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Regent Bridge
361 This photograph, looking south east from Regent Quay, shows the old Regent Bridge located at the bottom of Marischal Street.
As shown here it could swing open to allow ships to enter and exit the Upper Dock from Victoria Dock.
The bridge was later replaced by a steel framed swing bridge operated from Regent Bridge House located at its south west end on Jamieson's Quay. The new bridge opened on 29th December 1904. An account of its construction can be read in the Aberdeen Journal of that date.
In the background of this image is HMS Clyde, a Navy Reserve Ship for the training of cadets. The 1867 Aberdeen Joint Station
537 This photograph shows the eastern side of the original 1867 Aberdeen Joint Station. The railway buildings can be seen at the front with the roof rising behind.
The history of the station can be discovered in the Great North of Scotland Railway Association's publication The Joint Station: Aberdeen Station, 1867-1992 (c1992).
In reference to the 1867 station, on page 18 it states:
"Designed by the City Architect, Mr Smith, various offices and rooms occupied the east side of the station, extending in a symmetrical manner along the entire frontage, in front of which ran a macadamised roadway eighty feet broad. The building's facade was of dressed ashlar granite quarried from Kenmay, surrounded by a balustrade of dressed freestone. The arched doors were also faced with finely dressed ashlar granite, again surrounded by freestone. The remainder of the buildings was of rustic granite interlined with courses and belts of ashlar freestone from Bannockburn. The main walls, which were thirty feet high, were finished off at the ends by square turrets about twenty feet high 'built of granite rustic work which gave the whole structure a most imposing appearance'. At its highest point the roof, designed by Mr Willet the Civil Engineer for the project, was about seventy feet above ground level and was stated as being modelled on Victoria Station, London."
The cranes and construction work that can be seen on the left side of this image suggest that it might date from the beginning of the 1913-1916 construction of the new Joint Station, overseen by GNSR Chief Engineer J. A. Parker. Foundations for the new station were laid in the cab yard to the east of the old structure on 28th May, 1913. Aberdeen Joint Station
562 Exterior view of Aberdeen Joint Station under construction. The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.
This image likely shows the construction of the new station buildings which were located to the east of the old ones (visible on the right of this photograph). The old curved station roof has obviously been demolished by this point. The Harbour Mouth, Aberdeen
657 A George Washington Wilson photograph titled The Harbour Mouth, Aberdeen and numbered 505.
The image looks north east from the fields above Old Torry. Point Law, dividing the River Dee channel and the Tidal Harbour, is largely undevelopment. It looks like construction work may be going on over the water at Pocra Quay.
Correspondent Ed Fowler suggests that the large temporary looking building that can be seen across the water, past the round house on the New Quay, is of particular interest. He posits it was used to cast concrete blocks for an extension to the North Pier between 1869-77. Duthie Park West Lodge
1127 The West Gate Lodge stood at the Whinhill Road entrance to Duthie Park. It had to be removed in 1938 due to the widening of the Great Southern Road. The lodge was rebuilt at Rubislaw Den South. The present West Lodge was erected on a new site 100 yards south of the old building. The Town House under construction
1757 Discussions had been held in relation to the construction of new public buildings for the County and City of Aberdeen since the early 1860s.
Royal Assent was given to the Aberdeen County and Municipal Buildings Act 1866, which gave permission for a Court House for the County and City of Aberdeen; a hall for public meetings; a Town House for the City with offices for staff; a building for the accommodation of the Police Commissioners and their staff.
Plans were drawn up by the Edinburgh architects Peddie and Kinnear and work on the demolition of buildings on the site (including the old Town House) at the junction of Castle Street/Union Street and Broad Street began in 1867.
The offices in this section were occupied in January 1871. A lofty vestibule and broad circular stair led to the Town Hall and offices on the first and second storeys.
The architecture is of a medieval Flemish style which recalls Aberdeen's trading links with the Low Countries. The building was completed in 1874.
