46

This George Washington Wilson photograph shows the memorial stones inserted in the west wall of Collison's Aisle. Originally called Aisle of the Holy Blood, it formed part of the north transept between the East and West Churches of St. Nicholas and was renamed after 1594, although it probably dates from the 14th century. Members of the Collison family held important civic offices at various times, including Provost in 1521 and 1594, and their place of burial was in this aisle. The memorial stones commemerate Andrew Cullen, Thomas Menzies and his wife Mariene Reid, and Sir John Rutherford. Andrew Cullen was a merchant and Provost of Aberdeen in 1506 and 1535, and the stone shows a sculptered coat of arms above the words "Andrew Cullen Prepositus Abd". Thomas Menzies was Provost in 1525 and (for 40 of the next 50 years), only leaving office in favour of other members of his family. He married Mariane Reid of Pitfodels. The stone has two panels above a shield bearing the Menzies coat of arms, flanked by the initials T.M. The second panel has the initials M.R. and a shield with the Menzies and Reid coats of arms. Beneath is the motto 'Spero in Deo et ipse faciet' - Trust in God and he will perform'. The third stone commemorates Sir John Rutherford of Tarland, first elected Provost of Aberdeen in 1483 and every alternate year until 1492, and again between 1496-1500. He probably died about 1520.

129

The old gateway on Broad Street to Marischal College with the coat of arms of George Keith, Fifth Earl Marischal above it. This was demolished in 1890 to allow for the extension and frontage of Marischal College, which opened in 1906.

139

Interior of King's College Chapel, University of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen, c.1900. King's College was founded by Bishop William Elphinstone under a Papal Bull issued by Pope Alexander VI on 10th February 1495. Marischal College was founded as an independent university in 1593 and the two became the University of Aberdeen in the Fusion of 1860. Work began on the College in 1500 and it took 6 years to complete the Chapel. This photograph shows the interior looking west, showing Bishop Stewart's pulpit on the right, through the nave and choir to the choir stalls and rood screen, with the antechapel behind it. Non-residents entered through the west door and occupied the antechapel, while students entered from the College Library via a special staircase within the rood screen. The central gallery of the screen is still used to house the organ. The 52 choir stalls, commissioned by Elphinstone, are "a unique survival as well as the finest of their king in Scotland". The finely panelled Renaissance pulpit of William Stewart (Bishop 1532-1545) bears his coat of arms and was originally in use in St. Machar's Cathedral. The timber ceiling was constructed soon after 1506 and was probably designed by John Fendour. It consists of a diagonal arrangement of ribs and widely spreading foliage sprigs radiating from centre bosses. The choir stalls and ceiling both show a strong Flemish influence. The Chapel is still in use today for University services and is a popular marriage venue for graduates.

172

The Old Town House, High Street, Old Aberdeen, prior to the construction of St. Machar Drive. This Georgian Town House was built in 1788, by George Jaffrey, architect. Solid and symmetrical, it stands three storeys high under a piended slate roof with a central pediment and clock turret topped by a cupola. Over the entrance door is a freestone panel displaying the burgh coat-of-arms, dated 1721, wtih the Latin motto "Concordia res parvae crescunt" - By harmony small things increase.

177

The Old College Gateway on Broad Street, leading to Marischal College. It was demolished in 1904 to make way for the new frontage to Marischal College. It was surmounted by the coat of arms of George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal, founder of the College.

195

The tomb of Bishop Gavin Dunbar at St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen. Gavin Dunbar was appointed Bishop of Aberdeen on 5th November 1518 and died on 9th March 1532. He became a great benefactor not only of King's College, but of the town. It was he who took over the plans left after the death of Bishop Elphinstone and created the Bridge of Dee which opened road access to the City, from the south. Dunbar also built the twin towers at St. Machar's Cathedral and gave its magnificent ceiling at his own expense. It comprises 48 heraldic shields including the arms of Scottish monarchs, nobles, Kings of Europe, and Scottish Bishops. When he died in 1532, he was buried in the south transept of the cathedral. This was virtually destroyed after the collapse of the great central tower in 1688, and a recumbent statue of white marble of Dunbar was broken into pieces during the Reformation. The splendor of the six foot richly carved arch of Morayshire freestone is still obvious despite its exposure to the weather. A bishop's mitre surmounts the Dunbar coat of arms and his initials, at the right hand side.

