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Lower Justice Mill, Union Glen
810 Justice Mills of one kind or another are first mentioned in the 1300s, and were the site of a famous battle. In their final form, an Upper Justice Mill occupied a site later partially covered by the Odeon Cinema building, while the Lower Mill stood in Union Glen, at the bottom of the steep slope with its mill dam above and behind it (see water wheel centre left). The left hand part of the building and the wheel were removed when the cinema was built, the dam was drained and a thoroughfare created into Union Glen, but the central and right hand parts survived, albeit derelict, into the 1960s.
The wagon in front of the buildings is painted with the business name James Alexander & Son, Grain Merchants. The 1866-67 Ordnance Survey large scale town plan of Aberdeen indicates that Lower Justice Mill was a corn mill.
A black cat can also be seen in the centre right of the image and a woman carrying some type of load is in front of the waterwheel.
Correspondent Geoffrey Mann has been in touch to inform us that in 1793 there was a miller at the Justice Mills called George Reid. This information was found from an Old Machar baptismal record for his and Margaret Smith's (his wife) daughter Elizabeth.
Coincidentally, there was another George Reid (1826-1881) who was a partner in the prominent seedsmen and agricultural implement makers, Messrs Benjamin Reid & Co., who had their Bon-Accord Works just to the east of the Justice Mills. The obituary of this later George Reid from The Aberdeen Journal 16/07/1881 states that at the time his death he lived with his two sisters in Justice Mill Lane. Wellington Lodge
811 A photograph showing Wellington Lodge on the corner of Justice Mill Lane and Holburn Street.
The top of Holburn Street, towards Holburn Junction, was previously known as South Street and later as Wellington Place. In the background of this image, on the far left, can be seen the John Smith designed Water House on Union Street.
Wellington Lodge stood across the road from Holburn Church, roughly where the Glentanar Bar stands today. It can be seen on the large scale Ordnance Survey town plan and map sheets from the 1860s.
The property appears to have belonged to the Whytes of Dalhebity, Cults. For some time Wellington Lodge was the residence of Helen Whyte and she was likely the house's final resident.
Helen Whyte died aged 85 on 31st January 1898 (death notice: Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 09/02/1898, p. 4). Newspaper references suggest she was involved in various charitable activities. She was the daughter of Baillie John Whyte, a merchant, and had a brother also called John Whyte (1845-1904), a prominent citizen and advocate.
Another death notice indicates that Mary Ann Hardie, of 48 Victoria Road, Torry, was employed for 38 years as the servant for Miss Helen Whyte. Hardie died in 1895 (death notice: Aberdeen Journal, 17/08/1895, p. 4).
Newspapers also suggest the villa was the home of Miss Mary Murray Gordon. She would likely have been a relation of James Murray Gordon who was a partner in the same law firm as John Whyte, Helen's aforementioned brother.
Wellington Lodge was probably demolished shortly after the death of Helen Whyte. It made way for the extension of the larger tenement buildings on Holburn Street that can be seen in the background of this photograph.
The Aberdeen Weekly Journal's 'Granite Chips' column of 17th May 1899 (p. 9) states "A very large and handsome block of buildings for Mr Peter Farquharson has been erected in Holburn Street, stretching from the office of the Union Bank of Scotland to Justice Mill Lane." This most likely refers to this development.
David Miller in Archibald Simpson, Architect, His Life and Times 1790-1847 (2006) states that this villa was designed by Simpson for Mrs Yeats of Auquharney (page 174). Sandilands: aerial photograph
850 An aerial view of Sandilands Chemical Works looking east towards the sea. This image likely dates from around the mid-20th century.
Some of the houses on Garvock Wynd, the street on the right of this image, have disappeared compared to earlier aerial views. The next street along to the left, with "the Big Hoose" on its corner, is Baltic Street. Miller Street runs along the bottom of the image.
These chemical works began in 1848 when brothers John and George Miller of Paisley leased the land adjacent to gas works that had opened in 1844. Their intention was to process the by-products of coal gas manufacture. The business operated as John Miller & Company, known locally as "stinky Miller's", and went on to manufacture a range of products for North East agriculture.
An obituary for John Miller can be found in the Aberdeen Free Press of 6th March 1894, page 4. An obituary for George Miller featured on page 4 of the Aberdeen Weekly Journal of 11th September 1889.
In around 1928, Miller & Co. became part of Scottish Agricultural Industries (SAI). In the 1930s, the first SAI manager, Mr. Bremner, was appointed and this marked the beginning of the end of the Miller era.
