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The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd.
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The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd.

Historic Photographs
David Oswald
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The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd.
Historic Photographs
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The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd.
This photograph shows a paving stone with a branding plaque for the Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. The plaque is located in the pavement in front of 9 Forest Road.

An account of the history and operation of the Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. is given in Aberdeen: The Official Handbook (1951), compiled by the Corporation of the City of Aberdeen, on page 175. Within the "Other Industries" section, under the title 'Precast Concrete', the account begins as follows:

"The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. was established in 1885 by a group of London engineers, to manufacture at Dancing Cairns, Bucksburn, paving flags made of crushed granite and Portland cement by a new hydraulic process."

The account, which provides much detail on the history and work of the company up to the time of writing, continues that the flags were an immediate success and were shipped across Britain and beyond. It states that the city of Aberdeen remained the company's most consistent customer.

This custom is reflected in the paving branding that can be seen in various places across Aberdeen. It can also be found in other places around Britain.

When pavement wear and damage is repaired these branding marks can become lost over time. Beyond this one on Forest Road, in Aberdeen, pavement branding can also be found on the following streets:

Queen Street - This branding, the more familiar brass lettering reading "Aberdeen Adamant", can be found in a pavement slab next to the south west corner of Greyfriars Church. Both words are written in straight lines.

George Street - Also "Aberdeen Adamant" brass lettering, both words in straight lines, located outside 101 George Street.

Hilton Terrace - Outside nos. 21-23. Silver coloured lettering "Aberdeen Adamant". "Aberdeen" is written in a curve above a straight "Adamant".

Hilton Road - Slightly down the road from nos. 54-56. Silver "Aberdeen Adamant". "Aberdeen" curved above straight "Adamant".

Company branding like that seen on Queen's Street and George Street can also be seen on Holburn Street. One could previously be found on a flag in the pavement just north of the junction with Strachan's Lane. This appears to have been removed sometime between 2010 and 2012 as part of street repairs. Though just to the south of the junction, outside 219 Holburn Street, an example of the brass branding remains in place.

The same branding, brass, straight lines, could also be found on Murray Terrace at the junction with Polmuir Road, north side of the pavement. Below the south elevation of 56 Polmuir Road. This disappeared between 2012 and 2014.

There was also a plaque, the same as the one on Forest Road, outside 29 Murray Terrace in recent times. This has was removed as part of repairs between 2009 and 2012.

A digital copy of this photograph was donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston.
Rubislaw
Industry
Colin Johnston
DO04_03
Aberdeen Local Studies
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