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Settmaker at Persley Quarry
1071 The Aberdeen area had many granite quarries, and there was a need for men who had the skill to reduce huge blocks of granite into manageable pieces by chipping it with a variety of hammers, and chisels to produce the required shape and size. In this 1920's photograph we see a settmaker at Persley Quarry on the north side of the River Don in Aberdeen, at his wooden shelter or 'skaithie'. These shelters provided some sort of wind break for these men who had to sit on blocks of granite patiently working on the hard stone. Settmakers made cassies for roads and Aberdeen setts were used to pave streets in London. On his left is a tripod structure which acted like a small crane to lift the bigger stones into position. Note the lack of protective safety equipment apart from some extra padding on his knees. George Street
1193 This 1987 photo of the west side of George Street shows nos. 29 and 31 in their last days of trading before closing prior to their demolition for the shopping development to be known as the Bon Accord Centre.
John Martin, butcher, had been in business here for nearly 100 years. The original John Martin opened this shop after having been manager in the butchery department of the Northern Co-operative Society. He retired in 1932 and the business was carried on in the same name by his two sons. On the door was the sign: "Redevelopment closure - this shop will cease trading Saturday 11 April 1987".
Sometime prior to the demolition of the building, the flats above these shops had been renovated as accommodation for students at Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology (now The Robert Gordon University). Northfield Farm
1503 Northfield Farm was located at Bannermill behind Northfield Church of Scotland. It was tenanted by the Booth family for centuries. The farm was leased from the Hays of Seaton.
Along with the adjoining farms of West Northfield and Oldtown, the farm was taken over by the Corporation of Aberdeen in 1946 and eventually demolished to make way for the expansion of the housing estate of the same name.
The name Northfield is believed to have come from the area being the most northerly point of the Freedom Lands given to the burgh of Aberdeen by King Robert the Bruce.
(Many thanks to Alexander Gavin for providing information and prompting further research into the history of the farm.) Northfield Farm
1504 Northfield Farm was located at Bannermill behind Northfield Church of Scotland. It was tenanted by the Booth family for centuries. The farm was leased from the Hays of Seaton.
Along with the adjoining farms of West Northfield and Oldtown, the farm was taken over by the Corporation of Aberdeen in 1946 and eventually demolished to make way for the expansion of the housing estate of the same name.
The name Northfield is believed to have come from the area being the most northerly point of the Freedom Lands given to the burgh of Aberdeen by King Robert the Bruce.
(Many thanks to Alexander Gavin for providing information and prompting further research into the history of the farm.) Aberdeen Corporation's Electricity Works
1754 The turbine hall of Aberdeen Corporation's Electricity Works, corner of Crown Street and Millburn Street. Hydraulic power was obtained via a special water intake from the River Dee near Stell Road.
Correspondent Ed Fowler flagged up that the report for a 1907 visit to the works by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers is available to read online. It contains an interesting section with details of the switchboards visible in this image:
"Switchboards.- The electric light and traction switchboards, which run along the south wall for about two-thirds of its length, stand in line with one another on a raised gallery of cast-iron columns and girders supporting a glass fireproof floor about 12 feet above the engine-floor level. The glass floor in the gallery not only serves as an insulator, but also allows a certain amount of light to pass into the area immediately underneath. Both boards are of white marble, the lighting board having been supplied by Messrs. Siemens Bros. and Co., while the traction board of their ordinary standard type was supplied by the British Westinghouse Co." John F. Lessels Group Portrait
2141 This group portrait of three women was taken by John Fraser Lessels. He styled himself "The Photo King" and is so credited on the back of this postcard photograph. The postcard is addressed to "Miss Jeannie Robb, 124 Union Street, Aberdeen."
Lessels had a bold approach to promotion. An advert in the Aberdeen Daily Journal from 1908 reads "SALVATION for 6d, Cabinet Size. Get saved now. Lessels, Photo King, 64 St Nicholas Street."
