10

The Palace Hotel, Union Street. Built 1874 for Messrs Pratt and Keith, milliners, who occupied the street level area, it operated as one of a chain of LNER hotels. Its upper stories were destroyed by fire on 31 October 1941 with loss of life, and the building was entirely demolished after the war.

11

Engraving of the New Aberdeen Savings Bank, Union Terrace. Designed by William Kelly, 1896. Thomson and Duncan, collo-type, Aberdeen W. and J. Smith and Kelly, architects

18

Union Street at its junction with Broad Street, with the tower of the Tolbooth at the right of the photograph. Huxter Row, starting below the tower at the left of the photograph, ran parallel with Union Street to the Old Town House joining Union Street at right angles. These buildings were demolished in the late 1860's and the site is now occupied by the Town House designed by Peddie and Kinnear in 1874.

25

Drawing of Broad Street, at junction with Queen Street, looking towards Union Street. Spire of the Town House at the left of the image.

39

Union Street at the junction with Holburn Junction. Christ's College in the distance with Babbie Law's on the corner left. Note the railings round the basement of the nearest shop. These railings were a common sight on Union Street until the basements were covered over.

44

The junction of the Castlegate and Union Street at Christmas. Note the sunken public toilets at the right of the photograph. They were filled in prior to the pedestrianisation of the Castlegate.

48

The Denburn Valley Railway, shown here on the right, was constructed in 1865-67. It runs from the Joint Station at Guild Street north through the valley. To the left of the railway lines is Union Terrace Gardens which were opened to the public on 11th August 1879. The closeness of the railway led to the gardens being nicknamed the "Trainie Park". The bandstand shown here in the centre of the park was removed in around 1931. The iron footbridge visible in this image allowed access over the Denburn and railway between Rosemount and the city centre. It was replaced by the Denburn Viaduct which was built in 1886, at the same time as Rosemount Viaduct, by engineer William Boulton. Part of the footbridge was moved and reassembled in the newly created Duthie Park. This image also predates the construction of significant buildings on Rosemount Viaduct such as the Public Library and the Free South Church (both dating from 1892). In the background, on the left of the image can be seen the houses at the foot of a then longer Skene Terrace. These are on the site later occupied by the library and church. To the right of those houses are Black's Buildings. Local historian Diane Morgan explains that they were "a small curving crescent of tall tenements, four and five storeys high, [and] sat below the Royal Infirmary, Woolmanhill, just west of the apex of the Woolmanhill triangle. (...) The houses were built in stages between 1789 and 1830, by the wine merchant James Black." (Lost Aberdeen: Aberdeen's lost architectural heritage, 2004). The tenements were pulled down in 1957. Woolmanhill Hospital, designed by Archibald Simpson and built 1832-1838, can be seen in the background. Chimneys of Broadford Works, the textile factory located between Ann Street, Maberly Street and Hutcheon Street, are also visible.

54

Gateway to Bridewell Prison, Rose Street, c.1880 - this massive gateway was the impressive entrance to the Bridewell in Rose Street, situated off the west end of Union Street. The Bridewell was opened in 1809 as a House of Correction and became known as the West Prison. It was in use till 1868, when it was closed and later demolished. For a short while, the site was laid out as the West End Pleasure Gardens and Recreation Grounds. The gateway had a porter's lodge and a guardhouse attached and it remained until 1883, when it was demolished to allow Rose Street to be extended northwards to link with Henry Street which in turn led on to Skene Street. Henry Street had been named after George Henry, Provost of the City between 1850-53 but the whole street then became known as Rose Street.

55

The Brig o' Balgownie over the River Don. Built by Richard Cementarius, the first Provost of Aberdeen 1314-1318. It was largely rebuilt at the beginning of the 17th century, repaired in the 19th century and the approaches widened and buttressed in 1912. Until 1827, the ancient bridge was the only route into Aberdeen from the North.

59

Latin inscription on stone, Ruthrieston Bridge. It reads "Senatus Abredonensis hunc pontem impensis ex aere ad pontem deae spectante extruendum curavit anno 1693" ("The Town Council of Aberdeen caused this bridge to be built with moneys from the Bridge of Dee Fund in the year 1693").

61

The Pack Bridge (formerly known as the Ruthrieston Bridge) of 1693 was moved 30 metres eastwards to this site on Riverside Drive in 1923.

62

The Pack Bridge (formerly known as the Ruthrieston Bridge) of 1693 was moved 30 metres eastwards to this site on Riverside Drive in 1923. This photograph shows the reconstruction of the bridge in 1923.

63

The Pack Bridge (formerly known as the Ruthrieston Bridge) of 1693 was moved 30 metres eastwards to Riverside Drive in 1923.

64

The Pack Bridge (formerly known as the Ruthrieston Bridge) of 1693 was moved 30 metres eastwards to this site on Riverside Drive in 1923. This photograph shows the reconstruction of the bridge in 1923.