This image shows the partially completed building around 1869/70 when the 200-foot-high West Tower and one block had been completed - two more matching sections were still to be done. Brae Farm
1790 This photograph was taken in 1951 by James Kellas and looks east showing, on the left, the rear of Brae Farm, located on Morningside Road, and part of 142 Morningside Avenue on the right.
There was originally a Brae Farm to the north west of this location that can be seen the Ordnance Survey map published in 1869 (Aberdeen Sheet LXXV.14). Just to the north of the old farm on the map is a single Aberdeen Water Works reservoir.
An article from The Leopard magazine by Diane Morgan (October/November 1985) explains that in 1885 an Aberdeen Corporation Water Act was passed to empower the Town Council to take eight million gallons daily from the River Dee and to build a second reservoir at Mannofield. This was to keep up with the city's rapid population increase.
To carry out the expansion, the council acquired the land adjoining the initial reservoir including the first Brae Farmhouse and its steadings. They then became known as Reservoir Cottage and Reservoir House and served as the home of the inspector of the water works. A relatively early inspector was called William Clark. On 28th February 1898 he died at the cottage aged 64. He was buried in the John Knox Churchyard (Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 02/03/1898, p.4).
Clark was likely succeeded as waterworks inspector by James Forsyth. The Forsyth family lived at the cottage well into the 20th century. James was married to Margaret (née Jaffray), who died after him on 28th July 1945, aged 85. Their second son, Sapper John Forsyth, died aged 26 at Oldmill Military Hospital on 20th April 1917. He was buried at Springback Cemetery.
The reservoirs continue to play a vital role in supplying water to Aberdeen. The cottage and house however were demolished in the late 20th century and replaced by modern water treatment buildings.
As shown on the 1901 OS map, sometime shortly after the passing of the 1885 act the Brae Farm we can see in this picture was built to the south east, where Morningside Road met Auchinyell Bridge. To the east, Aberdeenshire County Cricket Ground was also built around the same time.
This later Brae Farm was the home to the Kinnaird family for the first half of the 20th century. The heads of the family were Frank Kinnaird and Margaret Amelia Smith.
Their son Lance-Corporal A. G. Kinnaird, of the Royal Scots, was reported as a prisoner of war in Germany in June 1918. Prior to the war he had worked with the Clydesdale Bank (Evening Express, 03/06/1918 p.3).
Frank's eldest daughter, Jessie Sinclair, married James Smith Mathieson at Ruthrieston U.F. Church on 7th September 1927 (Evening Express, 08/09/1927, p.6).
A younger daughter, Edith Kinnaird, married a man from Portsmouth called Andrew Livingstone in July 1936. The marriage took place in Ruthrieston West Church and the reception was at the Caledonian Hotel (Press & Journal, 06/06/1936 p.8).
Daughters Amelia Elizabeth and Margaret Kinnaird both left Brae Farm in the 1920s (1924 and 1920, respectively) to reunite with fiancés who had travelled ahead to Canada.
Frank Kinnaird died on 12th August 1950, aged 84.
At some point during the 1930s-1950s the residential streets we know today, Morningside Avenue, Terrace and Place were constructed between the reservoir and the new farmstead. These streets take their name from Morningside Farm to the east. As can be seen in this photograph, the farm stood into the 1950s. It was eventually demolished when Morningside Avenue was extended to meet Morningside Road. The newer bungalows can be distinguished by their tiled, rather than slated roofs. John Knox Church
1823 An illustration looking south along Mounthooly, with John Knox Church in the centre, from near the bridge opposite Canal Street. The bridge was initially over the Aberdeenshire Canal and later the Great North of Scotland railway.
This drawing shows the old John Knox Church. It was built as an extension church in the parish of Greyfriars. Building commenced in 1833 and finished in 1835.
Demolition of the old church and construction of its replacement began in 1910. A larger building was needed to accommodate an expanding congregation. Alexander Gammie, in his Churches of Aberdeen (1909), credits the increase in attendance to the popularity of Rev. George A. Johnston, who served as the church's minister from 27th September 1905 to 1909.
