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Castlegate at Christmas time
44 The junction of the Castlegate and Union Street at Christmas. Note the sunken public toilets at the right of the photograph. They were filled in prior to the pedestrianisation of the Castlegate. Aberdeen Fire Brigade Christmas Dinner
1221 Aberdeen Fire Brigade, North Station 5 Christmas Dinner, c.1941. Middle top table is Robert Fergus Abercrombie Fire Master. St. Fittick's Well
1853 A photograph from 1906 of St. Fittick's Well, located in the Bay of Nigg.
An account of the well is given by Thomas W. Ogilvie (1861-1908) in The Book of Saint Fittick, a history of Torry, written and presented as a Bazaar Book to Saint Fittick's Church, Torry, in December 1901.
Ogilvie worked as a doctor in Torry for seven years and was prominent in the public life of the district. An account of his life is given in the introduction to a posthumously published collection of his verse, Poems (1911).
Ogilvie suggests use the well dates to pagan times and gives an account of its storied healing powers and the tradition of offering gifts in the hope of good health and fortune. He suggests St Fittick, the patron saint of Torry, became the object of these benefactions after the arrival of Christianity.
He details the tradition of visiting the area and leaving gifts on the first Sunday of May. Ogilvie writes:
"Town Council and Kirk Session struggled by laws and punishments to stop those Sunday wanderings and to efface those vestiges of old superstitions, but the customs of centuries die hard, and to-day young and old, to whom the name St. Fittick is a meaningless term and the repute of his well quite unknown, ramble on Sundays and week-days to the bay once called by his name, and they find the old power still lingers, for the beauty of the Bay, the fresh sea-breeze, and the pure draught from the old spring still bless and heal."
The well is understood to have been washed away by coastal erosion in the early 20th century. Its location, latterly its site, is recorded in old large scale Ordnance Survey maps. Chemistry Department, University of Aberdeen
2381 The Chemistry Department building of the University of Aberdeen. It is was opened on 17th September 1952 by Sir Robert Robinson, winner of the 1947 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
It was later renamed the Meston Building in memory of the Rt Hon Baron Meston of Agra and Dunnottar KCSI, VD, LLD Chancellor of the University 1928-1944.
The building was refurbished and expanded in 1968.
This image comes from the Lord Provost of Aberdeen John M. Graham's Christmas card from 1954. The Triple Kirks
2382 The Triple Kirks was a group of three churches sharing a common spire. It was designed by Archibald Simpson under the combined commission of Free Church adherents of the East, West and South Churches of Aberdeen. Building commenced within a month of the Disruption of May 1843.
Funds were limited so cheap materials were employed. The church is primarily composed of brick and Dundee sandstone. The cost of the churches was £5,300. The East Church opened on 31st December 1843, the South on 11th January 1844 and the West on 28th of that month.
This image is taken from the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Stephen's, Christmas card from 1955. 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. Robert Gordon's College
2384 A photograph of Robert Gordon's College from the 1950s. The image comes from Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Stephen's, Christmas card of 1957. Girdleness Lighthouse
2385 The Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses were responsible for the erection of Girdleness Lighthouse. It was designed by their engineer Robert Stevenson and building commenced in 1831. The lighthouse came into use as a permanent light station on 15th October 1833.
This photograph comes from the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Stephen's, Christmas card of 1958. Bridge of Don
2386 This image of the Bridge of Don is taken from the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Stephen's, Christmas card from 1959.
The bridge was constructed to meet an increased volume of traffic. It incorporates the previous 1830 granite bridge that was built to a design by Thomas Telford. The reconstructed bridge was officially opened on 25th May, 1959, by The Queen Mother. King's College Chapel
2387 A photograph of King's College Chapel from the Lord Provost of Aberdeen George Stephen's Christmas card of 1961.
This image looks north east and was taken from the garden of Powis Lodge, located across College Bounds from the chapel and its crown tower. Guest treasure: Aberdeen Journals' Photographic Collections
2435 The photographic collections of Aberdeen Journal Ltd span over a century. The photographs were taken to support stories and features in The Press & Journal and Evening Express newspapers - a picture speaks a thousand words after all. However, the accumulated photography has created a historical resource documenting life in the north east and Highlands during a century of change and development. The collection covers everything from the changing landscapes of our towns and cities through to global news events. But it's personal, too. People and their images are at the heart of our stories, be it the children on their first day in a new school through to community events and individual achievements. Your image is probably in the archive somewhere if you look hard enough.
