90

Queen's Cross, Aberdeen, looking west. Rubislaw Church (architect J. Russell Mackenzie) 1875, is on the right. The structure in the centre of the street was part of the tramways system and was later removed to Hazlehead Park.

240

Rubislaw Church, Queen's Cross in the wintertime. Rubislaw Church was built in 1875 by architect J. Russell Mackenzie.

369

Queens Cross Free Church, Aberdeen. This photograph taken by G.W. Wilson whose house was almost adjacent. In 1877, the Free Church discussed the possibility of a church to cater for those who lived in the increasingly popular west end of the city. They secured a triangular site at the junction of Albyn Place and Carden Place at Queens Cross. Competitive designs were sought and John Bridgeford Pirie, of Pirie and Clyne, architects, were successful with his French Gothic design in granite. The steeple is 150 feet high and the grand entrance doorway is flanked by massive pillars leading into the nave where there was space for around 800 worshipers. There is a circular window in the east end, stained glass windows having been gifted by members of the congregation. The building was opened for worship on 17th April 1881, and the popularity of its first Minister, the Rev Dr George Adam Smith brought large audiences to the church. Smith was later to become Principal of Aberdeen University. The church became the only one of the city's free churches to have instrumental music when it acquired an organ built by Henry Willis. Queens Cross became Church of Scotland in 1929 when the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church merged. Various extensions have taken place, including a new hall and vestry in 1939, and the building was extensively restored in 1980.

377

Dwelling House on Queens Cross designed by Russell Mackenzie for the celebrated photographer George Washington Wilson. 1865. This was only the second house to appear on the circle.

812

Rubislaw Parish Church, Queen's Cross, Aberdeen was built in 1874. This photograph was taken prior to the construction of the spire in 1875 by architect J. Russell Mackenzie.

814

Rubislaw Parish Church, Queen's Cross.

1247

Rubislaw Church, Queen's Cross, Aberdeen was built in 1874. This photograph was taken prior to the construction of the spire in 1875 by architect J. Russell Mackenzie.

1370

Desswood Place was laid out in 1888 by the City of Aberdeen Land Association in what was then a relatively rural area in the west end of Aberdeen but it was rapidly being filled with large granite houses for the more prosperous citizens. It was named after Alexander Davidson of Desswood who was Chairman of the Land Association for many years. Desswood was his country property near Kincardine O'Neil on Deeside.

1469

Correspondent Dr Mike Mitchell has been in touch to tell us that the horse drawn bus in this photograph is one of "Allan's Liners". This was the name given to the Aberdeen to Cluny bus from its introduction in 1849 until the route passed to the Great North of Scotland Railway motor buses in 1906. Allan continued to run mail gigs and coaches until at least after the Great War. (Many thanks for this information.)

1534

A George Washington Wilson photograph showing Queen's Cross Church on Albyn Place.

1856

Gateway to Fountainhall House, now 130 Blenheim Place, an 18th century two storey house with period gateway and ironwork, commemorates, through its original name of Fountain Haugh, the days when reservoirs and cisterns dotted the area. The old 1706 cistern from Fountainhall is now in Duthie Park.

1860

Gateway to Fountainhall House, now 130 Blenheim Place, an 18th century two storey house with period gateway and ironwork, commemorates, through its original name of Fountain Haugh, the days when reservoirs and cisterns dotted the area. The old 1706 cistern from Fountainhall is now in Duthie Park.

1861

Fountainhall House, now 130 Blenheim Place, an 18th century two storey house with period gateway and ironwork, commemorates, through its original name of Fountain Haugh, the days when reservoirs and cisterns dotted the area. The old 1706 cistern from Fountainhall is now in Duthie Park.

2005

The image shows a tram traveling down a street covered with mounts of snow. The spire of Queen's Cross Church, visible in the background, suggests this photograph was taken on Fountainhall Road.

2090

Water was conveyed from six springs at Fountainhall to the Water House in Broad Street. Above is the last of these six cistern houses in which the spring water was collected. It was removed in 1903 to the Duthie Park.

2116

Queens Cross Church in the snow. In 1877 the Free Church discussed the possibility of a church to cater for those who lived in the increasingly popular west end of the city. They secured a triangular site at the Queen's Cross junction of Albyn Place and Carden Place. Competitive designs were sought and John Bridgeford Pirie, of Pirie and Clyne, architects, were successful with his French Gothic design in granite. The steeple is 150 feet high and the grand entrance doorway is flanked by massive pillars leading into the nave where there was space for around 800 worshipers. There is a circular window in the east end, stained glass windows having been gifted by members of the congregation. The building was opened for worship on 17th April 1881, and the popularity of its first Minister, the Rev Dr George Adam Smith brought large audiences to the church. He was later to become Principal of Aberdeen University. The church became the only one of the city's free churches to have instrumental music when it acquired an organ built by Henry Willis. Queens Cross became Church of Scotland in 1929 when the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church merged. Various extensions have taken place, including a new hall and vestry in 1939, and the building was extensively restored in 1980.

2604

Built in the late 1860's, this row of 16 terraced houses may have been designed by the architect J. Russell Mackenzie. It was laid out at the west end of Albyn Place on the lands of Rubislaw owned by the Skene Family. James Skene was a friend of Sir Walter Scott, and lived in Albyn Place in Edinburgh, and it is believed that some street names in this area derive from that association eg: Albyn, Waverley. This photograph, by George Washington Wilson in around 1880, shows the two stories, plus garrets, built of rock faced granite. Both end elevations are gabled and have oriel windows, rounded towers and conical roofs. They had between 14 and 18 rooms and were then occupied by merchants and advocates. Most have now been converted to office use.

2673

A photograph of Aberdeen Corporation Trams in the Queen's Cross depot. The photograph was taken on 8th April 1939.

2698

A colourised Adelphi Series postcard showing Queen's Cross in Aberdeen. A tram is visible and note the ornate street lamp in roughly the location that would be occupied by the bronze statue of Queen Victoria in 1964.

2718

An Adelphi Real Photograph Series postcard (no. 15) showing Queen's Cross. The spire of Rubislaw Parish Church can be seen as can some of the houses on Queen's Gardens. The no. 31 tram is likely heading to the nearby depot and a horse-drawn cart and bicyclist can also be seen. Two different types of street lamp are visible.

2719

An Adelphi Real Photograph Series postcard (no. 117) showing Queen's Cross and Fountainhall Road from the top of St Swithin Street. The postcard gives a good view of Rubislaw Parish Church on the left and building off in the distance is most likely Mile-End Primary School. A horse drawn delivery cart for a firm of confectioners called McPherson is in the centre of the image.

3101

The Convent of the Sacred Heart, Aberdeen. St Joseph's House (south side).

3102

The Convent of the Sacred Heart, Aberdeen. Main Approach.

3755

A photograph by Roddy Millar, taken 11/07/2020, from a series showing the Coronavirus pandemic in Aberdeen between 19/03/2020 and 09/09/2020.