At the rear of the original church there was a boys and girls school that can be seen on the Ordnance Survey map from 1869 (Aberdeenshire LXXV.11). The 1902 OS map suggests this school was replaced by the congregation's church hall, finished in October 1885. The 1926 map indicates the hall was in turn demolished during construction of the new church.
Summarizing the progress of the church up to 1909, Gammie writes:
"The congregation of John Knox is composed almost entirely of the working classes, and the church is situated in what is practically an east-end district. Yet it has not been lacking in the enterprise and ability to undertake and complete important schemes solely by its own efforts. The erection of a church hall, the introduction of a pipe organ, and the erection of a handsome new oak pulpit are instances of what it has accomplished in this respect."
The soon to be undertaken construction of the new church building would perhaps remain the greatest accomplishment in the congregation's history. In 1997 John Knox Church united with Greyfriars Church on Broad Street, ceasing to be a seperate congregation. The 1910 church building was later converted for residential use.
The kirk session records of the church are held by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives. Lifting Guild street Goods Yards
2646 The station was modernised in the early 1980s with a new Travel Centre and upgraded concourse along with a new electronic signalling centre and High Speed Train servicing depot. Further track rationalisation and the replacement of six old mechanical signal boxes also took place.
About ten years ago Guild Street Goods Yard was lifted and replaced by the Union Square shopping centre which opened in October 2009. This incorporated the old Station Square and the façade of the 1915 building into the atrium of the new development. Separately a new Travel Centre and staff offices were provided.
In the 1990s the rail network was privatised; track and infrastructure passed to a company called Railtrack later transferring to Network Rail. East Coast services initially passed to a company called Great North Eastern Railway but are currently run by Virgin East Coast. Scotrail services are operated by Abellio, a subsidiary of Dutch Railways. The Caledonian Sleeper to London Euston is run by Serco and the daily train to Birmingham and southern England by Arriva Cross Country trains. Although managed by Abellio, Aberdeen Station is today very much a joint station.
In August 1992 the approach to the station from the north past Union Terrace Gardens was being changed dramatically by construction of the Denburn Dual Carriageway. Aberdeen from Torry
2671 A George Washington Wilson photograph of Aberdeen taken from across the River Dee in Torry.
Fishing boats are seen on the south side of the river. The spires of many Aberdeen landmarks are visible in the distance. The building on the far right of the image is the Castlehill Barracks. Union Street, Aberdeen
2775 A Davidson Bros. "Real Photographic" Series postcard looking east up Union Street. The image likely dates from the early 20th century. Before the junction with Back Wynd can be seen the Queen's Restaurant at 120 Union Street and R. Hunter, Chemist at 118.
The building at the junction of Union Street and Back Wynd was initially built in 1837 to a design by John Smith. It was the first purpose built home of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen.
Doreathea Bruce, in her history of the Society, explains that they sold the building in 1870 after construction of the the new, James Matthew designed, Advocates' Hall in Concert Court.
The old hall was bought by Lockhart & Salmond, confectioners, and later functioned as a restaurant and as a cinema. Bruce suggests the building became known as Queen's after it was decorated by City Architect John Smith shortly after Victoria's wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.
Her full history of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen can be read in Aberdeen University Review, LVI, no. 195, Spring 1996. Dee Village
2892 This photograph shows the Dee Village residential area at the bottom of Crown Street in 1898, shortly before it was demolished to make way for a new municipal electricity works constructed between 1901 and 1903.
The photograph looks towards the north west and Crown Street can be seen in the background. The later to be demolished Dee Village Road is in the upper right of the picture.
This image is from an album of photographs held by Aberdeen City Libraries detailing the construction of the Dee Village Electricity Works. Burnbanks
3012 An image from a postcard showing Burnbanks, a small coastal settlement near Cove, on 11th May 1921. A group of children are sitting around with houses in the background.
