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.

241

In 1871 Aberdeen Town Council decided to convert nearly 14 acres of Glennie's Parks, which had been used for cattle grazing, into a public recreation ground - Aberdeen's first public park. Aberdeen's lack of a public park up to this point had become a contentious issue. For example, newspaper reports indicate that those opposed to the Municipality Extension Act of 1871 (which extended the boundary of the city, brought the functions of the Police Commissioners under the Council and incorporated the gasworks) repeatedly suggested that the expense involved in the new bill would be better used in the creation of a much wanted public park. It is not unreasonable to suppose that this debate, and criticism of the Council, hastened the creation of Victoria Park. While work likely begun in 1871, it was not until March 1873 that the Improvements Committee of the Council recommended that the new park should be called "Victoria Park". At the same time, they also outlined a series of 13 rules and regulations for agreement by the full Council. There does not appear to have been an official opening for the new amenity. Glennie's Park was not the only site considered for Aberdeen's first public park. Interest in such an undertaking was increasing at the same time as work was underway to divert the River Dee and improve the harbour. The new ground created in this latter project, encompassing the old, more northerly course of the river and the Inches, was a much proposed location for a park. Following the creation of Victoria Park this newly leveled ground was instead given over for buildings related to the expanding fishing industry. A nurseryman called Robert Walker (1848-1930), originally from Perth, was chosen out of 450 candidates to be the city's first public park keeper and appointed to Victoria Park. He was likely largely responsible for the park's initial layout and appearance. His Press & Journal obituary (21/04/1930, p.6) suggests that prior to his appointment the site was "little better than a waste space". Walker subsequently laid out Westburn Park, Stewart Park, Union Terrace Gardens and the Promenade. He also advocated and pioneered the planting of street trees. He served the Corporation for 46 years, retiring in 1919, and must be considered one of the unsung heroes of Aberdeen history. This photograph, taken around 1900, shows one of the main paths leading to a large granite fountain, which was designed by J.B. Pirie. It is built of 14 different types of granite and was presented by the granite polishers and master builders of the city. Since the park is almost in the city centre, it is an oasis of peace with its mature trees and, in spring, there are masses of flowering bulbs scattered through the grass.

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

321

Market day in the Castlegate. Note the Cooper Fountain at the extreme right of the photograph, which is now located in Hazlehead Park. On the left are the twin gables of Rolland's Lodging, the town house of the Rolland family of Disblair.

635

This small cistern house was erected in connection with Aberdeen's first city water supply. Water had previously been obtained from the Loch but by 1706 it had become polluted and lead pipes were laid to bring water from Carden's Haugh Well. Six cisterns or fountain-houses were built along the old Fountainhall Road and water was conveyed from these sources to the Water House in Broad Street until 1866. A new scheme was eventually introduced and in 1903 the Fountainhall Well was taken from its original site and rebuilt in Duthie Park.

733

A photograph of the Watson Street Lodge in Victoria Park. The figures standing in the doorway are most likely to be Robert Walker (1848-1930), the Keeper of Victoria Park, and his family; his second wife Christina Walker and daughters Elizabeth and Ann. Judging by the 1891 census and Robert's eventual obituary, the family also had at least five sons. Walker was previously married to Isabella Robertson. She died on 24th November 1877. This photograph likely dates from the later 19th century. Robert Walker was originally from Perth and was himself a son of a gardener. He came to Aberdeen as a nurseryman and in around 1871 was chosen out of 450 candidates to be the city's first keeper of parks. He oversaw the creation of Victoria Park, Aberdeen's first public park, before going on to lay out Westburn Park, Stewart Park, Union Terrace Gardens and the Promenade. Walker was also an early advocate and pioneer of the planting of street trees. For a number of years Aberdeen had two superintendents of parks, Walker and a Mr Peter Harper at Duthie Park. When Harper retired in 1914 Walker was appointed general superintendent. Post Office directories indicate that Walker and his family lived at the Watson Street Lodge, also known as the Victoria Park Lodge, from its construction in around 1872 to his retirement in 1919. His residence at the lodge was part of the job. On retirement Walker moved to the relatively nearby 111 Westburn Drive. He was succeeded as general superintendent of parks by William B. Clark, who resided at the West Lodge of Duthie Park. A man called Robert Duncan replaced Walker as the keeper of Victoria and Westburn Park. Over the years Aberdeen has had substantial success and renown as an attractive, green city. A considerable portion of the credit for this success must reside with the pioneering and dedicated work of Robert Walker.

1033

Cutting the first sod for Allan Park at Cults, 26th June 1897. The park was presented by David Allan of West Cults as a gift commemorative of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. See the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 30/06/1897, p. 7, for a full account of this opening ceremony.

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.

