115

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.

315

A photograph showing Princess Beatrice at Aberdeen Music Hall to open a bazaar in aid of the Sick Children's Hospital. The bazaar took place in the Music Hall on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October 1898. Princess Beatrice, then known as Princess Henry of Battenberg, opened the bazaar the day before on Friday 28th October. The opening ceremony was covered in the Aberdeen Journal of 29th October 1898, page 5. The article states that Beatrice arrived by train at the Joint Station before travelling to the Music Hall from Guild Street by the horse drawn carriage that we can see here. The route travelled and much of the surrounding area were specially decorated for the occasion. The various businesses and buildings along the route decorated their own premises and many of these decorations are described in the newspaper report. The city gardeners Peter Harper of Duthie Park and Robert Walker of Victoria Park were tasked with creating floral displays. Harper decorated the interior of the Joint Station and the Music Hall, while Walker decorated the route between the two. The special royal train arrived at the joint station a couple of minutes before its scheduled time of 12:15pm. Beatrice was greeted at the station by a large civic and military reception and crowds of onlookers. The newspaper report indicates that travelling in the horse drawn carriage with Beatrice was Miss Minnie Cochrane and Lord William Cecil, both were royal courtiers. The man sat in the carriage is therefore most likely the latter. Following the opening ceremony, Beatrice was entertained at a luncheon at the Palace Hotel by the directors of the Royal Aberdeen Hospital for Sick Children. Beatrice and her party returned to Balmoral on a train leaving the station at 2:45pm. The newspaper also tells us that Messrs. Walker & Company, cinematographers, Bridge Street, filmed the procession as it passed along the railway bridge on Guild Street. Assistant photographers with still cameras captured the rest of proceedings. This photograph was likely taken by one of these assistants. A sign for Walker & Company can be seen hanging above the Music Hall entrance. This dates the image as belonging to this later royal visit by Princess Beatrice. She previously visited the city on 27th September 1883 to open an earlier bazaar for the Children's Hospital and to open the newly created Duthie Park

1560

On the opposite side of Westburn Road from Victoria Park, this popular area was formerly a residential property and contains some fine specimens of oak, ash, elm and sycamore trees. It was acquired by the Town Council in 1899 and extends to fully 25 acres. Facilities are provided for bowling and tennis, as well as for children's games. Altogether, the estate greatly enhances the amenities of the city.

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.

4318

A postcard image of Victoria Park. The photograph looks west and shows the park's main walkway and fountain. The latter is made from 14 types of granite. Two stone tazza style planters are at the entrance to the fountain area. Victoria Park was the first public park in Aberdeen and opened in around 1871.

4329

A photograph showing the Garden for the Blind in Victoria Park. A large number of people are shown enjoying the area, which has a water features at its centre. This photograph comes from a collection of slides from the 1970s and 80s donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department.

4418

This image shows the picnic and games area in Victoria Park. In the distance we can see the modern Sensory Garden. This image was taken on 28th February 2024.

4420

A notable feature of Victoria Park is its Rhododendron Dell. This can be found to the west of the Sensory Garden. The Dell originated with a gift of plants by Francis Edmond in 1890. By the 1960s, an area of rhododendrons had become a popular and distinctive part of Victoria Park. It now incorporates dozens of varieties of rhododendron and azalea. This photograph was taken in late winter. The dell looks much more impressive in late spring and into summer. This image was taken on 28th February 2024.

4424

A photograph of the storytelling area within Victoria Park. The main chair for the storyteller, rustic style benches for a large audience, and the atmospheric surrounding trees can be seen. This area was created by the Friends of the Victoria and Westburn Park in around 2022. The throne in the background is the work of local chainsaw artist, Dave Roberts - also known as Dervish Carving. It features carvings of local wildlife, including owls and squirrels. This image was taken on 28th February 2024.

4425

A photograph of the carved wooden throne that is part of the storytelling area in Victoria Park. This wooden chair is the work of local chainsaw artist, Dave Roberts - also known as Dervish Carving. It features carvings of local wildlife, including owls and squirrels. This image was taken on 28th February 2024.

4485

A photograph of Thomson's Arch located next to Provost Skene's House on Flournill Lane. Built by the advocate Andrew Thomson in 1673, this archway was located in the nearby Guestrow. It was moved to Union Terrace Gardens in 1931 during the slum clearance of the aforementioned residential area. In 1965, the arch was removed from the park and installed as part of a wall to the south of Provost Skene's House. It remained there until the Marischal Square project, during which it was moved a small distance to create this gateway from Flourmill Lane. The Arch's original crest still remains. It reads: "A.T" (Andrew Thomson) and "A.D 1673". This photograph was taken on 30th April 2024.

308

Opened in 1894, Stewart Park was named after the then Aberdeen Lord Provost, David Stewart. The area was land acquired from the Hilton Estate and was designed to be used by all ages. Three disused quarries were filled in and landscaped as small lakes stocked with fish. Mrs Taylor, a widow of a Woodside merchant, left £500 to the park, especially for the purpose of becoming the Taylor Playground for children, in memory of her husband. Mrs Taylor was honoured with the memorial fountain by the Aberdeen Town Council. Although the park may not have the small lakes, and fewer flower beds than when it first opened, it is still widely used, and as stated by the Lord Provost at the opening ceremony "It would be a thing of joy and beauty forever" to the people of Woodside. Soon after the opening of Stewart Park, cricket clubs were formed. The park was home to many clubs, and memories of the park suggest that as many as twenty games of cricket would be in play at any one time. These games obviously paid off because Woodside Cricket Club won the Aberdeenshire Cup in 1957. Other popular pursuits were the Woodside Football Club, the Grandholm Choir and the Woodside and District Cycling Club. The Cycling Club began in the early 30's, but had to disband during the Second World War. After the war, Joe Dunn, a cycle shop owner and a previous member, tried to restart the club. This image is a James Valentine postcard.