Local historian Joe McLeod informs us that this photograph shows the Beattie family, who lived in Burnbanks. The child on the right is Frederick Beattie. He died in WW2 from wounds received fighting in the Middle East. He was 29 years old and left a widow and a son.
The young girl in the middle of the group on the right is Jean Ingram. An article concerning her memories of Burnbanks features in the Evening Express of 25/02/1991, p. 4.
This article was published after plans were announced for the restoration of the village's remaining 10 cottages. These had been in a semi-derelict state since the last resident left in the early 1970s. The development was a collaboration between Scotia Homes of Ellon and the North-East Scotland Preservation Trust.
The project, which also saw the construction of 12 new cottages, was concluded with an official opening ceremony on 07/11/1991, to which past residents of the village were invited (Press & Journal, 05/11/1991, p. 3).
Prior to their redevelopment, from the 1970s onwards, the cottages had been used as stores for Aberdeen City District Council and possibly also as a small agricultural museum. Grandholm Bridge and Jacob's Ladder
3131 A Valentine's Caledonia Series postcard image, looking south east, showing Grandholm Bridge, over the Don, and Jacob's Ladder in the Woodside area of Aberdeen.
This postcard has a 1924 date stamp on its other side and this image likely dates from this period. Jacob's Ladder is the name of the stairway visible in the background. This replaced an earlier stair, with the same name, and was completed in 1921. A report on its completion can be read in the Aberdeen Daily Journal of 23rd June 1921. The old stair way is described as "long, steep, straight, and narrow".
The new stair, built of reinforced concrete, was twice the width of the old one and was needed to accommodate increasing traffic. The newspaper report indicates that at the time between 1200 and 1500 workers were using the stair daily to travel to and from their homes, mostly in Woodside, to Grandholm Mills across the bridge. Rosemount Viaduct in 1898
4273 A photograph of Aberdeen' Rosemount Viaduct around 1898. The image looks north west from not far from the foot of Skene Terrace.
On the right can be seen railings around the area with a fountain that was previously to the west of the Public Library (Aberdeen Central Library). This area was built over during the 1905 extension of the library, creating a new reading room and stock room.
Beyond these railings are 44-48 Skene Street. Looking at old Ordnance Survey mapping, this row of housing appears to have been demolished in the mid-1960s to make way for car parking. This would have been prior to the development of the Denburn Car Park proper.
This photograph is one of a number illustrating an article about long-lived resident of Stonehaven, Grace Caird, that featured in the Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial coronation souvenir number of 12th May 1937, page 87.
The caption accompanying the photograph reads as follows:
"Mrs Caird has many interesting recollections of her visits to Aberdeen, and vividly recalls the old horse-drawn trams in Aberdeen. Here we have a picture of the last of the horse-drawn vehicles in Rosemount Viaduct about 1898." 34-38 Loch Street (Swan Bar)
4343 A photograph looking south towards the Swan Bar at 34-38 Loch Street in around 1986 or 1987.
This image is one of a series taken by Aberdeen City Council to record buildings prior to the redevelopment of the area and construction of the Bon Accord Centre.
The Aberdeen Pub Companion (1975) by Archibald Hopkin describes the Swan Bar as "a small old pub just off George Street. It consists of a small lounge and public bar where darts figure prominently - the manager for many years was George Baxter who founded the Aberdeen Darts Association. The Lounge has its own door on Loch Street but not a separate bar counter. The range of drinks is unexceptional even for a brewer's bar but the pints of Tennant's lager or Bass special will not need any forcing down." (Page 108).
An account of the final night of service in this popular pub is given in the Press and Journal of Wednesday 15th April 1987, page 3.
All the buildings along this part of Loch Street were replaced with the north elevation of the new shopping centre. Union Works
4399 A mid-20th century photograph of the Union Works in central Aberdeen. This images looks south east across College Street from a high vantage point and has railway tracks, Poyernook and the hills of Torry in the background.
The factory likely dates from around 1862. A notice from the Aberdeen Herald newspaper of 17th May 1862, page 4, records Alexander Pirie & Sons moving from the Adelphi to their new premises of Union Works, Poyernook.
