32

Holburn Junction, looking towards Albyn Place (right) and Holburn Street (left), with Holburn Central Church in its original form (left), Babbie Law's sweet shop (centre) and the UF Christ's College (right). Babbie Law's corner was redeveloped in the late 19th century.

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.

120

This photograph taken in 1880 from St. Nicholas Churchyard looks north showing a row of houses which stood between it and Schoolhill. These houses were demolished around 1884 as part of an improvement scheme to widen Schoolhill - named after the old Grammar School which stood nearby. A dwarf wall with ornamental railings was erected in place of these buildings and a porter's lodge was removed from Robert Gordon's College to form a lodge for the sexton at the entrance to the churchyard. The book Aberdeen in Byegone Days: Views of Streets and Buildings, etc. with Letterpress Description (1910) by Robert Anderson (page 26) suggests that the building in the centre of this image was the home of Burnett Carr, the grave-digger and assistant to the sexton of St. Nicholas Church. Newspaper references indicate that Carr, a well known figure, died on 31st May 1844 (Aberdeen Journal, 5th June 1844, page 3, column 2). This photograph looks north and shows the back of Carr's old house.

357

The Castle Street / Rosemount / Mile End horsedrawn omnibus. This photograph looks north towards the houses where Beechgrove Terrace becomes Kings Gate.

507

Christ's College, Holburn Junction was designed by Thomas Mackenzie, 1850. It was founded to train ministers for the Free Church.

726

Union Street near the junction with Holburn Street. Christ's College is in the centre rear. Note the railings round the house and shop basements.

807

Engraving of Christ's College, Holburn Junction.

1750

An engraving of the Episcopal Chapel in Longacre. Gammie's Churches of Aberdeen (1909), tells us that this was opened for service on 13th September 1795. It was built on the site of Bishop John Skinner's house, the upper two floors of which had served as the congregation's meeting place. On 14th November 1784 this was the scene of the consecration of Dr. Samuel Seabury as the first Bishop of Connecticut. The 1795 opened chapel was bought by the Wesley Methodists in 1818 and served as Aberdeen's centre of Methodist activity until 1873. This chapel was the predecessor to St Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral on King Street. The building was eventually demolished to make way for extensions to Marischal College.

1941

Longacre, off Broad Street, in 1884. The street was demolished for the extensions to Marischal College. This drawing served as the frontispiece image of the following publication: Centenary of the Consecration of the Right Reverend Samuel Seabury, D.D., first Bishop of Connecticut., Authorised Report of Proceedings in Scotland and Elsewhere, 1884 (John Avery & Co., 1885). To the far left of the image can be seen the old St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Gammie's Churches of Aberdeen (1909), tells us that this was opened for service on 13th September 1795. It was built on the site of Bishop John Skinner's house, the upper two floors of which had served as the congregation's meeting place. On 14th November 1784 this was the scene of the consecration of Dr. Samuel Seabury as the first Bishop of Connecticut. The chapel was bought by the Wesley Methodists in 1818 and served as Aberdeen's centre of Methodist activity until 1873. Prior to demolition it is thought to have been used as a warehouse and this would account for the crane like tool protruding from the window in this image.

2213

The inauguration ceremony, during the royal visit, 1906, to open the new extension of Marischal College. This Fred Hardie image shows the University's then Principal, Rev John Marshall Lang, reading the inaugural address. The inauguration took place at 1pm in the Marischal College quadrangle and was attended by various dignitaries and a large crowd. To the left of Lang, who is holding his address by the granite pillar, is Sir Frederick Treves, rector of the University, Donald Alexander Smith (Lord Strathcona), the University's chancellor, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. See Record of the Celebration of the Quatercentenary of the University of Aberdeen, from 25th to 28th September, 1906 (1907) edited by P. J. Anderson, the University's librarian, for an account of the event and wider celebrations.

2368

The tower of the Christ's College buildings, looking west down Alford Place. Photograph sent in by correspondent Linda Kantes. Taken in 2016.

2370

The tower of the Christ's College buildings on Alford Place from the rear. Photograph sent in by correspondent Linda Kantes. Taken in 2016.