SAI was formed in 1928, part of ICI agricultural division (ICI owned 51%), by combining firms such as J. Miller & Co. in Aberdeen, Milne in Dyce and firms in Carnoustie, Ayr, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Beyond the chemical works can be seen Queen's Links and the Pleasure Beach across Wellington Street. The esplanade and North Sea are visible beyond. Sandilands Chemical Works
858 Sandilands Chemical Works. Storage tanks for Tar / Ammonia distillate pumped from the Gas Works. John Miller and Co. started business in 1848 having the expertise to convert this distillate into various oils and other products. Gas Works had started in 1844. The sections shown are made of cast iron and were bolted together to form storage tanks. These could be dismantled and re-sited as required. 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. A School of Dolphins: Dazzle at Bridge of Don Library
2186 Our Dolphin's is called Dazzle because its tail and fins sparkle in the light like dazzling diamonds. Dazzle is also a name for either a girl or a boy dolphin so we didn't have to choose. Our design was inspired by the beautiful holographic illustrations in 'The Rainbow Fish', by Marcus Pfister. It's a favourite story at Talking Tots and tells the tale of a beautiful fish with silvery scales. Collaborative. Creative. Memorable. Executive of Trades Council, 1939
2404 A collection of portraits of the Executive of Trades Council taken from William Diack's History of the Trades Council and the Trade Union Movement in Aberdeen (1939).
Top Row - James Hunter, Bakers ; Burnett Gordon, Shop Assistants ; David Roger, Unemployed Association ; Andrew Gray, Unemployed Association.
Second Row - Alexander Brown, N.U.G.M.W ; Robert A. R. Fraser, Shop Assistants ; David G. Campbell, Printing, Book-binding and Paperworkers (Vice-President) ; Gilbert W. Duthie, N.U.R.
Third Row - Veda Maitland, Shop Assistants (Assistant Secretary) ; James J. Stewart, N.U.D.A.W. (President) ; William McLean Brown, N.U.D.A.W (Secretary).
Fourth Row - George Munro, Plasterers ; William Walker, A.E.U. ; Margaret McGregor, Printing, Book-Binding and Paperworkers ; Neil Howie, Scottish Painters ; James Milne, A.S.W.
Fifth Row - Alexander T. Lumsden, Vehicle Builders ; William George Ingram, A.S.L.E. & F. ; William K. Park, E.T.U. ; George Miller, Boilermakers. 395-399 Union Street
2779 Fuller Ltd., confectioners at 395, Miller Bros., Kodak and radio dealers, at 398 and Halifax Building Society at 399 Union Street in around 1937. 393-397 Union Street
2780 The entrance to 393 Union Street. The address contained Storie, Cruden & Simpson, advocates, Miss Anita Henderson, Central Bureau and William Rattray, auctioneer and valuator. Also visible is Fullers Ltd, confectioners, at 395 and Miller Bros., Kodak and radio dealers, at 397 Union Street. Aberdeen Theatres: J. Scott Skinner
3394 James Scott Skinner (1843-1927) was a violinist and composer born in Banchory-Ternan. He was a regular performer on the stages of the North-East and beyond.
During his career he toured extensively including in North America. He performer as part of Walker & Company, the local cinema pioneers, and his playing was recorded many times.
Skinner was also a prolific and influential composer of violin music, particularly slow strathspeys. He wrote over 700 tunes, some of the most famous include The Bonnie Lass o' Bon Accord, The Cradle Song and The Miller o' Hirn.
He died on 17th March 1927 at his home at 25 Victoria Street, Aberdeen, after an exhausting tour of American. He is buried in Allenvale Cemetery. He wrote about his life in a book called My Life and Adventures.
This photographic portrait of James Scott Skinner is by Morgan of Aberdeen. Skinner stands dressed in formal Highland garb and holding his violin and bow. The image is the frontispiece of an edition of The Harp and Claymore. Underneath the photo his signature is accompanied by the quote "My age is a lusty winter, frostly but kindly". Aberdeen Cinemas: Picture House / Gaumont
3404 Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson explains that by 1950 the Picture House was owned by the Rank Organisation. The British entertainment conglomerate had acquired various cinema exhibition companies: British-Gaumont, Odeon, and the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres (successor company to Associated Provincial Picture Houses). As part of business rationalisation, on 22nd March 1950 the Picture House was rebranded as The Gaumont.
Thomson's Silver Screen indicates that the Gaumont's vertical neon sign dates from the time of the rebranding. In 1956 the design of the cinema was further updated. This saw the introduction of the illuminated canopy and use of the beech design shown here in the redeveloped interior and exterior, replacing the pillars of the Picture House era. A new marble backed fireplace replaced the old one that had been a well-known feature of the cinema since its opening in 1914. The projection equipment and seating were also modernised. This night-time image from the Aberdeen Journals Archive accompanied an article about the Gaumont's new look in the Evening Express of 19th April 1956.