Lessels was born in Aberdeen in 1878 and married a cousin called Faith Duncan in 1907. The Photo King had studios throughout Aberdeen, his main office being at 15 Crown Street, and a number of premises in Edinburgh and Angus. Faith Duncan worked as a photographer's assistant and Lessels' also had a sister who was a photographer but who sadly died aged 25.
As a life-long pacifist he and his family moved to Dublin to avoid conscription in World War I and worked with the Lafayette photographic studio. Lessels later moved to Bangor in Northern Ireland where he is understood to have had a difficult time and appears to have suffered a mental breakdown and incarceration. One of his sons, Maurice Lessels, ran a photographic studio in Lisburn, County Antrim for many years. (Many thanks to Ian McDonald for his research into this Aberdeen photographer). The opening of the Rowett Research Institute
2240 The opening of the Rowett Research Institute by Queen Mary in September 1922. Craibstone School of Rural Domestic Economy
2270 Craibstone House was formerly the home of the Pirie family who owned Stoneywood Paper Mills and it was bought by the North of Scotland College of Agriculture in 1913 and this school was set up around 1920. It is situated near Bucksburn, about 5 miles north of Aberdeen. The School was a training college for women who wanted to work on the land and provided training in household work, cookery, laundry, dairying, poultry and bee keeping and farm accounts.
This 20-roomed mansion was totally destroyed by fire in January 1953 but a new college was built and the college continued to use the estate for research and experimental work in relation to grassland and crops. However, by 1968 Rural Domestic Economy was no longer a viable course and the School closed. Stop 12: Isabella Burgess (1930-1933), Lord Provost Margaret Farquhar CBE (1996-1999) and Margaret Smith Council Leader (1996-1999)
2311 Our final stop is back at the Town House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, where in 1930 Isabella Burgess was the first woman to be elected onto Aberdeen City Council. Miss Burgess was an Independent and represented the Gilcomston Ward until 1933, when she retired owing to ill health. She had spent her working life in the teaching profession and was the first Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland for the Aberdeen branch.
After nearly 800 years Aberdeen got its first woman Lord Provost when Margaret Farquhar CBE was elected in 1996 after having served as a councillor in the Northfield ward for 25 years.
The first woman ever to become the leader of Aberdeen City Council was Margaret Smith who was elected in 1996 and served until 1999 when she then went on to become Lord Provost until 2002.
Memories:
Margaret Farquhar speaking about her career in politics
Margaret Smith discusses her career in politics Acknowledgments
2364 How Aberdeen Women's Alliance City Centre Heritage Walk developed:
Following the group's involvement with Women of Scotland's Mapping Memorials to Women website (http://www.womenofscotland.org.uk/), with our partners at Glasgow Women's Library (http://www.womenslibrary.org.uk/),
at the Central Library in February 2013, we felt there was a number of women in Aberdeen who have made an important and significant contribution to the life of our city that we rarely ever hear about.
This inspired a group of volunteers to develop the Aberdeen City Centre Women's Heritage Walk.
By creating this virtual version of the walk we aim to share the many stories of these wonderful women and their achievements with as many people as possible. We also aimed to enrich the account of these women by recording, and making available, the fascinating memories of members from community members.
How to get involved:
Aberdeen women's history is still largely unwritten and not visible to the public. There are many ways women can get involved with us to address this. You are welcome help us with research or join our tour guide teams. If you have information that can be added to this walk, suggestions of how it can be improved, or memories you would like to share - we want to hear from you!
How to contact us:
Email: awainfo@btinternet.com
Postal address:
Aberdeen Women's Alliance
c/o Equalities team
Aberdeen City Council
Marischal College
Broad Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1AB
Many thanks to our virtual tour partners:
Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen City Libraries
And special thanks to:
Aberdeen Local Studies Craigiebuckler House
2602 A photograph of Craigiebuckler House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929). The lands surrounding this house were sold by the town council in 1817.
