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View of Aberdeen from Cornhill
181 View of Aberdeen from Cornhill, c.1840. This picture was contained in a series of lithographs of Aberdeen published in 1840 by J and D Nichol, booksellers, Montrose. The elevated position of Cornhill provided one of the best points of view over the city. The idyllic rural scene in the foreground is in contrast to the array of smoking chimneys in the distance, interspersed with the spires of various buildings. In the middle is Broadford Textile Works with Hutcheon Street on the left. On the far right, there is the tall chimney of Rubislaw Bleachfield Works, which was demolished in July 1908. The spires belong to the East and West Churches of St. Nicholas, and the Tolbooth while, in the centre, there are the four turrets of the central tower of Marischal College and the tower of the North Church. The chimneys were evidence of the extent and importance of manufacturing in the city, while the western suburbs were the most attractive, with beautiful villas whose residents were often those citizens whose wealth came from these industries. John W. Whyte's shop, Bridge Street, Ellon
205 A Valentines Series postcard showing John W. Whyte's shop on Bridge Street in Ellon. The windows advertise Cadbury's and Fry's chocolate. Victoria Dock
212 An Adelphi Series postcard looking north west along Victoria Dock in Aberdeen Harbour. A steam paddle tug is towing a steamship in the foreground. Victoria Park
241 In 1871 Aberdeen Town Council decided to convert nearly 14 acres of Glennie's Parks, which had been used for cattle grazing, into a public recreation ground - Aberdeen's first public park.
Aberdeen's lack of a public park up to this point had become a contentious issue. For example, newspaper reports indicate that those opposed to the Municipality Extension Act of 1871 (which extended the boundary of the city, brought the functions of the Police Commissioners under the Council and incorporated the gasworks) repeatedly suggested that the expense involved in the new bill would be better used in the creation of a much wanted public park.
It is not unreasonable to suppose that this debate, and criticism of the Council, hastened the creation of Victoria Park. While work likely begun in 1871, it was not until March 1873 that the Improvements Committee of the Council recommended that the new park should be called "Victoria Park". At the same time, they also outlined a series of 13 rules and regulations for agreement by the full Council. There does not appear to have been an official opening for the new amenity.
Glennie's Park was not the only site considered for Aberdeen's first public park. Interest in such an undertaking was increasing at the same time as work was underway to divert the River Dee and improve the harbour. The new ground created in this latter project, encompassing the old, more northerly course of the river and the Inches, was a much proposed location for a park. Following the creation of Victoria Park this newly leveled ground was instead given over for buildings related to the expanding fishing industry.
A nurseryman called Robert Walker (1848-1930), originally from Perth, was chosen out of 450 candidates to be the city's first public park keeper and appointed to Victoria Park. He was likely largely responsible for the park's initial layout and appearance. His Press & Journal obituary (21/04/1930, p.6) suggests that prior to his appointment the site was "little better than a waste space".
Walker subsequently laid out Westburn Park, Stewart Park, Union Terrace Gardens and the Promenade. He also advocated and pioneered the planting of street trees. He served the Corporation for 46 years, retiring in 1919, and must be considered one of the unsung heroes of Aberdeen history.
This photograph, taken around 1900, shows one of the main paths leading to a large granite fountain, which was designed by J.B. Pirie. It is built of 14 different types of granite and was presented by the granite polishers and master builders of the city.
Since the park is almost in the city centre, it is an oasis of peace with its mature trees and, in spring, there are masses of flowering bulbs scattered through the grass. Gala and Heather Day in the Duthie Park
395 This Adelphi Series postcard shows the Gala Day taking place in Duthie Park on 21st August 1915.
The Gala in Duthie Park and the accompanying Heather Day were both organised to raise funds for the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The Gala Day is one of largest events ever to take place at the park. It was estimated that between 25,000 and 26,000 people attended. Tickets cost 6 pence (6d) for general admission and 2s 6d for carriages or motor cars.
Within the park there was an elaborate programme of entertainment and refreshments organised. Details of the programme were published in a 32 page booklet prior to the event. Upwards of 1,300 people took part in the programme.
Gates to the park opened at 3pm and the event officially commence at 3pm with a grand military parade. Lieut-Colonel A. H. Leith of Glenkindie, Garrison Commander, and Lord Provost James Taggart "took the salute" opposite the Hygiea statue.
The Gala and Heather Day were organised by a distinct committee; Taggart was its president and Alexander Findlay, Superintendent of Cleansing, was its chairman. Councillor H. J. Gray was the secretary and treasurer and Mr John Lints was his assistant. There were also conveners and secretaries for various sub-committees concerned with aspects like entertainment and refreshments.
