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Desswood Place
29 Desswood Place was laid out in 1888 by the City of Aberdeen Land Association in what was then a relatively rural area in the west end of Aberdeen but it was rapidly being filled with large granite houses for the more prosperous citizens. It was named after Alexander Davidson of Desswood who was Chairman of the Land Association for many years. Desswood was his country property near Kincardine O'Neil on Deeside. Gateway to Bridewell Prison
54 Gateway to Bridewell Prison, Rose Street, c.1880 - this massive gateway was the impressive entrance to the Bridewell in Rose Street, situated off the west end of Union Street. The Bridewell was opened in 1809 as a House of Correction and became known as the West Prison. It was in use till 1868, when it was closed and later demolished. For a short while, the site was laid out as the West End Pleasure Gardens and Recreation Grounds. The gateway had a porter's lodge and a guardhouse attached and it remained until 1883, when it was demolished to allow Rose Street to be extended northwards to link with Henry Street which in turn led on to Skene Street. Henry Street had been named after George Henry, Provost of the City between 1850-53 but the whole street then became known as Rose Street. Rubislaw Terrace
236 James Skene of Rubislaw was responsible for this fine row of town houses situated in the west end of the city. The houses, now mostly all offices, alternate in pairs. The original plan of design in 1852 was by James Giles, artist, and Messrs. MacKenzie and Matthews, architects. The street still retains a dignified appearance with some attractive architectural features and elevations. Interior of St. Machar's Cathedral, Old Aberdeen
247 Interior of St. Machar's Cathedral, Old Aberdeen, showing the west end The Old Trades Hall in the Shiprow, Aberdeen. c.1850
302 This area, at the southern end of the Shiprow, was the site of the monastery of the Trinity Friars until 1559 when it was burnt to the ground by Protestant Reformers.
In 1631, having purchased the lands, Dr William Guild, gifted their old chapel and other buildings to be a hospital and meeting house for the seven Aberdeen Incorporated Trades. These were Hammermen, Bakers, Wrights and Coopers, Tailors, Shoemakers, Weavers, Fleshers.
Guild was one of Aberdeen's ministers and afterwards became Principal of King's College.
The Chapel became an Episcopal Church until 1794 when it was removed and replaced by the building seen at the left of the photograph. It was vacated in 1843, when the congregation joined the Free Church, and was then sold and eventually became the Alhambra Music Hall until 1902.
On the right was the Trades or Trinity Hall - often known as the Trinity Hall. It had a projecting wing tower and corbelled angle turret, and was demolished around 1857 for railway development.
The Trades had already moved into their new premises in Union Street in 1846.
This photograph looks south-south-west and is taken from roughly where Trinity Lane is now. The image likely dates from the 1850s, the time of the demolition.
Ebenezer Bain in Merchant and Craft Guilds: A History of the Aberdeen Incorporated Trades (1887) writes the following:
"The extension of the railway system to Aberdeen sealed the fate of the old Trades Hall. When Aberdeen Railway was projected in 1844, the hall and site, which extended from the foot of Shiprow to the near present line of railway, were scheduled [for demolition], and although not required for railway purposes, the buildings had to come down when Guild Street and Exchange Street were constructed. The last of the buildings was taken down in 1857 [...]" (Page 174). The Linn o' Dee, c.1880
359 The Linn o'Dee is 65 miles west of Aberdeen and over 1200 feet above sea level. It is about a mile west of Inverey, the last settlement on Deeside and marks the end of the public road. The stone bridge which replaced a wooden structure was opened by Queen Victoria in September 1857. Salmon can often be seen here leaping upwards to their spawning grounds. The area is still a popular tourist attraction with views of the Cairngorms in the distance. Linn is a Scottish word for a rocky gorge with pools. Regent Bridge
361 This photograph, looking south east from Regent Quay, shows the old Regent Bridge located at the bottom of Marischal Street.
As shown here it could swing open to allow ships to enter and exit the Upper Dock from Victoria Dock.