From the 1860s onwards, the works were owned and operated by Alexander Pirie & Sons, then Pirie, Appleton & Co. and finally Wiggins Teape (Stationery), Ltd.
At the time of this photograph, the works were likely operated by Pirie, Appleton & Co. This image may been sourced from a promotional brochure for the company. In addition to the Union Works, they also had factories at Chadwell Heath in East London and in Dublin, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
As with many significant local enterprises, the operation of Pirie, Appleton & Co. is described in mid-20th century Official Handbooks created for the Corporation of the City of Aberdeen. The volume from 1954 states that the company specialised in manufacturing commercial envelopes, including their successful "River Series."
The company had also recently introduced a quality note-paper to their range called "Mitre Club," which is described as a brand of social stationery. They additionally manufactured different types of account and manuscript books, including a system of loose leaf binding known as "Swing-o-Ring." Other products include "printers' cards, paper collars, commerial heading, filing folders, and record cards." (pages 166-167).
In this image, a large sign can be seen on the north side of the factory building that reads "The mark of good stationery" with an Aberdeen terrier. This black Scottie dog, closely associated with the city, was adopted as a trade-mark of the company in the mid-20th century.
Wiggins Teape and Co. had amalgamated with Alexander Pirie & Sons in 1922 (see Aberdeen Daily Journal, 30th March 1922, page 4). Alex. Pirie & Sons and Pirie, Appleton & Co. were subsidiary companies of Wiggins Teape.
The Union Works site closed down not long after 1969 when Wiggins Teape began construction of a replacement factory at Dyce (see Evening Express, 4th September 1969, page 7).
The site was sold and the works were demolished to make way for the multi-storey office block, St. Machar House. Built by Sir Robert Alpine & Sons for Neale House Properties (Aberdeen) Limited, to a design by architects Mackie, Ramsay & Taylor, construction was well under way by Autumn 1975 (Evening Express, 2nd August 1975, 'Business Bureau' page 6).
Below the southern end of St. Machar House, the rest of the old Union Works site is occupied by the College Street Car Park, built by Arup and Partners (Scotland), with consulting architects Baxter, Clark & Paul, and opened on 4th July 1991. Treasure 43: Lending Department Catalogue (1886)
212 To commemorate Aberdeen's first free lending library opening 130 years ago this month we have selected a bound copy of the catalogue as one of our treasures. The hard back volume was presented to the library by the late Robert Anderson. An inscription tells us Anderson received the volume in 1917 from Catherine W Duncan after the death of her brother, James W Duncan, in whose library it had previously resided.
The catalogue was printed by the Aberdeen University Press and comprises of a single continuous alphabetically sequence including authors names, subjects of works and miscellaneous headings. Additionally, the catalogue includes the bye-laws of the Library, a preface, an "Explanations and Directions" section, a key to the indicator system and adverts for many Aberdeen businesses. In his preface, Robertson states "In the preparation of the following Catalogue, the chief aim has been to provide a compendious and easy guide to the contents of the Lending Department of the Library, which readers can take to their homes. No particular system has been rigidly followed, but recourse has been had to whatever device seemed calculated to promote the desired objects."
Baillie Walker and Dr Alexander Bain, Lord Rector of the University, also spoke at the opening of the Lending Department. Bain discussed the make-up of the book stock and the efforts undertaken to create this new development. He gave particular mention to the application of Library Committee member Duguid Milne. Baillie Walker stressed the preparatory work and said that Robertson, the Librarian, turned night into day in his efforts and that it was absolutely necessary that he takes a well-deserved holiday during the summer.
Even at the opening of the new Lending Department there was an awareness that the current building was inadequate. Efforts by the Library Committee to secure new premises had already been underway for some time. At the opening, A O Gill, Chairman of the Sub-Building Committee, stated that "they ought to have something better for the public than the present building, and he hoped that they would be able soon to provide a building suitable for the requirements of this large and populous city."