There was a wide range of entertainment organised for within the park including singing, dancing, gymnastic displays, musical drill, motor cycle gymkhana and bayonet fighting. Various platforms saw performances from acts such as a company lead by D. M. Kinghorn, pierrots directed by Minnie Mearns, Dan Williams, and W. A. Craig's operatic choir. Charles Soutar lead a 500 strong choir of children from the city's public schools.
Practically all naval and military units present in the city were represented at the event and individuals from many of them took part in the sporting competitions. The day also included a 5-a-side football and tug of war competition. Preliminary matches for these took place prior to the day at Pittodrie Park.
The Gala Day was filmed and this was later shown as part of a special programme at the Picture House on Union Street from the 25th of the month.
Over £500 was taken at the gates for the event. Entertainment and refreshments within further increased the figure raised.
Heather Day itself generated another £474. This involved over 1,500 vendors going around all parts of the city selling sprigs of the plant. The sale started on the afternoon of the Friday and continued all through Saturday. Entertainment venues throughout the city were also visited.
The vendors were primarily young women and members of organisations like the boys brigade. Stores present in all areas of the city were replenished from a central depot at 173a Union Street. This in turn was supplied by the cleansing department buildings in Poynernook Road, where the preceding week had seen 200,000 sprigs prepared for sale. Peterhead, Inverurie, Ellon and Banchory organised their own Heather Days for the same fund.
The sum taken from both the Gala and the Heather Day was estimated at considerably over £1,000.
See the report in the Aberdeen Journal, Monday 23rd August 1915 page 8, for further details about the occasion. Aberdeen Beach with the Beach Baths
404 An Adelphi Series postcard showing Aberdeen Beach with the Beach Baths building on the right.
Also known as the Beach Bathing Station, its fresh water pool was where generations of Aberdonians learnt to swim.
The Bathing Station was designed by City Architect John Rust and opened on 13 July 1898.
Its distinctive red brick chimney dominated the beach skyline.
The Bathing Station was eventually filled in and demolished, the door having finally closed to the public on the 11th July 1972. Oldmill Military Hospital, Aberdeen
418 Oldmill Military Hospital, Aberdeen. c.1908. Now known as Woodend Hospital was opened on 15th May 1907. During WWl the hospital was used as a military hospital and sebsequently re-opened as Woodend Hospital in October 1927. This photograph was taken prior to a concert by a pipe band. Part of New Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
599 An illustrated view of New Aberdeen, showing the River Dee. The inscription below the image states "Engraved by J. Storer, for the Antiquarian and Topographical Cabinet, from a Drawing by J. D. Glennie".
The latter is likely John David Glennie (1796-1874), a painter, engraver and lithographer that the Benezit Dictionary of Artists describes as known for illustrating Letters on India and Scenes on the Continent by Maria Graham.
Antiquarian and Topographical Cabinet, containing a series of elegant views of the most interesting objects of curiosity in Great Britain. Accompanied with letter-press descriptions was compiled by James Storer and John Greig and published in 9 or 10 volumes from around 1807 to 1817.
In the advertisement at the beginning of the first volume, J. Storer and I. Greig state that the work "will be hastening to preserve the lineaments of the most venerable remains of Antiquity which Time is incessantly whittleing away by nearly imperceptible atoms."
This view of New Aberdeen features in volume 9 of the series, published in 1811, and is accompanied by a short description. It lists the principal objects shown as the Castle Hill, the Barracks, Toll-booth and the Custom House. March Lane
677 March Lane, 1923. This view of a narrow lane in the Rosemount area of Aberdeen shows a number of small houses with tiled roofs. The rather rundown nature of the lane hides the fact that it stood on the boundary of the City of Aberdeen. At the end of the lane there was a dressed granite stone with the letters CR incised on it. These stood for City Royalty and up to the 19th century, the Town Councillors would inspect these boundaries or marches to check that such landmarks had not been removed. A series of such stones marked what was known as the Inner Marches and another series with the letters ABD marked the Outer Marches which bounded the Freedom Lands, including the lands granted to the City by Robert the Bruce in 1319. Union Street with the Music Hall
723 Union Street with the imposing facade of the Music Hall on the left. The Music Hall or The Assembly Rooms as they were originally known were built in 1820 by Archibald Simpson. The concert hall designed by James Matthews and was added in 1858. Sandilands Chemical Works
854 Sandilands Chemical Works, Aberdeen. Sulphuric Acid production towers. These towers were filled with inert material (eg granite chips) over which weak sulphuric acid was sprayed from a series of lead pipes at the top of the tower to absorb the SO2 gases which were fed in at the bottom. As a result the liquid collected at the bottom of the tower was a strong sulphuric acid. This acid was then combined with phosphate rock to produce superphosphate fertilisers produced at Sandilands Chemical Works. A Dead Whale
868 Crowds gathered round a dead whale, with fishing boats (A329) in the background.
Correspondent Ed Fowler suggests that this photograph shows the "Nairn whale".