The bridge was later replaced by a steel framed swing bridge operated from Regent Bridge House located at its south west end on Jamieson's Quay. The new bridge opened on 29th December 1904. An account of its construction can be read in the Aberdeen Journal of that date.
In the background of this image is HMS Clyde, a Navy Reserve Ship for the training of cadets. Queens Cross Free Church
369 Queens Cross Free Church, Aberdeen. This photograph taken by G.W. Wilson whose house was almost adjacent. In 1877, the Free Church discussed the possibility of a church to cater for those who lived in the increasingly popular west end of the city. They secured a triangular site at the junction of Albyn Place and Carden Place at Queens Cross. Competitive designs were sought and John Bridgeford Pirie, of Pirie and Clyne, architects, were successful with his French Gothic design in granite. The steeple is 150 feet high and the grand entrance doorway is flanked by massive pillars leading into the nave where there was space for around 800 worshipers. There is a circular window in the east end, stained glass windows having been gifted by members of the congregation. The building was opened for worship on 17th April 1881, and the popularity of its first Minister, the Rev Dr George Adam Smith brought large audiences to the church. Smith was later to become Principal of Aberdeen University. The church became the only one of the city's free churches to have instrumental music when it acquired an organ built by Henry Willis. Queens Cross became Church of Scotland in 1929 when the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church merged. Various extensions have taken place, including a new hall and vestry in 1939, and the building was extensively restored in 1980. Victoria Dock
504 A photograph looking west along Victoria Dock in Aberdeen Harbour. Taken from the Wellington Street end of Waterloo Quay. The pontoon in the foreground may be serving as a floating lifeboat station.
The presence of St. Nicholas House on the right gives a rough indication of period - latter half of the 20th century. Aberdeen City Hospital
585 Aberdeen City Hospital, Urquhart Road, built as a fever hospital in 1874, later used for elderly patients.
This photograph, which looks south west, was taken from the southern end of Broad Hill. Queen's Gardens
721 This G.W. Wilson photograph shows the row of terraced houses built in the West End of Aberdeen in the late 1870's. They were designed by J. Russell Mackenzie. The granite houses had three bays with wrought iron balconies at first floor level. The central and end houses were designed by Ellis and Wilson around 1884 - they have bay windows with a pediment above. The 1892 Census shows that the occupants included an advocate, and a wine merchant with houses having 14, 18 or 22 rooms. Today most of the buildings have been converted into offices. At the right can be seen the spire of Rubislaw Church, designed in 1874, also by Mackenzie. Rather strangely, it is made of sandstone, especially in an area dominated by granite, and is distinguished by its gothic tower with leaded spire which was added a few years later. Culter
876 This image was taken around 1909 from a hill at the west end of Culter - 7 miles west from Aberdeen looking down on the North Deeside Road towards Banchory. The image shows the cottages known as Clayhills with the houses of Malcolm Road beyond. Hidden in the trees at the right hand side is the statue of Rob Roy overlooking the Leuchar Burn which runs through the wooded valley. Union Street
893 Union Street looking towards the West End from the Union Bridge. The Palace Hotel is on the left of the image. Clayhills and Malcom Road, Culter
969 Clayhills and Malcom Road, circa 1909. This image was taken around 1909 from a hill at the west end of Culter, 7 miles west of Aberdeen looking down on the North Deeside Road leasing towards Banchory. The image shows the cottages known as Clayhills with the houses of Malcolm Road beyond. Hidden in the trees on the right is the statue of Rob Roy overlooking the Leuchar Burn which runs through the wooded valley. King's College Library, Old Aberdeen
1076 King's College was founded by Bishop William Elphinstone in 1495. Marischal College was founded as an independent university in 1593. The two formed the University of Aberdeen in the fusion of 1860.
The core of King's College Library was formed from the books Elphinstone left in the latter years of his life. The books were originally housed in a room in the south east tower (now the round tower). They were then moved to a building on the south side of King's College Chapel, and in 1773 to the west end of the Chapel.