283

Doorway of Provost Skene's House with the coat of arms of Provost George Skene. He was Provost of the City from 1676 - 1685, although the house dates from around 1545. The motto above the doorway reads "Gratis a Deo duta", which means "Thanks be given to God". The doorway is surrounded by thistles and roses to commemorate the restoration of Charles II.

299

Trinity Hall Gateway, Aberdeen. This ornamental gateway was erected at the original Trinity Hall in the Shiprow - the meeting place of the Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen - and dates from 1632. The left of the three panels contained the Guild family coat of arms and the initials D.W.G - Dr William Guild who gifted the building to the Trades. The central inscription reads: 'To ye glorie of God and comfort of the Poore, this Hows was given to the crafts by Mr William Guild, Doctor of Divinitie, Minister of Abdn:1633'. The inscription on the right hand panel reads: 'He that pitieth the poore lendeth to the Lord and that which he hath given will he repay' Prov. 19.17. The gateway was removed in the 1850's when the new hall was erected in Union Street in 1846, and was rebuilt into a side wall. However, later reconstruction work in the 1890's led to the demolition of the gateway although fragments were preserved in the hall.

521

Provost Robert Cruickshank's coat of arms on Ruthrieston Pack Bridge, which he had installed without being first sanctioned by the City Council. He refused to remove it and the Master of Bridgeworks turned the panel over and had engraved a Latin inscription recording that the bridge was erected out of funds mortified for the upkeep of the Bridge of Dee. By 1705 the stone was again reversed and Cruickshank's coat of arms was visible again.

575

Old Aberdeen coat of arms

1852

A photograph looking north east towards the junction of Guild Street, Market Street and Trinity Quay in 1904. The then Post Office, on the east side of Market Street, is in the centre of the image with its stone royal coat of arms visible above. On the right of the image is Fidler's Well, while on the left is the single-storey buildings that were replaced by the Balmoral Temperance Hotel block opened in around 1908.

1929

This illustration shows Queen Victoria receiving the keys of the City of Aberdeen in October 1857 as she travelled to the railway station after a summer spent at Balmoral. The Queen and the Prince Consort had travelled by coach the 60 miles from Balmoral to visit the Earl of Aberdeen at Haddo House on Wednesday 14th October. Their route was decorated with flags and arches at various points. A dinner, with a number of guests, including Lord Provost Webster of Aberdeen, was held at Haddo that evening and huge bonfires on surrounding hills lit the scene. On Thursday 15th October, the Queen and Prince Consort left Haddo, accompanied by the Earl and his son. More decorative arches had been erected on the roads south to Aberdeen. The Lord Provost, magistrates and councillors met the Queen at this Royal Arch near the city boundary at Love Lane (now Nelson Street) on King Street. The arch had been designed by the City Architect, William Smith. It was 15 feet wide, 26 feet high, with two smaller side arches. It was surmounted by the Royal Arms, flags and banners, with the words, "God save the Queen" and "Victoria", on either side in gilt letters. The side arches had the City motto, "Bon Accord", with floral crowns above, with flowers, evergreens and heather decorations. Many of the Guard of Honour wore the Crimean medal. The Lord Provost presented the silver keys on a velvet cushion to the Queen, who touched them, returned them to the Provost and said, "It affords me great gratification to be once more in my City of Aberdeen". The dignitaries returned to their coaches and the procession traveled on to Guild Street railway station, where, after a luncheon, the Royal Party now joined by the Royal children, who had come direct from Balmoral, boarded the train for Windsor.

2087

Rubislaw House stood to the west of the old Toll House and the road to the Spademill and faced the Skene Road, now called Queens Road. It was the manor house of the Rubislaw estate and is believed to have been built in 1675. Above the doorway is the coat of arms of Sir George Skene of Fintray. The house was demolished in 1886. The entry for Old Rubislaw House on the Aberdeen City Historic Environment Record website states that John Morgan, master mason acquired the house and site and wanted to preserve the old building. However, the house stood in the way of the straightening of Queen's Road and was out of alignment with the houses being developed on the road, and was therefore demolished in 1886. The only parts of the old house preserved in its replacement, the current Rubislaw House, were the steps leading up to the front door, shown here, which were placed at the conservatory door, and the entrance door lintel moulded and inscribed 'A 1675 F' which was been placed over the arch of the kitchen door. The arms above the door were removed prior to the demolition of the house and were taken into the possession of William Forbes Skene, editor of the Memorials of the Family of Skene of Skene (1887).