The image shows promotion for a number of films on the cinema's updated exterior: The Rose Tattoo with Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani, Flight from Vienna and Aberdeen Photographic Service's presentation of A Photographic Review of the Royal Tour of Nigeria.
The manager at the time of the Gaumont's redesign was Mr. R. E. Miller. He had managed the cinema since January 1948. In early 1951 Miller converted the upstairs restaurant area, which had laid empty since 1928, into a gallery space. Known as the Gaumont Gallery, it was ideal for photographic exhibitions and was in frequent use well into the 1960s.
Thomson states that during this period Mary Garden, the retired opera singer who returned to Aberdeen in 1939, was something of a regular at the Gaumont. This well-known and much-loved figure would be escorted to her seat by the cinema's commissionaire George Repper, who was also a popular and familiar figure. Repper worked at the Gaumont from 1940 to 1964 and his job was to shepherd queues, attend to patrons and ensure all progressed smoothly.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. His Majesty's Theatre: A Warning to Women
3461 Flyer for the moral tale A Warning to Women by C. Watson Mill from 1909. [Image from the Aberdeen Performing Arts Archive.] Blaikie's Quay
3504 The image looks northeast onto Victoria Dock from Provost Blaikie's Quay. The steam trawlers Challenge and Vanquisher can be seen prominently in the image. Challenge was built in 1897.
The Waterloo Quay steel sheer legs can be seen on the left in the background. These were commissioned in 1910.
On the right of the image can be seen a movable shed belonging to Wm. Knox & Co., grain merchants, premises of George Gordon & Co., timber merchants, and those of Robert Miller & Sons, wood merchants. Aberdeen Harbour
3528 A photograph looking south east towards the Upper Dock across the junction of Guild Street, Trinity Quay and Market Street.
Multiple trawlers are moored in the dock. Onlookers can be seen alongside the docked boats. An unidentified steam vessel larger than the rest can be seen in the far left in the background.
The first ship on the left of the row is the steel fishing trawler Curlew (A906). This ship was built in the Panmure Yard belonging to Dundee Shipbuilders Co. Ltd., in 1897. In 1903 this ship was registered A906 in Aberdeen. The Curlew was wrecked in 1922 in Aberdeen Harbour.
Seen behind the Curlew is most probably the steel fishing trawler Strathairlie (A39) built by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen in 1905 for Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd. This vessel later served as a minesweeper from 1915-1919 for the Admiralty Service.
The second boat in the row is the wooden fishing trawler Alnwick Castle (KY120) built by William Jarvis in Anstruther in 1895 for The Forth Steam Fishing Co. Ltd. The ship was initially named Copley but was later renamed to Alnwick Castle in 1899. The ship was later broken up in 1922.
The third boat in the row is the wooden fishing trawler Merganser (A740) which was built by James N. Miller & Sons Ltd., in the St. Monance shipyard in 1894. It was registered as A740 in Aberdeen by Henry Alexander circa 1901 and later broken up in 1923.
The final boat in the row on the far right visible in the image is the iron fishing trawler Evening Star (A406) built by J. T. Eltringham & Co in the South Shields shipyard in 1891. Initially named Ella, it was renamed to Golden Monarch by W. H. Dodds in Aberdeen during 1915. It was renamed to Evening Star by W. Hutchinson in Aberdeen during 1920. The boat sank in 1927 in the Firth of Forth.
Based on the above boats, this photograph may date from the very early 1920s. Torry
3587 Facing south-west, towards the church hall, this shot shows sailing fishing boats moored mid-stream in the Torry Harbour.
A skiff approaches under partial sail in front of the leading light house. From the right of this lighthouse the edge of a building peeks out with the name "Miller".
David Miller ran a popular spirits shop on the corner of Sinclair Road and Baxter Street. He appears in the Aberdeen Post Office Directories from 1904.
The shop changes hands in 1906 to John P. Miller, a presumed family member.
See image GN12_05 for more details regarding an approximate date of 1916. Malcolm Miller
3813 This photograph shows the ship the Malcolm Miller docked in Aberdeen Harbour with a crew onboard.
The boat is moored at Jamieson's Quay in the Upper Dock. The Harbour Office on Regent's Quay and the tower of the Citadel at Castlegate can be seen in the background.
The Malcolm Miller was a schooner built by John Lewis & Sons Ltd. for the Sail Training Association. It was a 300-ton vessel with a sail area of over 7000 square foot and had engine propulsion for use in narrow waters.
The ship's launch on 5th October 1967 was reported in the Evening Express newspaper of that day. The Malcolm Miller was officially launched by Lady Miller, and it was named after the late son of Sir James, former provost of Edinburgh, and Lady Miller.
