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Honeybrae House
96 Honeybrae House. This house stood in the middle of a market garden near Morningfield Hospital about one-and-a-half miles west of Aberdeen City Centre. The lands were part of the old royal hunting forest of Stocket, given to the town of Aberdeen by Robert the Bruce. In the 17th century, it came into the ownership of the Skenes of Rubislaw and, in 1875, it was owned by Aberdeen Land Association. This two-storeyed house is most famous for its connection with the poet Lord Byron. In 1798, as a boy of about 10, he was taken there to spend a summer holiday while he was a pupil at Aberdeen Grammar School. At that time, it was probably a fairly new house, standing in its own grounds in a rural situation. He stayed there with his mother and their maid, Isabella Mitchell, before going to visit his old nurse, Agnes Gray. His room was on the first floor. By the 1830s, it was the home of a Captain John Boyd and later of market gardeners. Above the main door, there was a window whose thirteen small designed panes led it to be called 'the thirteen' window. By the 1920s, it had fallen into disrepair and the house was demolished in November 1928. The site was redeveloped for modern housing. Wallace Tower, Netherkirkgate
103 Wallace Tower in the Netherkirkgate looking towards St. Nicholas Church. The tower never had any connection with William Wallace. It is believed to have been the town residence of Sir Robert Keith of Benholm. The name "Wallace" may have been a corruption of "well-house". The Wallace Tower was re-sited at Tillydrone in the 1960s.
Correspondent Ed Fowler suggests that the ornamental building shown on the left at the end of the Netherhirkgate, next to the horse and cart, is the Dyers' Hall.
The name refers to the Dyers' or Litsters Society who were once an important and wealthy industrial group in Aberdeen. Newspaper notices suggest the building was used as a public house, where societies regularly met, and that it, and other buildings, were demolished in around 1807 to make way for a new street between Union Street and Tannery Street. Wallace Tower, Netherkirkgate
112 Wallace Tower in the Netherkirkgate looking towards St. Nicholas Church. The tower never had any connection with William Wallace. It is believed to have been the town residence of Sir Robert Keith of Benholm. The name "Wallace" may have been a corruption of "well-house". The Wallace Tower was re-sited at Tillydrone in the 1960s. Powis Gateway, Old Aberdeen
569 Built in 1834 for John Leslie of Powis by Alexander Fraser, the towers formed the east gate and archway from College Bounds, Old Aberdeen. These oriental style towers with minarets have provoked much interest over the years. At one time there was a portrait of John Leslie dressed in Turkish costume, on the walls of Powis House, but there is no obvious connection between the estate and the Middle East. The gateway is also adorned with panels bearing the coats of arms of the Lairds of Powis.
The Estate of Powis was owned by the Frasers - their crest is shown on the towers - until the marriage of an heiress to a Leslie. Powis House was built by Hugh Leslie.
The house was the home of John Leslie, Professor of Greek at King's College. It was subsequently owned by the Burnett Family. In 1936, J.G. Burnett sold most of the estate to Aberdeen Town Council who built a housing estate in the area comprising over 300 residences.
Powis House itself reopened in 1942 as the area's Community Centre and for a while housed a branch of Aberdeen Public Library. Fountainhall Well
635 This small cistern house was erected in connection with Aberdeen's first city water supply. Water had previously been obtained from the Loch but by 1706 it had become polluted and lead pipes were laid to bring water from Carden's Haugh Well. Six cisterns or fountain-houses were built along the old Fountainhall Road and water was conveyed from these sources to the Water House in Broad Street until 1866. A new scheme was eventually introduced and in 1903 the Fountainhall Well was taken from its original site and rebuilt in Duthie Park. Mannie in the Green
638 Mannie in the Green. This well was erected in the Castlegate in 1706 in connection with the first regular water supply in Aberdeen. In 1852, it was removed to this site in the Green, where it remained until the 1950s when it was removed for storage. It was re-erected in the Castlegate in the 1970s. Gateway to Powis Lodge
654 Built in 1834 for John Leslie of Powis by Alexander Fraser, the towers formed the east gate and archway from College Bounds, Old Aberdeen.
These oriental style towers with minarets have provoked much interest over the years. At one time there was a portrait of John Leslie dressed in Turkish costume, on the walls of Powis House, but there is no obvious connection between the estate and the Middle East. The gateway is also adorned with panels bearing the coats of arms of the Lairds of Powis.
