in 1922. |