The house was built in the 1820s by Provost James Blaikie. The James Hutton Institute, then the The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, later built their Aberdeen campus on the estate, incorporating the house. Prince Philip at the Rowett Institute
2617 A long shot showing Prince Philip talking to members of staff outside the main Rowett Institute building. Prince Philip at the Rowett Institute
2618 Prince Philip delivering a speech at the Rowett Institute. Members of staff stand in the background. The man fourth from the left is Sir Kenneth Lyon Blaxter, third director of the institute between 1965-1982.
The left most figure in the image is Sir Edward Maitland Wright (1906-2005), principal of the University of Aberdeen from 1962 to 1976. He was also a Professor of Mathematics at the University from 1936-1962. Prince Philip at the Rowett Institute
2619 Prince Philip exiting a Rowett Institute building about to greet members of staff. He is followed by E.M. Wright. Prince Philip at the Rowett Institute
2620 Prince Philip meeting members of staff at the Rowett Institute. Prince Philip at the Rowett Institute
2621 Prince Philip chatting to members of staff at the Rowett Institute. Prince Philip at the Rowett Institute
2622 Prince Philip preparing to plant a tree at the Rowett Institute. Prince Philip at the Rowett Institute
2623 Prince Philip planting a tree at the Rowett Institute, accompanied by institute officials, and watched by a seated audience. The two people behind him are E. M. Wright and Kenneth Lyon Blaxter. Prince Philip at the Rowett Institute
2624 Prince Philip, Kenneth Lyon Blaxter and E. M. Wright walk and converse with the facility's buildings in the background. Flora Maxwell Portrait
2720 This postcard features a photographic portrait of a group of women by Flora Maxwell.
Maxwell was a photographer with a studio at 187 Rosemount Place, opposite Watson Street. In her adverts she describes herself as "The Lady Photographer" and offers "Artistic portraiture at a moderate price". Other newspaper mentions indicate she was active in the Soroptimist International.
The group appear to be a branch of the Scottish Women's Rural Institute. They are all, except the central figure, wearing the badge of this organisation. It can not be seen here but the badge features a crowned heart with a chevron reading "For home & country". Which branch of the S.W.R.I. they are is unclear.
If you can provide information on the nature of this group we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us by using the comment button below the image. Aberdeen Sailors' Mission and Home
2751 The granite facade of the Aberdeen Sailors' Mission and Home building, built in 1893-95, that has been retained and incorporated into a large residential development on Mearns Street. This appears to be all that remains of the building.
The eastern elevation we can see here was part of a three block extension to the institute designed by architect James Souttar. There was also an entrance to the building on James Street. A preview of the opening of the building, with a detailed description of it, can be read in the Aberdeen Journal of 26th September 1895, page 7.
Queen Elizabeth II's first solo opening ceremony was the Aberdeen Sailor's Home, after it was reconstructed, on 3rd October 1944.
Also of local interest in this image is a car from the well-known firm Panda Rosa Metals. This family business specialise in ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling and have been operating in Aberdeen for many decades.
Mearns Street, originally running from Regent Quay to Virginia Street, was constructed on the site of a previous thoroughfare called Pork Lane. This was described as a narrow lane of congested tenements and had a reputation for ill-health and crime.
Post Office directories indicate that Pork Lane was demolished in around 1885-86 and that Mearns Street was established by 1887-88. This development was part of a programme called the Shorelands Scheme of Improvements.
In October 1886, the Improvement Committee of Aberdeen Town Council recommended the name of the new street in compliment to the master of shore works who had initiated the improvement scheme, Daniel Mearns (Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 23rd October 1886, page 4).