2586

In September 1850 an advert appeared in the local papers of Aberdeen for "Hays' Isometrical View of Aberdeen, giving a Distinct and Correct View of the Whole City and Environs". We hold copy of the plan from 1850 in our Local Studies collection. The plan was available to purchase for 3s. 6d. and measured 34 inches by 19 inches. Carvers and gilders, J. & J. Hays, had premises at 2 Market Street where they also sold prints and optical instruments. At the bottom left of the image we see the words George Wilson, Delt. (abbreviation of delineator, i.e. the artist). George Wilson was to find fame a few years later as George Washington Wilson when he became one of Scotland's premier photographers. George Washington Wilson George Washington Wilson was born in 1823 at Waulkmill of Carnousie in Banffshire and left school at 12 years of age to be an apprentice carpenter. He practised his artistic skills by drawing portraits of friends and neighbours and, after training at art schools in Edinburgh and London, he returned to Aberdeen to become an art teacher and portrait painter. By the late 1840's Wilson was attracted by the work of Fox Talbot in the new art of photography and after initial experiments with a homemade camera, he advertised a business offering photographic portraits before eventually expanding into landscape photography. A Bird's Eye View of History Wilson created this panoramic view of the city by making numerous sketches from the roofs of high buildings and then merging them into one comprehensive drawing. We are looking north across the city from the harbour with Union Street running horizontally across the centre and Old Aberdeen in the far distance. We can see how small the city actually was at this time - open fields are visible just to the north of the west end of Union Street. A key to the most prominent buildings was provided and it is interesting to see which buildings have survived until today, often with additions, and which had yet to be built. Robert Gordon's Hospital (now College), Marischal College, and various churches including the Triple Kirks and St Nicholas East and West are all still standing but the West Prison, Castlehill Barracks and the Poorhouse have been demolished. Bird's Eye View 1889 In December 1889, the Aberdeen Free Press offered its readers an updated version of the Bird's Eye View as a supplement to their newspaper. Numerous changes to the landscape of the city had taken place since Wilson's view.

4439

A photograph by Roddy Millar, taken 17/07/2024, from a series surveying the architecture of the north side of Union Street. On the left of this image part of the Aberdeen Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, also known as Alford Place Church, at 2 Alford Place is shown. The building was developed from an existing cottage in 1887 as a library and museum for Christ's College. Located across the road, Christ's College trained ministers for the Free Church. The library and museum were built to a Gothic Tudor design by Messrs Matthews & Mackenzie. Its construction was financed by Dr Francis Edmond of Kingswells. An account of the project can be found in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal of 23rd April 1887, page 5. The building was in use as a library until 1985 when it was put up for sale by the Church of Scotland (P&J, 21/05/1985, p.9). It was purchased by the Free Presbyterian Church who refurbished the building and opened it as a church in 1988 (P&J, 28/10/1988, p.3). 514-520 Union Street is a 3-storey and attic tenement. Historic Environment Scotland suggest that details of particular note include the shallow canted oriels (bay windows) through the 1st and 2nd floors, and the decorative scrolls flanking the pedimented centre bay of the attic floor. Diane Morgan in The Granite Mile (2008) suggests a notable historic occupant of 516 Union Street was a newsagent and stationer called MacKeggie. Newspaper notices indicate the business operated from 1897 to the mid-1980s. In this image the ground floor shops are occupied by Sovereign, a barber, Social Bite, a café outlet of the charity and social business tackling homelessness, and Falafel Delight, a takeaway specialising in the Middle Eastern delicacy.

14

Engraving of Christ's College, Alford Place. Designed by Thomas Mackenzie 1850. It was a building to train ministers for the Free Church. Later occupied by "The College" bar (2007).

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Christ's College, Holburn Junction was designed by Thomas Mackenzie, 1850. It was founded to train ministers for the Free Church.

104

Engraving of Christ's College, Holburn Junction.

297

To mark Remembrance Day on 11 November, we are exhibiting one of the most poignant and remarkable treasures in our collection - the diary of Corporal Harry Robertson featuring a first-hand account of life in the trenches during World War One. The diary was gifted to former City Librarian William Critchley by Harry Robertson when they met in Motherwell, Scotland. As Robertson had fought in the 1st Battalion of Gordon Highlanders, he suggested that Aberdeen Public Library may be the best place to preserve it. Robertson was born in Greenock in 1893 and went on to become an analytical chemist with Glasgow City Analysts and Glasgow's Royal Technical College prior to the First World War. In August 1914, he enlisted in the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) and trained with them at Dunbar and York, transferring to the Gordon Highlanders in June 1915. He rose through the ranks to become Sergeant at General Headquarters 3rd Echelon in Rouen in November 1916, where he remained until the end of the war. He was demobilized in March 1919. In the diary, Corporal Robertson shares his experiences during the 'Big Push' and the Battle of Bazentin Ridge (14-17 July 1916). It was a British victory, but at a huge cost with over 9000 British casualties and losses. The 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders were part of the 76th Brigade, 3rd Division, XIII Corps of the British Army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve. View our Treasures exhibition on the interactive screen to read more detailed extracts from the diary and gain an insight into the moving and often traumatic experiences of soldiers on the front line.

406

The back page of a 4-page Evening Gazette supplement about the large Highland and Agricultural Society Show that took place in Aberdeen on 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th July 1894. It shows a proposed design for the new front of Marischal College on Broad Street and portraits of various related individuals: Charles Gordon (11th Marquess of Huntly and Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen between 1890 and 1896) David Stewart (Lord Provost of Aberdeen from 1889 to 1894) Charles Mitchell (Aberdeen born, Newcastle based Shipbuilder and philanthropist. He lived in Jesmond Towers in Newcastle) Alexander Marshall Mackenzie (prominent Aberdeen architect who designed the shown proposal) The eventual new front to Marischal College differed somewhat to that shown and was opened in 1906.