Initially wrongly identified at the time as a blue whale, it was actually a sei whale (Balaenoptera Borealis), one of the 4th-largest balaenopterid.
The whale stranded at Nairn on 18th December 1884 and was subsequently purchased by Mr Davidson, fish-dealer, Aberdeen. The whale was then towed by the tug Granite City on 2nd February 1885.
The Evening Express from Wednesday 4th February 1885 provides more details about the operation:
"This was accordingly done about five o'clock yesterday afternoon by the tug Granite City, and the leviathan was successfully placed on the waggons which had been provided for the purpose. Suspended in mid-air, the whale presented a remarkable spectacle, its huge proportions being displayed to full advantage. The task of placing it on the huge waggons by which it was conveyed to its destination proved a very laborious and onerous one, and occupied a large staff of men from four o'clock in the afternoon till midnight. Ultimately, the leviathan stretched upon the waggons, and the horses - numbering about two dozen - being attached, the unusual procession proceeded on its way to the Recreation Grounds [Queens Links]. The quay was literally besieged by a crowd which swelled in proportions as time wore on, and whose enthusiasm the disagreeable odour which proceeded from the whale was wholly unable to quench. [About] four o'clock this afternoon, after many difficulties had been encountered and overcome, the whale reached its destination - the Recreations Grounds - where it now lies. As before stated, a very strong smell is felt in the vicinity of the carcase, and the sanitary inspector has brought the matter under the notice of the Public Health Committee".
Ed Fowler adds that "The Landing was a difficult operation as it can reach 19.5M (64-ft) long and weighing as much as 28-Tons. An attempt to haul it from the water at Fittie (Perhaps Alexander Hall's Slipway) with Horses failed and so it was Towed into the harbour to the North Lock Sheer-legs (a lifting system) at the North Lock, Waterloo Quay and hoisted in mid-air with a tackle around the Tail, then placed on a series of Wagons and then dragged by 24 Horses and a crowd of Men to the Recreation Grounds (Queens Links), for Public Exhibition."
Dunecht Smiddy
1146 Blacksmiths in the smiddy at Dunecht. This shop appears to have been fairly busy, employing as it did, 3 blacksmiths. They were called upon for all sorts of metal related jobs. All the tools of the trade can be noted, including 2 anvils for hammering and a main furnace (centre of picture). All 3 blacksmiths are seen here wearing leather aprons, which protected them from the hot flying sparks. No industrial glasses were in use however at this time, and the traditional flat bonnet is still the norm.
Correspondent David Christie has identified the blacksmith on the left as James Stephenson Smith, his great grandfather. David explains that Smith worked as a blacksmith for Dunecht Estate from 1925 to 1929 and so this dates the photograph to this period. His great grandfather also worked at other properties belonging to the estate, such as renovations of Dunnottar Castle. Smith had to give up working as a Blacksmith after breaking his leg in a fall while working there.
He subsequently worked as a driver for the Dunecht Garage, which ran buses at the time, and later for the W. Alexander & Sons bus operating firm.
There is an article about this image by Hilary Simpson in the Evening Express of 17 September 1986. It details the memories of readers Margaret Skene and John Gray. Margaret's grandfather was Alexander Innes, the figure in the middle. On the right is Bill Innes, a son of Alexander. They are said to have run the smiddy with the assistance of James Smith.
The article also explains that the image was originally a postcard. One of a series detailing the various trades active on the Dunecht estate of Lord Cowdray.
(Many thanks to David for getting in touch and providing additional information and making us aware of the newspaper article.) Astoria Cinema, Aberdeen
1152 The exterior of the Astoria Cinema, Clifton Road, Kittybrewster, Aberdeen, c.1960. In 1934, a new cinema was built on part of the old Central Park, just north of Kittybrewster Auction Marts. It was designed by the architect, T. Scott Sutherland, and was opened on 8th December 1934, with space for more than 2000 people. Its proximity to the relatively new housing areas of Kittybrewster, Powis, Woodside and Hilton should have ensured its success. It was made of concrete over a steel framework, with the roof sloping in a series of steps to produce the best acoustics. It had a colour scheme of light pink, invory and brown with walnut panelling and 2 miles of Wilton carpet. It closed on Saturday 13th August 1966, re-opening later that month as a Bingo Hall but that only lasted a few months and it finally closed in January 1967. In April 1967, it was being demolished and the site redeveloped as a shopping complex. The cinema had had one of the latest Compton theatre organs, which had been removed piece by piece and restored to be placed in the hall of Powis Academy. In November 1982, an arson attack destroyed the organ. Oldmill Military Hospital. A pipe band parades in front of the main buildings. c.1918.