The Estate of Powis was owned by the Frasers - their crest is shown on the towers - until the marriage of an heiress to a Leslie. Powis House was built by Hugh Leslie. By the late 19th century it was owned by the Burnett family and was taken over by Aberdeen City Council in the 1930s and converted into a community centre. Marischal Street
732 This photograph shows Marischal Street at its junction with Regent Quay, looking north towards Castle Street.
It was built to improve the connection between the harbour and the main part of the city, which had previously only been accessible via the steep incline of Shore Brae and the Shiprow.
In 1766, the Town Council were successful in purchasing the unoccupied Lodging of the Earl Marischal of Scotland which stood on the south side of the Castlegate. It was then demolished to open up the way for the new street, named in the Earl's honour.
It was the first street in Aberdeen to be paved with dressed granite setts. Houses were built and were occupied by prosperous professional men such as Dr William Dyce; Andrew Roberston, William Young and Alexander Fraser; both to become Provosts of Aberdeen. These properties were mostly converted to commercial use in later years.
The buildings on the right were replaced by the long and narrow, neo-classical building, designed by Robert Gordon Wilson and built in 1901-02, that can still be seen today at 33 Regent Quay. Honeybrae House
816 Honeybrae House. This house stood in the middle of a market garden near Morningfield Hospital about one and a half miles west of Aberdeen City Centre. The lands were part of the old royal hunting forest of Stocket, given to the town of Aberdeen by Robert the Bruce. In the 17th century, it came into the ownership of the Skenes of Rubislaw, and in 1875, it was owned by Aberdeen Land Association. This two storeyed house is most famous for its connection with the poet Lord Byron. In 1798, as a boy of about 10, he was taken there to spend a summer holiday while he was a pupil at Aberdeen Grammar School. At that time, it was probably a fairly new house, standing in its own grounds in a rural situation. He stayed there with his mother and their maid Isabella Mitchell, before going to visit his old nurse, Agnes Gray. His room was on the first floor. By the 1830's, it was the home of a Captain John Boyd and later of market gardeners. Above the main door, there was a window whose thirteen small designed panes, led it to be called 'the thirteen' window. By the 1920's, it had fallen into disrepair and the house demolished in November 1928, and the site redeveloped for modern housing. Abbey Place
1815 This 1900 image shows a rundown block of flats known as Abbey Place, situated on the Shiprow just up and east from the building known today as the Maritime Museum and next door, to the west, of Provost Ross's House.
The name is a bit of a mystery since there is no evidence that there ever was an abbey on the site. In the 13th century there was a chapel on St Katherine's Hill behind this area, but it is not thought that there is a connection.
Abbey Place was strictly speaking the name of the court that was to the rear of Provost Ross's House and was accessible through the pend visible on the right of this image.
The court was demolished in the late 1930's to make way for a cinema. However, because of delays caused by the Second World War, the Regal, later the ABC Cinema, was not opened until 1954. It was subsequently demolished in 1999 for further redevelopment.
The tenement in this image was refurbished and still stands between the Maritime Museum and Provost Ross's House.
Thanks to correspondent Ed Fowler for additional information on this image. Library Bindery
2392 In the 1902-03 Library Committee Minutes, the Librarian reports that a guillotine, "a machine much wanted in the Binder's department", had recently come on to the market in connection with the sale of a printer's stock. It was purchased at auction at a cost of £7.
This picture of the bindery shows the guillotine in the foreground and although it still survives in the Library, it is no longer used. The guillotine features the stamp of J. Greig and Sons Edinburgh, an engineering company based at Fountainbridge, Edinburgh which built machines for the printing, bookbinding and lithographic trades.
Other bindery artefacts which still survive including this wooden sewing frame which was used to stitch the pages of a book together before its covers were glued in position.
Even the Bindery clock, supplied by local company James Hardy and Co., still has a home in the Central Library today. Early GNSR locomotive and carriage at Waterloo Station in the 1860s
2631 The distance between the termini was inconvenient and missed connections were common. Horse drawn buses and cabs were available but most people changing trains walked. Priority was given to mail which was rushed by carriage between the two stations.