They were relocated in 1870 to a new building as illustrated. This library was extended in 1885, with galleries being installed in 1912, reading desks in 1932 and a mezzanine floor in 1964.
This image shows King's College Library when it was closed in 1983. The library was converted into King's College Conference Centre in 1991. Loch Street
1200 The photo shows No's 18-20 and 22-28 Loch Street in a rather delapidated state. Clydesdale, electrical goods, Target Discount and Bruce Millers had all closed in preparation for demolition for the Bon Accord Centre. Charles Bruce Miller first opened his music shop in 1900, and he was succeeded by his sons and grandsons as the company prospered. They moved from 51 George Street to these purpose designed premises in Loch Street in May 1977 where they had four floors catering for the growing trade in TV's, music centres as well as musical instruments. In 1983, they moved to a new location at the west end of Union Street, so that by the time this image was taken in 1987, the shop had been bricked up and was covered in advertising posters. Desswood Place
1370 Desswood Place was laid out in 1888 by the City of Aberdeen Land Association in what was then a relatively rural area in the west end of Aberdeen but it was rapidly being filled with large granite houses for the more prosperous citizens. It was named after Alexander Davidson of Desswood who was Chairman of the Land Association for many years. Desswood was his country property near Kincardine O'Neil on Deeside. Newpark
1521 A photograph of the gateway and avenue of Newpark. Located between Sheddocksley and Kingswells, this property was once known as Cuttlehill.
In Historical Walks and Names (1927) local historian G. M. Fraser writes:
"You descend Brimmond Hill at the south-west corner, and passing between the properties of Fairley and Cloghill, you presently pass the farm of Gillahill (properly Gallowhill), on your left, and strike the western end of the "Lang Stracht," near the property of Newpark. This is a comparatively recent name for Cuttlehill, the property that once formed part of Sheddocksley, and was bought in 1777 by Robert Dyce of Aberdeen, father of the well-known physician, Dr. William Dyce, of Cuttlehill, whose town house for many years was No. 48 Marischal Street. In this country residence of Cuttlehill, the old entrance gate and avenue of which are still in existence, was born on 19th September, 1806, William Dyce, afterwards William Dyce, R.A., a gifted artist, who took a leading part in decorating the House of Lords, and better still, who, having been sent by the government to report on the Art schools of the Continent in the middle of the last century, was the means of re-organising the art education system of Great Britain. It is singular that this accomplished man, although he is commemorated on a monumental brass in Streatham Parish Church, where he latterly stayed, is as yet unremembered by any mark on his father's house in Aberdeen, where he passed the early part of his life."
Newpark and the gated and avenue, though likely thoroughly modified, can still be seen today.
Other sources suggest that William Dyce, the above mentioned artist, was born at 48 Marischal Street. His birthplace remains something of a mystery. There is no indication of the location in the old parish register record of his baptism at St. Nicholas Kirk. Johnston Gardens
1776 Secluded in the West End of the city off Viewfield Road, Johnston Gardens are a hidden gem. The Aberdeen Journal captioned a photograph of the gardens in their paper from 23 August 1939; "The Beauty of Johnston Gardens, a public pleasance, property of the City of Aberdeen, of the situation of which one town councillor at this week's Council meeting confessed complete ignorance." (page 12) This photograph taken from the narrow walk-bridge shows the large duck pond to the east of the gardens. This wooden bridge visible was later replaced by one made primarily of metal. The Aberdeenshire Canal
1789 This drawing shows a barge being pulled by two horses along the Aberdeenshire Canal, with the twin spires of St. Machar Cathedral in the background.
The Aberdeenshire Canal was opened in 1805 and ran for 18 miles from Aberdeen to Port Elphinstone, near Inverurie. It was first proposed in 1795 by various landed proprietors as a means of providing better transport connections for the rural interior of Aberdeenshire.
The new waterway was fed by the River Don and various streams and springs. Barges transported goods and fly boats or gig boats carried passengers.