1737 Oldmill Military Hospital was opened on 15th May 1907. The total cost of the structure, including the purchase of the Old Mill, was £130,000. During the First World War, the Old Mill was used as a military hospital and was re-opened as Woodend Hospital in October 1927. A pipe band parades in front of the main buildings. c.1918 Lord Roberts
2195 An Adelphi Series postcard showing Lord Roberts alighting from a horse-drawn carriage, with a procession down Union Street, and arriving at the Music Hall to receive the Freedom of the City. Free Churches and Denburn
2263 This photo, taken from Union Bridge, shows the Denburn Valley being used as a bleaching green, prior to the creation of Union Terrace Gardens. The photo also predates the Denburn railway constructed in 1865 and the Belmont Street Congregational Church. The absence of Rosemount Viaduct means that Woolmanhill Hospital is visible in the distance.
The photo was probably taken in the early 1860s. It is almost certainly the work of noted Aberdeen photographer George Washington Wilson. The image is one of two that made up a stereo picture when viewed using a special device. This type of stereoscopy was an early method of creating the illusion of depth in an image by presenting each eye with a slightly different image. Wilson created a series of such views and they were sold by "A. Brown & Co., 77 Union Street".
This image was very kindly shared with Aberdeen Local Studies by Michael Eriksson from Södertälje, Sweden. We are always pleased to receive new images of Aberdeen and hear from our users. If you would like to share images with the general public or just get in touch, we can be reached at localstudies@aberdeencity.gov.uk. The Harbour, Aberdeen
2266 An Adelphi Series postcard showing Aberdeen Harbour in the early 20th century.
This photograph features in the book Coastal Passenger Liners of the British Isles (2011) by Nick Robins. It is captioned as follows:
"City of Aberdeen (1873) leaving her home port behind the tug John McConnachie (1879). The North company's St Sunniva (1887) is alongside centre left."
The Scottish Built Ships website indicates that the City of Aberdeen was an iron screw streamer built in 1873 by Cunliffe & Dunlop of Port Glasgow. The ship's first owner was the Aberdeen Steam Navigation Co. and it was used to transport passengers and cargo.
The ship was sold to a Greek firm of shipowners and renamed the Salamis in 1906. Its sale and overhaul was reported in the Aberdeen Daily Journal of 15th October 1906, page 4. The Astoria Cinema
2268 The Astoria Cinema on Clifton Road, Woodside.
In 1934, a new cinema was built on part of the old Central Park, just north of Kittybrewster Auction Marts. It was designed by the architect T. Scott Sutherland and was opened on 8th December 1934 with space for more than 2000 people. Its proximity to the relatively new housing areas of Kittybrewster, Powis, Woodside and Hilton should have ensured its success.
It was made of concrete over a steel framework, with the roof sloping in a series of steps to produce the best acoustics. It had a colour scheme of light pink, ivory and brown with walnut panelling and 2 miles of Wilton carpet. It closed on Saturday 13th August 1966, reopening later that month as a Bingo Hall but that only lasted a few months and it finally closed in January 1967. In April 1967, it was being demolished and the site redeveloped as a shopping complex.
The cinema had had one of the latest Compton theatre organs, which had been removed piece by piece and restored to be placed in the hall of Powis Academy. Tragedy befell it in November 1982, when, in an act of vandalism, a youth set fire to the hall and the organ was totally destroyed. The General Post Office
2286 An Adelphi Series postcard showing the General Post Office, Crown Street, opened in 1907, with designers W. T. Oldrieve and J. Cumming Wyness. Union Street Looking East
2312 An Adelphi Series postcard looking east down Union Street. Trams for Rosemount and Queen's Cross can be seen in the centre of the image.
The premises of Knowles & Son, fruit growers and importers, can be seen on the right at 77 Union Street. They moved into this shop, previously occupied by booksellers Messers Brown & Co. in 1893.
A sign for Sangster & Henderson's Warehouse is visible high up on the side of a building in the background and the 2nd statue of Queen Victoria is visible in its original location at the junction with St Nicholas Street.
The postcard is number 148 from the Adelphi Real Photographic Series. Rubislaw Quarries, Aberdeen
2414 An Adelphi Series postcard showing the rock-face of Rubislaw Quarry and some of the machinery employed in excavating the granite. Duthie Park
2471 A postcard showing a lake in Duthie Park. Swan swim on the lake and the McGrigor obelisk is visible in the background. The hand-coloured postcard is from the Milton Series by the Woodstone Bros company. Children's Boating Pond
2472 A Calendonia Series postcard showing the boating pond in Duthie Park. It is a busy day and many families and prams are alongside the lake. |