In 1862 Waterloo was handling five passenger services to the north, including through carriages to Inverness, and four trains to Buchan. By this
time a network of branch lines was developing north of Aberdeen.
Following several years of controversy over the route and cost of a direct connection between the SNER and the GNSR, Parliament brokered an agreement between the two companies to jointly fund a line from Kittybrewster to a new station in Guild Street at a cost of about £200,000, involving two tunnels and the culverting of the Denburn. Old Gateway, Marischal College
3127 A photograph showing the gateway on Broad Street that once lead through to Marischal College and Greyfriars Church. It was demolished to make way for the new frontage of the College opened in 1906. On the right can be seen a small part of the College Gate Clothing House.
The following description is given on the back of this undated printed image:
"The City of Aberdeen has risen rapidly within the last decade or two in population and in importance as a commercial centre, and those conducting its business have from time to time found it necessary to adapt themselves and their premises to the altered circumstances. There is no business in connection with the Drapery Trade which has developed more than that conducted by the Proprietor of Greyfriars Warehouse. The business was commenced in 1867, in a small shop with one window on the east side of Broad Street, in front of Marischal College. Two years later a double shop adjoining was added, and, in 1878, the premises known as Greyfriars Buildings were opened, with several new departments.
"Ultimately these were found to be insufficient for the rapidly increasing business, when three blocks of buildings were secured on the west side of Broad Street, fronting Marischal College. These were partly rebuilt and arranged so as to admit of the introduction of new departments, such as Furniture, Carpets, Bedding and General Upholstery, and during the past year an entirely new block has been erected." Torry
3586 This photograph shows snow covered fifies and small line boats moored in the Torry Harbour. Two Peterhead steam drifters rest mid-shot.
This image faces North-East, towards a Torry leading lighthouse and North Kirkhill, which is visible in the distance. The South Breakwater lighthouse is visible just beyond.
The steam drifters presence indicates this photo was likely taken no earlier than 1905, when the Aberdeen Daily Journal started showcasing their launches.
Two buildings on the right of the image sit along Torry Quay. The building on the left, as indicated by its sign, is the University Bar. This was a pub in the building that still stands at the time of writing in 2023, though altered, at 170 Sinclair Road. It was a pub for many years, called Campbell's, and is currently a school of dance.
The Aberdeen Pub Companion (1975) by Archibald Hopkin suggests its original name was due to a connection to University boating activities. By the time of Hopkin's book, the pub was called the Nineteenth Hole, after its proximity to the Balnagask golf course.
Hopkin describes the Nineteenth Hole as a "splendid traditional pub", praising its wide range of drinks, decoration and fine view over the harbour to the North Sea. He also states that the licensee for many years, Charles Campbell (likely the source of the pub's later name) was regularly adding to the pub's range of over 130 whiskies. John Knox United Free Church
3805 A photograph of John Knox U. F. Church on Gerrard Street.
This image, credited to "G. Brodie, Aberdeen.", is from page 44 of a book of the bazaar held by Aberdeen City Libraries. The book is called Life of John Knox: with an account of John Knox Free Church and its Ministers. Issued in connection with Bazaar to be held in Music Hall Buildings, Aberdeen on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 26th, 27th, 28th., 1899 (1899).
The photographer is most likely Geddes Mackenzie Scott Brodie, an Aberdeen photographer who died at Yoker, aged 50, on 16th April 1919 (see Aberdeen Daily Journal, 8th July 1919, page 2).
This new church building was built during the ministry of Rev. Robert Macleod. It cost around £6,000 and was opened in January 1900.
At August 2021, this church is occupied by the Gerrard Street Baptist Church congregation. Rev. Robert Macleod
3806 A photographic portrait of Rev. Robert Macleod (c.1845-1927). He was the minister at John Knox United Free Church on Gerrard Street between 1883 and 1915.
Macleod was a native of Wick and was the father of J. J. R. Macleod, Nobel prize winning discoverer of insulin for the treatment of diabetes. Robert Macleod died in Edinburgh on 9th June 1927 and was buried in Aberdeen's Allenvale Cemetery. An obituary for him can be found in the Press and Journal of 10th June 1927, page 8.