2321

Among the Local Studies collection of family trees is a chart from 1847 entitled Pedigree of the Cruickshanks of Stracathro. The title initially referred to the Cruickshanks of Langley Park but this has been scored out and replaced with Stracathro. A pedigree is a form of genealogical table. Collections of pedigrees were first made in the 15th century and, according to The Oxford Companion, were "a matter of aristocratic pride and of practical necessity for legal purposes". The term pedigree comes from the French 'pied de grue', meaning crane's foot, due to the resemblance of the genealogical lines to the thin legs and feet of the bird. The pedigree of the Cruickshanks was compiled by E. G. G. Cruickshank, who features in the 10th generation detailed on the table. The pedigree begins with the earliest ancestor at the top of the document with lines dropping down to succeeding generations. Each generation is given a Roman numeral and individuals within each generation are assigned Arabic numbers. The pedigree begins with "John Cruickshank first in Strathspey m. Mary Cumming of Elgin" and extends down to an incomplete 12th generation. The individuals in the 11th generation were mostly born in the 1870s. The information listed on a family tree is dependent on the sources available and the purpose for which it was created. The information given on the Cruickshank's pedigree varies but typically includes an individual's date of birth, marriage details and date of death. Additional information is also supplied as is the case with the 7th generation of Cruickshanks - Margaret Helen is described as the daughter of Rev. Gerard of Aberdeen, author of a book whose title is unreadable, and sister to a Colonel Gerald. Details of army service are supplied for some individuals and many of the Cruickshanks were involved in the administration of India or served in the army there. The tiny handwriting, use of abbreviations and sparse punctuation makes the document challenging to read so familiarity with the subject matter and names of places is useful. A later interpreter of the document has made a number of annotations in pencil. For example, one of the later additions points to an individual and reads "Is this W. Robertson of Auchinroath? Yes!" In addition to a listing of descendants the pedigree is annotated with a number of original notes and a description of a coat of arms. The latin motto of Cavendo tutus translates as 'Safe through caution'. One note, quoting "an old paper", describes from where the family came prior to being in Strathspey. A note on the other side of the chart states that "distinguished Officer and Author the late Colonel Stewart of Garth" links the family to the Royal Family of Stewart and suggests the name of Cruickshank derives from "some deformity in the first cadet of the house." Attached to the document is a letter dated 23 October 1927 from a Jim Bulloch to City Librarian G. M. Fraser. Bulloch explains that he got the pedigree from a Mr. Mackintosh of Elgin, thinks it is quite rare and that the library might like it for its collection. It has stayed in the Local Studies collection to this day. The Gazetteer for Scotland website states that in 1775 Patrick Cruickshank, listed at No. 11 of the 7th generation, bought the estate of Stracathro in Angus. The property was subsequently inherited by his brother Alexander Cruickshank (1764 - 1846). Alexander hired the Aberdeen architect Archibald Simpson to build Stracathro House between 1824 and 1827. The Palladian Scottish country house still exists today. University College London's Legacies of British Slave-ownership website indicates that Patrick and Alexander, and two other Cruickshank brothers, owned plantations on the Caribbean island of St Vincent that used slave labour. See Alexander Cruickshank's entry in the database here: 'Alexander Cruikshank of Stracathro', Legacies of British Slave-ownership database, http://wwwdepts-live.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/8590 [accessed 9th June 2020]. In 1833 when Britain abolished the ownership of slaves the government granted £20 million in compensation to former slave-owners. Alexander Cruickshank made three claims for compensation, two of which were successful. In 1874, Stracathro House and estate were sold to Sir James Bannerman, Lord Provost of Glasgow, and father of Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. The country house was later used as a World War II hospital and owned by Tay Health Board before being sold to private owners in 2003.

2877

There are many others who have traveled from Aberdeen to Poland and made successful careers. Some of these people being: John Burnet (b. 1603) John Burnet was from Aberdeen. Burnet was made citizen of Krakow in 1617. He had traded 10 Polish florins, a gun, and half a stone of gunpowder in return for citizenship. Sir George Skene of Rubislaw (1619-1707) Sir George was a former Danzig merchant who later became the Provost of Aberdeen 1676-1685. George Skene had arrived in Poland with his step-brother and apprenticed him to George Edie in Danzig. William Forbes (1566-1627) William Forbes was the founder of Craigevar Family and former merchant. With the riches he had acquired in Poland he bought many estates in Aberdeenshire. He was also known as "Danzig Willie" and "Willie the Merchant". John Turner Turner, also a former merchant in Poland, was a benefactor of the Marischal College. In 1688, he left 4 bursaries to Marischal College and his coat of arms can be seen in the historical window in Mitchell Hall. John Craig (b. 1587) John Craig was a trader in Krakow. He paid 10 Hungarian Florins to become a citizen of Poland. George Crukshank (b. 1686) Crukshank was a merchant in Krakow who paid 100 florins plus an additional 14 florins instead of the usually required gun and gunpowder. The image on the left is a reproduction of a portrait of George Skene by George Jamieson. It is from Alexander Munro's Memorials of the Aldermen, Provosts, and Lord Provosts of Aberdeen, 1272-1895 (1897).