The collection is actively used by our journalists. It provides content for favourites like The Aberdonian and Past Lives features in the Evening Express and historical context and background to stories in The Press & Journal. The collection is also used by external researchers looking for copies of images in which they or their family featured, supporting charities and associations celebrating anniversaries and even to supplement content as featured in The Silver City Vault!
archives@ajl.co.uk
View all the Christmas images from the archive in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the library touchscreens. Calder Design
2666 The Calder Design shop at 66-68 Esslemont Avenue. As indicated on the window the shop provides architecture and design services, house accessories, furniture and gifts.
Their Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) entry states that Calder Design has operated as a single person architectural practice for over 20 years and they have over 40 years of experience in the profession. Their specialisms are commercial, house extensions/renovations and refurbishments.
This photograph was taken on 24th January 2018. The shop appears to be for sale through the property agent FG Burnett. It is located near the top of Esslemont Avenue, across the road from the Rosemount Community Centre. The Development of Marischal Square and Broad Street (23/08/2015-20/04/2018): 39
3089 Atrium in Marischal Square. Andy Scott's impressive sculpture of a Leopard perched rather menacingly above a couple of pedestrians. The hut in the distance part of the 2017 Christmas Village. Mackie's 19.2 ice cream parlour on the right. 24/12/2017. Treasure 26: Sweet Red Riding Hood, His Majesty's Theatre, 1906
199 Monday 3 December 1906, 7.30pm. His Majesty's Theatre opens its doors to a brilliant audience and a grand production of the pantomime "Red Riding Hood". Our month's treasure features the pantomime's "Book of Words" printed to promote the event. Few things have been more intimately associated with Christmas than the popular family entertainment known by the name of pantomime.
The word, borrowing of Latin pantomimus (mime, dancer) and coming from the Greek pantóminos ("imitator of all") took the meaning of a drama or play performed without words at the beginning of the 18th Century. Later traditionally performed at Christmas, it incorporates colourful costumes, slapstick comedy, songs and audience participation...
Plots of pantomimes include a number of stock character types: the "principal boy" (the central young male figure, who is sometimes played by a female actor), the "pantomime dame" (always played by a male actor in drag), the villain and other comic characters. In "Sweet Red Riding Hood" at His Majesty's Theatre in 1906, loud calls were directed at the players; Miss Lyuba Lova, a reportedly fascinating Red Riding Hood, Miss Winifried Harbord as Boy Blue and Mr Willie Garvey who made a most amusing Mother Hubbard.
By selecting "Red Riding Hood" for the opening pantomime, the director of His Majesty Theatre, Mr Robert Arthur, made a happy hit as the traditional children's story attracted many people, young and old. Because it was a pantomime, the legend got almost lost in the musical and operatic melange but the performance was well applauded by both the public and the press. The pantomime, written by Frank Dix and composed by Jullien H. Wilson, was divided into two acts - the first in four scenes and the second in five scenes. The "Book of Words" contains the script, photographs of the actors and some local adverts.
For the first two nights of the pantomime, bookings were reserved for Debenture and Preference shareholders only, of which there were a considerable number, as nearly all the money for the new building has been raised locally. The pantomime, which ran till the end of the year, was greeted with whole-hearted applause from start to finish.
Treasure 27: City of Aberdeen Meteorological Records
200 The state of our weather is a regular topic of conversation whether it's a lovely sunny day or a dark, dreich day. November brought the first snow of the season to Aberdeen in 2015 so we have taken this opportunity to look at historical weather records in our collections and see if our winters used to be warmer, colder, snowier, or wetter than today's!
This table of weather statistics for December 1925 is contained in a large volume of titled 'City of Aberdeen Meteorological Records'. The records were obtained from Aberdeen University Observatory, King's College by the Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Dr Matthew Hay, for publication in his Monthly and Yearly Reports on the Health of the City.
Although this volume covers the period from January 1900 until the Monthly Records were discontinued in September 1931, Dr Hay also included meteorological data in his earlier reports and the later MOH annual reports also contained summaries of the data.
The University Observatory was created around 1868 on the upper storeys of the Cromwell Tower. The Meteorological Observer was William Boswell until 1902. He was succeeded by George Aubourne Clarke the following year. Their equipment included a telescope, thermometer screen and an anemometer. The Observatory was one of the Government's Meteorological Office weather stations and was taken over by the Air Ministry in 1921 but closed down in 1947.
The data in each table includes temperature, relative humidity, rainfall (snow or hail is indicated by the letters S or H), hours of sunshine, and wind direction and velocity.
This table from December 1925 shows that there was some snow in the first and third week but both Christmas Day and Hogmanay were the two sunniest days of the month with between 3 and 4 hours of sunshine each.
Today we are used to regular weather forecasts broadcast and printed in the media. The official body responsible for weather forecasting in Britain is the Met Office. Their website at http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ provides not only current forecasts and explanations of weather phenomena but also historical information on Britain's weather.