This photograph is from a plate facing page 40 of a book of the bazaar held by Aberdeen City Libraries. The book is called Life of John Knox: with an account of John Knox Free Church and its Ministers. Issued in connection with Bazaar to be held in Music Hall Buildings, Aberdeen on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 26th, 27th, 28th., 1899. (1899) Wallace Tower, Netherkirkgate
26 Wallace Tower in the Netherkirkgate looking towards St Nicholas Church. The tower never had any connection with William Wallace. It is believed to have been the town residence of Sir Robert Keith of Benholm. The name "Wallace" may have been a corruption of "well-house". The Wallace Tower was re-sited at Tillydrone in the 1960s. Powis Gateway, Old Aberdeen
38 Powis Gateway, Old Aberdeen. These curious towers stand at the gate leading to Powis Lodge, almost opposite King's College, Old Aberdeen. They were constructed by John Leslie of Powis, who succeeded his father, Hugh Leslie of Powis, the builder of Powis House (1802), which was demolished in connection with the Powis Housing Scheme. John Leslie succeeded his father in 1812, and the singular gateway, with the "minarets", dates from about 1830. The towers were finished in 1834. The crescent on the top of one of the towers is the crest of the Frasers, the predecessors of the Leslies in the property of Powis." Treasure 48: Tuberculosis Exhibition Poster
219 In March 1912 an exhibition on the infectious disease tuberculosis was held in the Music Hall on Union Street. This striking poster, with the headline 'War on consumption', advertised the six day event and the accompanying series of lectures.
The exhibition was organised by the Town Council of Aberdeen and the National Association for the Prevention of Consumption. The majority of the exhibition was brought to the city by the latter party with local additions from the Aberdeen Public Health Department, the pathological and public health laboratories of the University of Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Mothers' and Babies' Club.
The exhibition arrived in Aberdeen on the 16 March from Dundee where it had been visited by 30,000 people. It had also toured Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Hull.
The exhibits were arranged in the Music Hall's Ball Room and Square Room by Mr Haughton, the organising secretary, with assistance by officials of the Public Health Department. The exhibition included two full sized model rooms. Living conditions such as good ventilation, fresh air and sunlight were considered vital in combating the disease. A "bad room" was modelled on a real property in the East End of London.
Tuberculosis was a grave health concern at the time. The poster states that "During the past Ten Years in Aberdeen 1997 persons died from Consumption, and 1039 from other forms of Tuberculosis." In a preview of the exhibition from 19 March, the Aberdeen Journal wrote "The object of the exhibition is to draw attention to the enormous wastage of life and work caused by tuberculosis in its various forms; to show how the disease is caused and spread; and to illustrate the methods of cure and the precautions for its prevention."
The importance of the exhibition was further stressed in a later article which stated: "There is no single disease that causes among civilian communities so many deaths and manifests itself in such various forms, and nothing can be more desirable than to bring home to the masses of people how the deadly scourge can best be prevented or checked. In Aberdeen alone the number of deaths yearly from all forms of tuberculosis is about 270, and of these about two-thirds, or 180, are due to pulmonary tuberculosis. The disease usually lasts long, and the number of definite diseases attributable to it at any one time in the city is probably not less than four or even five times as large as the deaths."
The exhibition was opened by the Principal of the University of Aberdeen, George Adam Smith, and was accompanied by a series of daily public lectures by experts on the disease. Each day's lecture was followed by cinematograph presentations illustrating the precautions taken in connection to tuberculosis. The lectures were held next-door to the Music Hall in the Aberdeen Y.M.C.A. Hall.
At the close of the "six day crusade against tuberculosis", Lord Provost Maitland described the exhibition and lecture series as "Magnificent" and the Journal stated that the success of the event, "judged by popularity, is beyond all doubt." In total 39,960 attended over the six days, placing Aberdeen behind only Hull which was open for an extra day. Approximately 20,000 health pamphlets were disseminated around the city, including 15,000 catalogues freely distributed by the Public Health Committee. A copy of this catalogue, which includes an instructive article from Hay, is kept in the collection of Aberdeen Local Studies. Treasure 71: Crathie Churches and Royal Bazaar at Balmoral, September 1894
273 Every year Her Majesty the Queen and members of the royal family visit Balmoral Castle and during their stay they may attend services in Crathie Church. This treasure from our Local Studies collection highlights the close connection which has existed for well over a century between the Royal Family and the local church and people in Crathie.