2881

A photograph showing the western elevation of the Dee Village Electricity Works under construction on 19th August 1902. The building's impressive facade on Millburn Street, with its gable reading "Corporation Electricity Works" and the Aberdeen's coat of arms, can just be seen to the right of the image. This image is from an album of photographs held by Aberdeen City Libraries detailing the construction of the Dee Village Electricity Works.

2903

A photographic print with collated portraits of the staff and pupils of the Aberdeen Training Centre. The class photograph is from during World War I so some of the staff are in uniform. The Training Centre was part of the University of Aberdeen, as can be seen by the University's coat of arms in the top right of the image. The man in the centre of the print is likely George Smith, the institute's director of studies between 1907 and 1922. The photographs were taken and compiled by prominent Aberdeen photographer, Fred W. Hardie. As indicated in the lower right of the image his studio was located at 416 Union Street. Before starting his own business, Hardie was a senior staff photographer with the George Washington Wilson Company. The photographic studio at 416 Union Street was later taken over by A. J. B. Strachan.

2939

A postcard image looking east up Union Street from the junction with Bridge Street. Pratt & Keith and the Palace Hotel can be seen on the right. The auction room of R. J. Mackenzie and premises of William Young, fine art dealer, can be seen at the back of Belmont Street on the left of the image. The postcard also features the coat of arms of Aberdeen.

3015

A photograph of the Invercauld Arms Hotel in Braemar. This image likely dates from shortly after the extension of the hotel in 1886.

3115

A busy scene in Union Terrace Gardens. In the foreground a child rides a coin-operated, motorised toy car, while others practice with marching batons. A large number of people sit on the benches on what looks like an overcast day. Many have bags suggesting they may have been shopping. In addition to the prominent city coat of arms, floral displays marking the centenary of local newspaper, the Evening Express, and the Scottish Salvation Army are visible. Beyond the gardens, the marque of His Majesty's Theatre advertises the musical Cole starring Una MacLean. The centenaries and musical indicate the image likely dates from August 1979. This photograph comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department.

4279

The main entrance gates and modern reception office, sign and coat of arms. Viewed from Kennerty Road. This image is one of fifteen from a photographic survey of the exterior of Culter Paper Mills and nearby Kennerty Mill undertaken by John A. Souter in the summer of 1981. John kindly donated colour slides of these photographs to Aberdeen City Libraries. The early history of the Culter Mills Paper Company can be read in the article 'Paper-making on Deeside (1750-1932)' by Alexander A. Cormack in The Deeside Field (sixth number, 1933) pages 36-45. This can be accessed at Aberdeen City Libraries.