1772

The opening of the Duthie Park in September 1883. The park was officially opened by Princess Beatrice, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria. The park had been gifted to the city by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie in 1880. Members of the Choral Union, who took part in the ceremony are standing in front of the platform. Queen Victoria was originally intended to perform the opening ceremony but she sustained an accident earlier in the year and was unable to undertake the engagement. Princess Beatrice, the Queen's youngest daughter, then residing at Balmoral Castle, officially opened the park in her place on 27th September 1883. The day was declared a public holiday and there were great celebrations throughout the city, concluding with a huge fireworks display over the River Dee.

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.

2114

A photograph of Victoria Park showing two adults and two children around the park's large granite fountain, which was designed by J.B. Pirie. It is built of 14 different types of granite and was presented by the granite polishers and master builders of the city. In 1871, Aberdeen Town Council decided to convert nearly 14 acres of Glennie's Parks, which had been used for cattle grazing, into a public recreation ground - Aberdeen's first park.

2123

A postcard of Westburn Park, looking north east. Westburn House can be seen in the centre of the image and the drinking fountain can be seen to the left past the fenced tennis greens. The Aberdeen Town Council bought the 25-acre Westburn estate in 1900 and created the public park.

2126

A group of children stand outside Westburn House. To the right of the image is the park's drinking fountain. Westburn House was designed in 1839 by the architect, Archibald Simpson, for David Chalmers of the printing family who published the "Aberdeen Journal" newspaper. It is a single storey building, with a 2-storey centre gable at the north and a portico of Doric pillars on the west side. It is constructed of brick with a stucco finish. The 25-acre estate was bought by Aberdeen Town Council in 1900. The lands, which had in early times been used for sheep grazing, were now converted into a public park. The vegetable garden became a recreation ground; the stables and carriage sheds now stored tools; the walled flower garden and orchard were laid out as a bowling green. A pond was created from the burn which runs through the grounds. The house was first used as refreshment rooms and the veranda, with its wrought iron columns, was added to allow people to enjoy their teas and coffees in the open air. Since then, it has had many uses including a clinic and meeting place for playgroups. Its future is currently under discussion by the City Council.

2438

A James Valentine postcard showing the fountain in Victoria Park with young people standing beside it. The fountain was designed by J.B. Pirie and built of 14 different types of granite. It was presented to the park by the master masons of Aberdeen and completed in 1881.

2607

A postcard of the Taylor Well in Woodside's Stewart Park. The photograph features two young women, one with a bicycle. There is also a man standing atop the well. The ornate granite fountain installed in 1906. It is in memory of Jean Taylor who, in 1891, bequeathed £500 for the creation of a playpark in Woodside. The fountain was based on a cast held in the Art Gallery's collection and was sculpted by Arthur Taylor of Jute Street. See the Aberdeen Daily Journal, 10th May 1906, page 7, for an account of its origin and completion.

2670

A photograph of Victoria Road, Torry in around 1934. On the left can be seen the hairdressing shop of Bert Wilson. He was a former mill worker who ran this shop from 1932 to 1946. He later became a hotelier. He and his wife bought their first hotel in Angus in 1951. They subsequently returned to Aberdeen to take over the Waverley Hotel, known later as the Guild Hotel. During this time they also converted a house on Riverside Drive into the Park Hotel. Wilson went on to run the Prince Regent Hotel, from which he retired in May 1977. Next door at 119 Victoria Road is the premises of James McPherson, a radio and cycle dealer. He also operated from number 65 on the same street. He lived at 53 Mile-End Avenue. Also visible in this photograph is a number of adverts on the side of a tenement. The products shown include Johnnie Walker whisky, Ovaltine and Capstan cigarettes. The back of a bus, a horse and cart carrying what looks like agricultural produce and the spire of Torry United Free Church can be seen too.

3028

A photograph showing people enjoying the café and outdoor seating area at Hazlehead Park on a sunny day. A pond with a fountain is visible in the foreground. This image likely dates from the 1970s. This photograph comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department.

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."

4315

M. and L. National Series postcard image showing Victoria Park. This 20th century photograph looks south not far from the Watson Street entrance to the park. In the foreground can be seen a tazzo style stone planter. In the background is the park's greenhouses with some of the houses on Thomson Street behind. A group of people with a pram sit on a park bench in the middle distance.

4316

An L. S. and S. postcard image looking north along a walkway, past a park bench, towards the Watson Street Lodge of Victoria Park. The rear of the postcard features an Aberdeen postage stamp dated 23rd July 1927. Someone called Stanley sent the card to a Dr. A. B. Burns of Glasgow. The handwriting suggests Stanley may have been a young person. His message states that he is "Having a rare holiday here."

4317

An Up To Date Series postcard looking west along Victoria Park's main walkway towards its ornate fountain. The postcard was published by T. Lamb of 40 Market Street, Aberdeen.

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.