Bazaar books were created to help raise church funds and this particular book is unusual as it was written and published after - rather than before - the bazaar took place. In this sense it might be regarded as a more accurate historical document. It was written by William W Philip, Assistant Forester at Balmoral, and the accounts given are based on his personal observations of the bazaar.
The royal family were closely involved in the organisation and running of the bazaar and it was opened by HRH Princess Louise on the first day and on the second day by her husband, the Marquis of Lorne.
The event was a lavish affair and took place close to Balmoral Castle in the aptly named Statue Park where statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert still stand.
Find out more about the vast array of items on sale and the entertainment on offer at the Bazaar in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen in Central, Airyhall, Tillydrone and Mastrick libraries.
Treasure 91: Aberdeen Art Gallery Ephemera
310 As the refurbishment of Aberdeen Art Gallery continues this is an opportunity to feature a selection of ephemera held in the Library collections reflecting some aspects of its history. The full history of the Gallery is documented in Jennifer Melville's book, Aberdeen Art Gallery - A History, published in 2010. The Aberdeen Daily Journal of 10 April 1905 described the opening of the handsome new Sculpture Gallery and the enlarged art galleries by distinguished artist Sir George Reid as "an important stage in an epoch-making period in the history of Aberdeen's connection with art". Sketches of the proposed new Sculpture Gallery appeared in the Aberdeen Daily Journal on 27 January 1903 but it was not until 8 April 1905 that the official opening took place. In the Library collections we hold a number of items which describe the events of that day. The Programme of Proceedings with its beautifully illustrated front cover gives the order of speeches and music selections for the occasion.
Find out more about the Art Gallery in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Treasure 96: Aberdeen Intelligencer
315 There are currently two daily newspapers in Aberdeen - "The Press and Journal" and "Evening Express". The Evening Express first appeared in January 1879 but The Press and Journal has a much longer history, being first published in January 1748 as the Aberdeen Journal - notable as the first newspaper to be published in northern Scotland.
Its editor was James Chalmers, son of the Rev. James Chalmers, Professor of Divinity at Marischal College. Over the years there have been several rivals to the Journal's initial monopoly but the earliest was first published on 3rd October 1752 by Francis Douglas and William Murray. Their paper was The Aberdeen Intelligencer and it was supportive of the Jacobite cause whereas the Journal had Whig sympathies. The earliest original issue of the Aberdeen Journal held in our Local Collections is for 1758, but microfilm copies of the Journal from 1748 onwards are available for consultation in the Information Centre. The Journal notes the forthcoming appearance of its rival in an advert in 1752 and subsequent notices give some idea of the contest between the two papers which ended in 1757 when there appears to have been an agreement that Douglas and Murray should gain an interest in the Journal while ceasing to publish their own newspaper. The last issue appeared on 22 February 1757.
Find out more about the rivalry between the two newspapers, and how it was overcome; in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreens. Treasure 108: Local Studies Poetry Collection
329 One of our treasures this month is the Local Studies poetry collection.
In terms of treasures it might be thought of as a large golden casket filled with sparkling jewels -each one representing a book of poetry and a veritable treasure in its own right. In common with the rest of the Local Studies collection the main qualification for the inclusion of a particular work is that there should be a local connection. The poet may live/have lived locally or have written about the local area. As might be imagined this has led to the acquisition of a large and varied body of work.
It would be impossible to cover every poet and so a selection has been made. A number of famous, lesser known, male and female poets have been included and hopefully this may give a flavour of what is held within the collection. In "The Bards of Bon Accord" by William Walker the author describes a long tradition of poetry writing in Aberdeen and the Northeast dating back to the 14th century, with poets often writing in old Scots. This tradition continues today with modern poets like Sheena Blackhall and Douglas Kynoch writing both in English and their native dialect popularly known as the Doric.
To learn more about this fascinating collection, have a browse in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition. Map showing location of first Joint Station
362 Map showing location of first Joint Station alongside the Caledonian Railway's original terminus. Note that the course of the River Dee was closer to the centre of the city in the 1860s.
Following several years of controversy over the route and cost of a direct connection between the SNER and the GNSR, Parliament brokered an agreement between the two companies to jointly fund a line from Kittybrewster to a new station in Guild Street at a cost of about £200,000, involving two tunnels and the culverting of the Denburn. |