4453

A photograph by Roddy Millar, taken 05/06/2024, from a series surveying the architecture of the north side of Union Street. This image looks north east across Union Street towards the southern elevation of 146 Union Street and 1-3 Union Terrace. This building was constructed 1882-85 by master mason John Morgan (1844-1907), to a design by A. Marshall Mackenzie (1848-1933), of Messrs Matthews & Mackenzie, for the Northern Assurance Company. Diane Morgan in The Granite Mile states that the Northern Assurance Company building replaced the townhouse of Harry Lumsden of Belhelvie, which had stood at 1 Union Terrace for approximately 80 years (p. 107). An article from the Aberdeen Journal of 08/11/1882, p. 5, indicates that, in addition to the house at 1 Union Terrace, the following buildings were purchased and demolished to make way for this office block: the corner house, formerly occupied by the Northern Club, and latterly by Watson's West End Restaurant, and no. 237 Union Street, which was occupied by Messrs Reid & Wilsone, advocates. The ground floor Union Street side of the building features four tall windows capped by triangular pediments. To the left of them is an ornate side entrance with a semi-elliptical pediment. Diane Morgan describes the channelled stonework (banded pulvination) of the ground floor as "quite spectacular" (p. 109). Morgan also highlights the myriad of detail on the building's façade, including the carved garlands decorating the frieze above the first floor's coupled Ionic columns. Note also the egg-and-dart carving on the capitals of these columns. Both features are used across the building. High on the 1st floor façade of the building are four medallions, two shown here. The one on the right shown here, closer to the main entrance, features a representation of the three castles from the heraldic shield of Aberdeen. One depicting the shield from London's coat of arms, a cross of St. George with a sword in the 1st quarter, is on the other side of the portico. These two medallions represent the Aberdeen and London boards of the company. The outer two medallions, located at either end of the building feature the lion rampant that was the logo of the Northern Assurance Company. The office space on the 3rd floor, at the very top of the building, was expanded with the addition of a new modern roof structure between 2012 and 2015. This can be seen at the top of this image. Diane Morgan states that the Royal Insurance Co. merged with the Commercial Union in 1968, with other mergers and takeovers following. The building ceased being an insurance office around 100 years after its construction. In December 2003 the ground floor reopened as a bar and restaurant called The Monkey House, taking its name from the building's traditional nickname. Much of the interior of the historic building was retained in its conversion. The Monkey House, which was run by Epic Group, closed in May 2016 following its owner agreeing to lease the premises to a Thai restaurant operator. The Leeds-based Thai Leisure Group opened Chaophraya Aberdeen later that year and it can be seen in this 2024 image.

4454

A photograph by Roddy Millar, taken 17/05/2023, from a series surveying the architecture of the north side of Union Street. This image looks north across Union Street directly towards the southern elevation of 146 Union Street and 1-3 Union Terrace. This building was constructed 1882-85 by master mason John Morgan (1844-1907), to a design by A. Marshall Mackenzie (1848-1933), of Messrs Matthews & Mackenzie, for the Northern Assurance Company. Diane Morgan in The Granite Mile states that the Northern Assurance Company building replaced the townhouse of Harry Lumsden of Belhelvie, which had stood at 1 Union Terrace for approximately 80 years (p. 107). An article from the Aberdeen Journal of 08/11/1882, p. 5, indicates that, in addition to the house at 1 Union Terrace, the following buildings were purchased and demolished to make way for this office block: the corner house, former occupied by the Northern Club, and latterly by Watson's West End Restaurant, and no. 237 Union Street, which was occupied by Messrs Reid & Wilsone, advocates. The ground floor Union Street side of the building features four tall windows capped by triangular pediments. To the left of them is an ornate side entrance with a semi-elliptical pediment. Diane Morgan describes the channelled stonework (banded pulvination) of the ground floor as "quite spectacular" (p. 109). Morgan also highlights the myriad of detail on the building's façade, including the carved garlands decorating the frieze above the first floor's coupled Ionic columns. Note also the egg-and-dart carving on the capitals of these columns. Both features are used across the building. High on the 1st floor façade of the building are four medallions, two shown here. The one on the right shown here, closer to the main entrance, features a representation of the three castles from the heraldic shield of Aberdeen. One depicting the shield from London's coat of arms, a cross of St. George with a sword in the 1st quarter, is on the other side of the portico. These two medallions represent the Aberdeen and London boards of the company. The outer two medallions, located at either end of the building feature the lion rampant that was the logo of the Northern Assurance Company. Diane Morgan states that the Royal Insurance Co. merged with the Commercial Union in 1968, with other mergers and takeovers following. The building ceased being an insurance office around 100 years after its construction. In December 2003 the ground floor reopened as a bar and restaurant called The Monkey House, taking its name from the building's traditional nickname. Much of the interior of the historic building was retained in its conversion. The Monkey House, which was run by Epic Group, closed in May 2016 following its owner agreeing to lease the premises to a Thai restaurant operator. The Leeds-based Thai Leisure Group opened Chaophraya Aberdeen later that year and it can be seen in this 2024 image.

4461

A photograph of a botanical representation of Aberdeen' coat of arms displayed on the northern slope of Union Terrace Gardens. The Central Library, St. Mark's Church and His Majesty's Theatre are seen in the background. The leopard supporters are formed by two varieties of box-leaved holly; Golden Gem for their fur, and Dark Green for their spots. The latter is also used for the shield's outline and city motto 'Bon Accord'. The surrounding background bed is of Heath Pearlwort, which has white flowers. This image, taken on 29th April 2024, shows the display in its dormant, and untidy, winter state. In summer it would be fully reinstated. For example, Busy Lizzie has been used for the red and white centre of the crest, which shows the three castles of Aberdeen.