In 1840, the goods transported included nearly 4000 tons of lime, 5000 tons of coal, 1124 tons of meal, 54 tons of salt, 110 tons of wood, 51 tons of granite, 43 tons of livestock and 8 tons of whisky. Passenger traffic was catered for by two iron boats, which made the trip twice a day in summer and once a day in winter. It cost 2 shillings (10p.) for the full journey or 2d. (about a half pence) per mile.
As a result of the number of locks to be negotiated at the Aberdeen end, passengers disembarked at the Boathouse at Kittybrewster, having completed the journey in 2 and a half hours. Goods traffic was handled by various barges, some of which belonged to the canal company. It took them 10-14 hours to complete their passage to Aberdeen Harbour. There were facilities for changing the horses at Dyce and Kintore.
In his book The Annals of Woodside and Newhills Patrick Morgan remarks that the canal "was a great convenience to the inhabitants, and a luxury to the boys for bathing in summer and skating in winter." There is no mention of girls using the canal for leisure purposes - perhaps they were required to stay at home and help with housework instead.
The canal increased the prosperity of the area that it served but it was never a huge financial success for its owners. Also it was about to be overtaken by a much speedier rival. Its demise as in other parts of the country was largely brought about by the coming of the railways. The Aberdeenshire Canal was bought over by the Great North of Scotland Railway and finally closed in 1854. The company gave £1000 as compensation for depriving the inhabitants of Woodside of the privilege of the Canal and to assist in obtaining a supply of water from other sources.
There is very little physical evidence to remind us that the Aberdeenshire Canal ever existed. However there is one quite substantial remnant which lies close to Great Northern Road - Warrack's Bridge was one of the original canal bridges and looking over the west side of the bridge the curve of the canal bed can clearly be seen. The Bridewell
2089 The Bridewell or West Prison, Rose Street - the Bridewell stood in Rose Street, off the west end of Union Street. This photo was taken by William Garey, about 1868, when the building was being demolished. Bridewell was a name adopted by many institutions and recalls a London building dedicated to St. Bride which became used as a House of Correction. This building, designed by James Burn, was opened on 2 October 1809, as a House of Correction. It was surrounded by a 14 foot high wall with a garden enclosed. The gateway had a porter's lodge and guardhouse attached. There were 5 floors with the topmost being the hospital and storerooms. Each floor was divided by a gallery which ran the whole length of the building with a large windos at each end. On one side of the gallery there were 11 cells for work and on the other side 14 cells used for sleeping. Each work cell had 2 long narrow windows, while the sleeping cells only had one window. When the new Court House and jail were built in 1819 and named the East Prison, the Bridewell eventually became known as the West Prison. By the 1860s, the East Prison was adequate to cater for the number of inmates and the West Prison was closed in 1864. The building was demolished and its site became the works of James Garvie and Sons, carpenters and cabinetmakers. 154 Union Street
2106 Mitchell & Muil, Ltd., bakers, Scottish Temperance & General Assurance Co., Ltd. and Guardian Assurance Co., Ltd. at 154 and West End Café at 154A Union Street in 1937. Queen's Cross Church
2116 Queens Cross Church in the snow. In 1877 the Free Church discussed the possibility of a church to cater for those who lived in the increasingly popular west end of the city. They secured a triangular site at the Queen's Cross junction of Albyn Place and Carden Place.
Competitive designs were sought and John Bridgeford Pirie, of Pirie and Clyne, architects, were successful with his French Gothic design in granite. The steeple is 150 feet high and the grand entrance doorway is flanked by massive pillars leading into the nave where there was space for around 800 worshipers. There is a circular window in the east end, stained glass windows having been gifted by members of the congregation.
The building was opened for worship on 17th April 1881, and the popularity of its first Minister, the Rev Dr George Adam Smith brought large audiences to the church. He was later to become Principal of Aberdeen University.
The church became the only one of the city's free churches to have instrumental music when it acquired an organ built by Henry Willis. Queens Cross became Church of Scotland in 1929 when the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church merged. Various extensions have taken place, including a new hall and vestry in 1939, and the building was extensively restored in 1980. |