Check this link to see how many times there has been snow at Christmas in Aberdeen between 1942 and 2007. Aberdeen experienced 15 White Christmases as snow fell on 25 December. The likelihood of snow falling - and lying - in December has decreased in recent years due to the effects of Climate Change. Nowadays, Britain is much more likely to experience snow between January and March. Treasure 40: Valentine and Sons Postcards Collection, 1825-1963
209 Founded in 1825 as a printing firm based in Dundee, Valentine & Sons grew to become a prominent force in the postcard industry. Combining established printing practices with new developments in photography, Valentines were one of many companies able to exploit the growing Victorian tourist boom, aided in part by easier travel on Britain's new railway system.
James Valentine, son of the original founder John, became an early pioneer in photography with many of his works reproduced by the company from 1860. After James' death in 1879, the company continued under his two sons, George Dobson Valentine and William Dobson Valentine.
From 1896, Valentine and Sons began producing postcards to complement their existing business which included books of photographs, portraits and Christmas cards. As the postcard business grew in success, the company expanded into other tourist markets - including opening offices in Jamaica, Norway, North Africa, Canada and New York.
By the 1930s, the company focused solely on postcard production, but a focus on monochrome and sepia prints seems to have underestimated a growing demand for colour images. By the 1950s, the business was suffering and elected to change direction by returning to greetings cards. The company was purchased by Waddington & Co in 1963 - which in turn passed to Hallmark cards in 1980. Operations in Dundee ceased in 1994.
As with other producers of photographic material, the legacy of such a prolific business enables modern audiences a glimpse into the past with thousands of images from numerous locations capturing a given moment in time. Postcards have become a staple for those with historical interest, and many private collectors seek to hold the entire works of companies such as Valentine and Sons.
For the Local Studies service, the collection of postcards produced by Valentine and Sons offer some unique and fascinating insights into Aberdeen life in the past. Not only this, the messages written on the back of postcards - both from and to those in Aberdeen - can often bring a more human side to the historical picture.
Treasure 86: Bon Accord Christmas Annuals
298 Aberdonians of yesteryear would have been delighted to receive this particular treasure as a Christmas gift. The Bon Accord Annual was produced just before Christmas each year for over 30 years. Linked to the well-known local newspaper the Bon Accord and Northern Pictorial, it was packed full of seasonal treats in the form of photographs, adverts, short stories, poems, recipes and articles.
The Bon Accord Annual provided a round-up of the year's happenings and included a multitude of striking photographs. We are given a revealing glimpse into all aspects of local life at the time. The annual was filled with photographs and text covering graduations, amateur drama events, the arts scene, visits from the Royal Family, council elections, personal achievements, obituaries of prominent citizens, the church, the cinema, clubs, societies and weddings. The impression gained from leafing through the annuals is that the coverage of local events was far ranging and no occurrence was too insignificant to be recorded.
Issues of the Bon Accord and Northern Pictorial from 1926-1952 are available to the public for searching on microfilm in the Central Library. Our Local Studies department also holds Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial holiday numbers; Bon Accord Highland Show Souvenirs for 1928 and 1935 and the Bon Accord Silver Jubilee number from 1935.
Find out more about the annuals and the Bon Accord and Northern Pictorial in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Treasure 97: Aberdeen Grammar School Art Club
316 The work of the Aberdeen Grammar School Art Club can be seen in the collection of sketch books held in Local Studies for the years 1920 - 1923 and 1926 & 1928, and as supplements in some of the school magazines which also describe the early activities of the club.
The Art Club was started by the enthusiastic Art Master, C.R. Leslie Millar, in 1917. There was an initial membership of 25 boys with H. Morgan acting as Secretary, who was later complemented for his delightful posters and sketches on the notice boards. The club would go out sketching on Saturdays from mid-May and throughout June, working in pencil, oils, water-colours and pastels.
The first sketch book was produced for Christmas 1919 with introductory club notes. It's a tribute to the art masters that they did much to develop the appreciation of art and encourage individual talent among the pupils. The work of the club was favourably commented on by His Majesty's Inspectors and at the Aberdeen Artists Society Exhibition in December 1921 two club members were successful in having pictures accepted.
Have a look at some fine examples of the art club's sketches in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreens.
Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial - 1944 annual
527 The illustrated front cover of the Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial 1944 special number.
The Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial was published weekly from April 1926 until June 1959. It provided readers with news and sports items illustrated with high quality photographs.
The newspaper also published special annuals around December of each year. These would feature articles looking back at the events from the past 12 months.
This issue was published on 7th December 1944 and the cover image has a Christmas decoration design. As indicated at the bottom of the page, the Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial was at the time published by Henry Munro Ltd. of 22 Union Row, Aberdeen.
Aberdeen City Libraries hold a bound copy of this special number in our Local Studies Reserve Stock. |