65

The Old Bridge of Dee dating from the early 16th century was begun by Bishop William Elphinstone c.1493. Further building started in 1518 and was carried out by Alexander Galloway and Thomas Franche. In 1840, the bridge was widened by John Smith, the City Architect. Drawing by Curtis Green. Lithograph by Gibb & Hay.

67

The Wellington Suspension Bridge over the River Dee was built in 1829 by Samuel Brown and John Smith. It connects Ferryhill with the high bank of Craiglug to the south. Print dated 1850. The bridge, locally known as the 'Chain Bridge', was closed to traffic and pedestrians because of its poor condition before reopening after restoration in 2008.

68

The Brig o' Balgownie over the River Don. Engraving by P. Hazell, sculptor. Built by Richard Cementarius, the first Provost of Aberdeen 1314-1318. It was largely rebuilt at the beginning of the 17th century, repaired in the 19th century and the approaches widened and buttressed in 1912. Until 1827, the ancient bridge was the only route into Aberdeen from the North.

69

The Bridge of Dee from the south. The Old Bridge of Dee dating from the early 16th century was begun by Bishop William Elphinstone c.1493. Further building started in 1518 was carried out by Alexander Galloway and Thomas Franche. In 1840, the bridge was widened by John Smith, the City Architect.

72

Statue of Queen Victoria at the junction of Union Street and St. Nicholas Street. The statue of Queen Victoria was sculpted by Alexander Brodie. The statue was inaugurated in 1866. The marble began to show weathering due to the frost and was moved to the vestibule of the Town House in 1888. The plaster model of the statue can still be seen in the Music Hall.

73

A photograph showing the statue of Queen Victoria at the junction of Union Street and St. Nicholas Street. The building in the background is the Clydesdale Bank that stands next to M&S today. This fine Italian renaissance style building was originally constructed for the Town and County Bank and opened for business in May 1863. The statue of Queen Victoria was made from marble and was sculpted by Banff born Alexander Brodie (c.1829 - 1867). The origin of this statue is closely related to another Aberdeen monument, the 1863 memorial statue of Prince Albert by Baron Marochetti, now standing, or rather sitting, in the area in front of the Central Library. Marochetti's statue was augurated by Queen Victoria herself on 13th October 1863 and this was said to the first time the Queen had appeared at a public demonstration following the death of Albert in 1861. The Marochetti statue was the subject of great local controversy and there were various plans for an alternative, superior, memorial to the late Prince Consort. It was at a related meeting that a chap called Alexander Donald, from the Royal Tradesman of Aberdeen, moved "That a colossal statue in marble, of Her Majesty, be erected at the corner of St. Nicholas Street." The endeavour was taken on by a variety of prominent citizens and funding was raised by public subscription. Brodie, the selected sculptor, worked on an 11-ton block of Sicilian marble for two years to complete the statue. The finished piece is 8 foot 6 inches in height and, at the request of Queen herself, depicts Victoria in Scottish regal attire. The statue stands on a substantial plinth of pink Peterhead granite. The statue was unveiled and inaugurated on 20th September 1866 by Albert-Edward Prince of Wales, later to be King Edward VII and the subject of another of Aberdeen's notable statues. During his speech at the ceremony, the Prince said "Gentlemen, it has afforded me the greatest satisfaction to attend here today, by the wish of Her Majesty, and at your invitation, for the purpose of inaugurating a statue of the Queen, my dear mother. Her Majesty has desired me to express to you how much she appreciates the motives which have led the people of Aberdeenshire to give this lasting evidence of their attachment and loyalty to her person, of which she has so many proofs, and whose sympathy in her great sorrow has touched her so deeply." During his visit, the Prince of Wales also received the Freedom of the City and attended the Royal Horticultural Society's Autumn Show, which was then going on in the Music Hall. An extensive account of the unveiling, the Royal visit and the town's celebrations is given in the Aberdeen Journal of 26th September 1866. After some time at this location, the statue's marble began to show weathering due to the frost and so it was moved to the vestibule of the Town House in 1888, where it remains to this day. It stands at the foot of the building's splendid main stairway. The plaster model of Brodie's statue has also been on display in the Music Hall for many years. A new bronze statue of an older Victoria, by sculptor Charles Bell Birch, was erected at the St. Nicholas Street location on 9th November 1893 and "the Queen" became a regular meeting place for generations of Aberdonians. To make way for the extension of Marks & Spencer, the 1893 statue moved to its current site at Queen's Cross on 22nd January 1964. Victoria now stands looking east towards Balmoral.

77

Union Bridge, on Union Street was built around 1800 and straddled the Denburn. The large building is the Palace Hotel, built in 1874, which burnt to the ground on the 31st October 1941 and was subsequently demolished after the end of the Second World War.

78

St. Nicholas Street at its junction with Union Street, showing the statue of Queen Victoria (right). The premises of H. Samuel the jewellers is on the left.

81

Union Bridge, Aberdeen, from Bridge Street, looking east. The spires at the left belong to Kirk House, later a restaurant and bar, and to St. Nicholas Church. The corner of the Palace Hotel is just visible at the right.

82

Union Street, Aberdeen, c.1910, showing the Music Hall on the right.