462

A large decorative poster for Festival of Britain celebrations that took place in Aberdeen in 1951. The poster has a theatre influenced design and lists the planned events between 29th July and 11th August. The celebrations were organised by the Aberdeen Festival Society and the Corporation of Aberdeen in association with the Arts Council Scottish Committee. Events included a church service, exhibitions of art and of crafts, theatre performances, concerts, and sporting competitions. Among the groups involved were the Arion Choir Ensemble, the Children's Theatre and the Band of Royal Corps Signals. Events took place at venues around Aberdeen including Cowdray Hall, the Music Hall, King's College Library, Gaumont Gallery, the News Cinema and many more. The bottom right of the poster indicates that it was designed by noted British illustrator and graphic artist Eric George Fraser (1902-1983) and was printed for H.M. Stationary Office by Fosh & Cross Ltd., London. The poster is approximately 77 x 51 cm.

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A colourised lithographed sketch of the Grand Reform Meeting that took place on Broad Hill, Aberdeen on Friday 18th May 1832. Popular and parliamentary support for electoral reform had been growing across the United Kingdom in this period. At the time, only a small number of wealthy landowners had the right to vote, the franchise was geographically inconsistent, and the representation by members of parliament was out-dated. This Aberdeen meeting, like many that took place around the country at the time, was organised following the House of Lords blocking the Third Reform Bill of Prime Minister Charles Grey (1764-1845), 2nd Earl Grey, and the subsequent resignation of Grey and his Whig ministers. Newspaper accounts of the meeting indicate that attendees had just learnt that the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), a Tory opponent to reform, had been unable to form a government following the resignation of the Whigs and an invitation from King William IV, and that the monarch had recalled Earl Grey. Organised by prominent local supporters of electoral reform, the Reform Committee, the meeting agreed seven resolutions for presentation to parliament including the following: consternation at the bill not being passed, support of Earl Grey and colleagues, agreement to withholding national supplies (funding) from the government until the bill is passed, and that Joseph Hume (1777-1855), then MP for Middlesex, present the petition instead of the member for the Aberdeen boroughs, Horatio Ross (1801-1886), who was accused of backsliding on reform. The report in the following day's Aberdeen Chronicle newspaper suggest the meeting was attended by 30,000 to 40,000 people. The Tory-leaning Aberdeen Journal, in its issue of Wednesday 23rd May 1832, page 2, gives an estimate of 15,000 to 20,000. Contingents of various trades began to muster at Union Street West at about 1.30pm. A large procession proceeded east along the street and were joined by the Reform Committee from the Royal Hotel, 63 Union Street, located just after the junction with Market Street. The full procession, with the Committee at its head and joined by deputations from the country, travelled to the Links via Castle Street, King Street, Frederick Street and Constitution Street. Several bands accompanied the procession and there were a large number of banners with reform slogans. On the motion of Reverend William Jack (1768-1854), principal of King's College, Sir Michael Bruce of Stenhouse and Scotstown (1798-1862) was called to chair the meeting. John Angus (1799-1878), an advocate and later Town Clerk of Aberdeen, was the secretary. Speakers included General Andrew Leith Hay of Rannes (1785-1862), Alexander Bannerman (1788-1864), Sir John Forbes of Craigievar (1785-1846), Alexander Blackie, banker, Thomas Burnett, younger of Leys (1778-1849), John M. Gerrard of Midstrath, Alexander Kilgore, surgeon, James Forbes of Echt, Alexander Stronach of Drumallan, James Nicol, advocate, William Allardyce, wine merchant, Harry Leith Lumsden of Auchindour, William Moir of Park and Alexander Forbes of Ainslie. Both the account in the Aberdeen Chronicle and the speeches on the day remark on the disruptive potential of the crowd, under circumstances of reform not being progressed. Though the speakers urged those in attendance to continue in a peaceful manner. Some speakers compared the fight for electoral reform to that for religious freedom in Scotland. There is explicit and repeated support given for William VI, but the Duke of Wellington is considered an inappropriate progressor of reform. The return of Earl Grey is promoted. Faced with the prospect of William VI ennobling new Whig members of the House of Lords, Tory opponents of the Third Reform Bill abstained from votes and it passed through the upper house. The Representation of the People Act 1832 was given royal assent on 7th June 1832, and its Scottish equivalent around the same time, and came into law. The Act was a substantial reform of Britain's antiquated electoral system, redistributing seats and changing the conditions of the franchise, but still left most people without the vote. Subsequent popular and parliamentary politics would led to further legislation and the fuller suffrage of modern times. Document dimensions: 26 x 40 cm.