After much discussion of sites, gathering of funds, and construction work, the purpose built Aberdeen Central Library on the new Rosemount Viaduct was officially opened on 5th July 1892 and remains the home of Aberdeen's Public Libraries to this day. The old Mechanics' Institution has since primarily housed a mixture of hotels and pubs. A reminder of its brief time as Aberdeen's Public Library was found in 1950 when painters decorating the then Bon Accord Hotel uncovered a hidden sign showing the library's old opening times.
Carnousie New House
349 A plan and elevation of Carnousie New House. Designed by Archibald Simpson for a wealthy sea merchant called Captain Alexander Grant. Building began around the 1830s or early 1840s. It was located near Forglen.
Captain Grant lost his fortune and was forced to sell the property before its completion. The house was neglected and eventually largely demolished around 1930. Legend has it that the stones were used in the construction of Elphinstone Hall.
(Information taken from Archibald Simpson, Architect: His Life and Times 1790-1847 by David Miller. See this work for further description of the building.) Rubislaw House
521 A drawing of Rubislaw (or Rubieslaw) House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
A caption accompanying the image states "A modern house, No. 50 Queen's Road, is erected on the site of this house. A small section of the walls of the old house is incorporated in the new house." (page 41).
On the estate of Rubislaw more generally, which was one of those feued from the Freedom Lands in 1551, Gunn writes the following:
"Rubislaw was feued to Alexander Rutherford at a feu duty of £20 Scots, and about 1687 passed into the hands of the noted Skene family, with whom it remained until 1886. Now largely merged into the West end of the City, it is divided amongst many owners, the main division being Kepplestone." (page 13). Union Works
536 An illustration of the Union Works factory on College Street, Aberdeen. This drawing, which looks south across railway tracks outside the Joint Station, is sourced from a book called A Descriptive Account of Aberdeen Illustrated (published by W. T. Pike & Co. in around 1894). This book provides an account of the history and then current operation of Messrs. Alexander Pirie & Sons, owners of the Union Works at the time.
The factory likely dates from around 1862. A notice from the Aberdeen Herald newspaper of 17th May 1862, page 4, records Alexander Pirie & Sons moving from the Adelphi to their new premises of Union Works, Poyernook.
From the 1860s onwards, the works were owned and operated by Alexander Pirie & Sons, then Pirie, Appleton & Co. and finally Wiggins Teape (Stationery), Ltd.
In the late 19th century, the time of the above mentioned book, Messrs. Alex. Pirie & Sons also operated Stoneywood Works at Auchmill, their first and largest site, the Woodside Works and various offices and warehouses around the world. Both Stoneywood and Woodside Works were located on the River Don.
As indicated above the illustration, Union Works primarily produced envelopes and enamelled papers. This would be done with paper created in the firm's Donside factories. A Descriptive Account states that Messrs. Pirie were employing nearly 1000 people at the College Street site and between one third and one half of all envelopes in Britain were being made there. The book additionally asserts that the firm were the first to introduce envelope making machines into Scotland.
The avenue shown in this illustration to the left of the factory runs from Guild Street in the north all the way down and around the south side of the works to the junction of Wellington Road, South College Street and Marywell Street.
The production of envelopes, plus other paper products such as note paper, was continued well into the 20th century by Pirie, Appleton & Co.
The Union Works site closed down not long after 1969 when Wiggins Teape began construction of a replacement factory at Dyce (see Evening Express, 4th September 1969, page 7).
The site was sold and the works were demolished to make way for the multi-storey office block, St. Machar House. Built by Sir Robert Alpine & Sons for Neale House Properties (Aberdeen) Limited, to a design by architects Mackie, Ramsay & Taylor, construction was well under way by Autumn 1975 (Evening Express, 2nd August 1975, 'Business Bureau' page 6).
Below the southern end of St. Machar House, the rest of the old Union Works site is occupied by the College Street Car Park, built by Arup and Partners (Scotland), with consulting architects Baxter, Clark & Paul, and opened on 4th July 1991. |