During its time as a Sail Training Association vessel the Malcolm Miller provided nautical experiences to many youngsters. It had a sister ship called the Sir Winston Churchill.
The vessel has an entry on the Aberdeen Built Ships website that details its later history.
This image comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Sandilands: the Big Hoose
3824 An aerial view of Sandilands Chemical Works, looking east, showing the junction of Baltic Street and Miller Street, with the "Big Hoose" on the corner. The lodge house, public WC and the railway into the works can also be seen. Sandilands: Miller Street entrance
3825 An aerial view of Sandilands Chemical Works showing Miller Street and the one of the main entrances to the works.
Large scale post-WWII Ordnance Survey mapping indicates that the building in the centre of this image was 15 Miller Street. Sandilands and John Fleming
3826 An aerial view of Sandilands Chemical Works looking north along Miller Street, shown on the left. Baltic Place, Garvock Wynd and Baltic Street can be seen coming off Miller Street to the east.
The offices of John Fleming & Company, timber importers, at 2 Baltic Place is the low building in the centre of the image at the bottom. Additional timber processing building belonging to the firm are shown behind and to the right. Sandilands: workers portrait
3827 An 1887 group portrait of workers at Sandilands Chemical Works.
John Miller established his chemical business in 1848 and for generations "Stinky Miller's" was the source of well-known smells down at the beach.
"Tools of the trade" are seen in the hands of these workers, who are mainly blacksmiths and labourers.
The 1880s maintenance workforce consisted of coopers, blacksmiths, lead burners, joiners, masons and labourers.
Sandilands Chemical Works was situated between the Gasworks and Garvock Wynd (north to south) and Miller Street and Links Road (west to east). Sandilands: aerial view
3828 An aerial view, looking south east, of Sandilands Chemical Works from around the 1920s that featured on a postcard.
Surrounding houses on Baltic Street, Garvock Wynd and Garvock Square can also be seen. These houses were primarily used for chemical workers. The property was owned by the Miller family and they were no doubt the origin of the name of the street running along the west side of the works (on the right in this image), Miller Street.
The main gate for the works was on the road that leaves Miller Street at the lodge house, shown in the bottom left of the highlighted area here.
The large property south along Miller Street, on the corner of Baltic Street, was called the "Big Hoose". Attached to this house was the factor's house and a public W.C. The factor collected rents from all the houses on the Miller property.
Sandilands Chemical Works produced cod liver oil, other oils, pitch, disinfectants, candles, fertilisers and serums. In this image, a mixture of newer granite buildings and those from earlier in the 19th century can be seen. 22-28 Loch Street/85-87 George Street
4300 A photograph showing buildings at the junction of George Street and Loch Street in around 1986 or 1987.
This image is one of a series taken by Aberdeen City Council to record buildings prior to the redevelopment of the area and construction of the Bon Accord shopping centre.
At 85-87 George Street, on the left of the image, is a branch of the Clydesdale Electrical Stores. Bruce Miller's, the music shop, is at 22 Loch Street. A small amount of Target Discount can be seen beyond it at no. 20.
The shown area is now the location of the northern elevation of the Bon Accord Centre, in particular the section to the east of the George Street entrance.
83-87 George Street/26-28 Loch Street
4301 A photograph showing the upper floors of the buildings at 83-87 George Street and 26-27 Loch Street in around 1986 or 1987.
This image is one of a series taken by Aberdeen City Council to record buildings prior to the redevelopment of the area and construction of the Bon Accord shopping centre.
A branch of the The Hosiery Shop can be seen at 83 George Street. Clydesdale Electrical Store occupies the ground floor at the corner and Bruce Miller's is on the right at 22 Loch Street.
These buildings were demolished to make way for the Bon Accord Centre. At the time of writing in 2023, this area is occupied by the George Street entrance to the shopping centre and the Phase Eight ladies' clothes shop on the ground floor. Johnston Gardens
4331 A D. & S. K. "Ideal Series" postcard image, from their Davidson's Colourised Series, showing Johnston Gardens in the Airyhall area of Aberdeen.
This photograph shows the rustic bridge that spans the pond in the centre of the gardens.
The park used to belong to the Johnston House estate but was gifted to the city in 1936. This beautiful landscaped garden boasts streams, ponds, waterfalls, rockeries and the picturesque bridge seen here. There is also a children's play area and toilet facilities.
The park comes alive in the spring and summer as rhododendrons, spring bulbs, heathers and alpines blossom. The ponds are full of irises and aquatic plants with visiting mallard ducks and breeding moor hens.
Within the Gardens sits a memorial which commemorates the 16 men sadly lost in the Super Puma helicopter crash in the North Sea on 1st April 2009. The flight was returning from BP's Miller platform and crashed 11 nautical miles north east of Peterhead. |