Mearns (1838-1913) was a shipping merchant, councillor for the St. Clements Ward, active in the Aberdeen Harbour Board and went on to serve as Aberdeen's Lord Provost between 1895 and 1898. CONCLUSION
2880 Sadly, my report ends here. It has been a great pleasure researching the relationship between two countries with which I strongly identify. I was born in Poland and moved to Scotland when I was 6 months old along with my family. I can relate to both parts and consider myself a citizen of both countries. I hope you have enjoyed reading this report and are encouraged to research into your own family ancestry. Maybe you'll find some Polish heritage. Who knows? But most of all I hope you have become more knowledgeable on the matter, possibly making our community more aware of racism and prejudice and helping to tackle these very important issues in Aberdeen.
Sources and References
'Scots in Poland, Poles in Scotland' from The Krakow Post
link
Aberdeen Press and Journal, Saturday 27th April 1935
Aberdeen Press and Journal, Friday 13th September 1931
Wikipedia entry for Alexander Czamer
link
'Scotland and Poland' from #ScotlandIsNow
link
'Polish "most targeted group" in prejudice in Aberdeen' from BBC News
link
'Alexander Chalmers, Scottish Mayor of Warsaw' by Ross 'Teddy' Craig
link
'History of Gordon's' from Robert Gordon's College website
link
'Scots Diaspora' by Andrew Elliott
link
'Did you know?' from Mapa Scotland: the Great Polish Map of Scotland
link
'Papers Relating to the Scots in Poland (1576-1798)' from Electric Scotland
link
Aberdeen Training Centre 1914-1916
2903 A photographic print with collated portraits of the staff and pupils of the Aberdeen Training Centre. The class photograph is from during World War I so some of the staff are in uniform.
The Training Centre was part of the University of Aberdeen, as can be seen by the University's coat of arms in the top right of the image. The man in the centre of the print is likely George Smith, the institute's director of studies between 1907 and 1922.
The photographs were taken and compiled by prominent Aberdeen photographer, Fred W. Hardie. As indicated in the lower right of the image his studio was located at 416 Union Street. Before starting his own business, Hardie was a senior staff photographer with the George Washington Wilson Company.
The photographic studio at 416 Union Street was later taken over by A. J. B. Strachan. Street entertainer
3346 We believe this photograph shows a man historically known as Fool Friday entertaining a group of children and adults outside a house in Aberdeen. Fool Friday was a street vendor who sold ice cream in summer and hot chestnuts in winter. He may have also played a barrel piano as shown here.
Fool Friday was an often seen, distinctive character on the streets of Aberdeen. References to him in recorded oral history and newspapers suggest he sold his goods around the town centre, including at the Castlegate. He appears to have been around in the earlier years of the 20th century, between the two world wars. Little seems to be known, or recorded, about the life of this intriguing figure.
He is mentioned in an article of reminiscences by Arthur Bruce from the Leopard magazine of December 1986/January 1987. Bruce writes "I am reminded of another worthy who lived round the corner in Harriet Street, an Ice Cream Mannie, with a home and family. Of Italian origins he was known as 'Fool Friday' - nothing to do with being stupid, I may add, simply the local dialect for foul or dirty. Legend had it that the nickname was well deserved, but as a child I was never aware of his less than hygienic approach to the business of selling ice cream from a 'cairtie'. I have never solved the mystery of the 'Friday' part, although I should be delighted to hear from anyone who knows the answer."
It is possible that this photograph shows not Fool Friday, but someone else entirely. A letter in the Evening Express of 30th October 1979, looking back to this earlier time, describes a man known as Can-Tam who played a barrel organ in the streets. The letter writer suggests that Can-Tam's organ was smashed by a tram and subsequently replaced by the council.
A suggestion received through social media and subsequent further research indicates that this image may show Guiseppe, or Joseph, Bordone (1872-1957). He was an eating house keeper and an ice-cream and chestnuts vendor. A brief mention in the Evening Express newspaper of 15th March 1994, page 8, suggests that Bordone may have been known as Fool Friday, but this is uncertain.
This photograph was printed as a postcard and these were perhaps sold to the families visited by the entertainer. This postcard was lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Bill Cheyne so that we could create and preserve a digital copy for public use. |