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St. Nicholas Street
87 St. Nicholas Street looking up the Netherkirkgate. The old Frigate Bar is seen in the middle distance with the Wallace Tower to its right. The buildings on the right were demolished in the 1960s to allow Marks and Spencer to extend their store across the Netherkirkgate. The Wallace Tower was relocated to a site near Tillydrone and Seaton Park. Bridge Street, Aberdeen. c.1890
201 Bridge Street, Aberdeen. This George Washington Wilson image shows a horse drawn bus on Bridge Street travelling towards Union Street. The stairs leading to the upper deck can be seen, and the iron wheels must have been very noisy on the cobbled streets. The bus is just passing the American Store whose premises were 'To Let', and Galloway and Sykes, cabinet makers - the latter firm are only listed at 50 Bridge Street between 1887 and 1889. Union Bridge and the Trinity Hall from Union Terrace Gardens
238 Union Bridge and the Trinity Hall from Union Terrace Gardens. Trinity Hall was the home of the Incorporated Trades until they moved to their new Hall at the junction of Holburn Street and Great Western Road. This building, designed by John and William Smith in 1846, was incorporated into Littlewoods Store and the Trinity Shopping Centre. Union Bridge looking towards the Palace Hotel
285 Union Bridge looking towards the Palace Hotel, built in 1874 for Messrs Pratt and Keith, milliners, who occupied the street level area. It operated as one of a chain of LNER hotels. Its upper stories were destroyed by fire on 31st October 1941, with loss of life and the building was entirely demolished after the war. The site was later occupied by the C and A store. Rubislaw Supply Stores
372 This building was erected in 1837 as a tollhouse on the Aberdeen-Skene turnpike road. Turnpike roads were built during the late 18th and early 19th centuries with the intention of improving the rough tracks which were the only roads at that time. Income for the maintenance of the roads was administered by local trustrees through a levy of tolls on travellers at bars or gates, usually set at 6 mile intervals. At each bar there was a tollhouse where the keeper lived. The rounded shape with windows facing in different directions allowed the tollkeeper to see who was approaching so that he could collect the tolls. The toll system was abolished by the Aberdeenshire Roads Act, 1865. The Rubislaw Toll House was then converted into a grocery shop and became known as Rubislaw Supply Stores, run for many years by Gavin Coutts. It remained as a grocery store until recently when it has been converted into a restaurant. It stands at the junction of Queens Road and Spademill Road - named from an old mill which turned wooden handles for spades in the late 1700's. Henderson's Dairy and Grocery Store
443 Mr and Mrs Henderson, and others, outside their grocery shop at 21 Chattan Place. Mrs Henderson's maiden name was Prentice.
This photograph was taken by Kidd & Stridgen, a photographers based at 9 New Market Gallery.
21 Chattan place was Kenny's Chip Shop in the 1980s and later a Chinese takeaway restaurant.
A copy of this image was kindly lent to the Aberdeen City Libraries for reproduction by William Donald of Udny Green. Mrs Henderson was the sister of his mother-in-law. Rolland's Lodging, Castle Street
597 Rolland's Lodging, Castle Street. This 16th century twin-gabled building was the town house of the Rolland family of Disblair. It was demolished in 1935 and the headquarters of the Aberdeen Association of Social Services (now Voluntary Service Aberdeen) occupied the site. The photo shows McKenzie and Stephen, furniture store at No.36 Jack's Brae
710 A photograph looking north west up Jack's Brae, from its junction with Upper Denburn, in the Rosemount area. Jack's Brae was named after the owner of property there. This photograph likely dates from the mid-to-late 19th century.
The Ordnance Survey town plan of Aberdeen, 1:500 scale, surveyed in 1866-67 depicts a "Coffee Roasting and Grinding Works" at the top of Jack's Brae at its junction with Leadside Road. A large chimney of these works can be seen on the right side of this image in the distance.
These works were the premises of John Strachan. In the Aberdeen Post Office Directory for 1867-68, Strachan is described as follows:
"Strachan, John, coffee roaster, coffee, sugar, and sugar grinder, Jack's brae" (page 213).
Aberdeen City Council's Historic Environment Record describes the site thusly:
"Site of meal mills, built in the 18th - 19th Centuries and demolished in the 1980s. The works was two-storey with a basement, comprising a 9-bay range with a single kiln and a three-storey with attic 5 by 6-bay block of later date. There were also two 2-storey store blocks. The mill was originally water powered, later electrically driven. The OS 1st edition map depicts a coffee roasting and grinding works here; they are annotated as corn mills on the OS 25in map published 1924." (link here).
The business was known as John Strachan & Sons and the works as Gilcomston Mill. The business was started in around 1852 and John Strachan was succeeded as its proprietor by his son James Strachan (1838-1914). His obituary can be found in the Evening Express of 28th December 1914, page 5. His son, John Strachan, was later to become the business's managing director. The obituary of this later John Strachan can be found in the Press & Journal of 1st July 1935, page 8.
At the time of writing in 2022, the site is occupied by a residential complex called Strachan Mill Court - no doubt named after the coffee roasting and milling enterprise. The Wallace Tower
731 Wallace Tower, Nether Kirkgate. Originally known as Keith's Lodgings, it was supposed to have been the home of Sir Robert Keith of Benholm. After the construction of the Marks and Spencers store in George Street, the Wallace Tower was removed to a new site at Tillydrone (1965). Sandilands Chemical Works
848 Sandilands Chemical Works - foundation work for the new phosphoric acid production plant beside the 20,000 ton phosphate store. Phosphate store, Sandilands Chemical Works
857 The new phosphate store (capacity 20,000 tons) at Sandilands Chemical Works, built next to the Garvock Wynd boundary wall. The phosphate rock came into Aberdeen from the Pacific Islands and Russia by ship to be unloaded at International Quay and then transferred to Sandilands by lorry. The lorries then tipped their loads into an underground hopper and conveyor system through a grid opening at ground level. The phosphate was then lifted by an elevator to an overhead conveyor from which it was tipped into the store. The material was then trimmed using a bulldozer. One operator was was responsible for the operation of unloading the phosphate including the trimming operation. The phosphate was removed from the store by means of a mechanical shovel and used in the production of phosphoric acid. Isaac Benzies' George Street Store
1108 Isaac Benzies. This famous local retailer first started trading from a small shop at 185 George Street in 1894. As business flourished, other outlets were opened in the city. Mr Benzie finally brought his interests together under one roof in these premises on George Street in 1924. In 1955, the store was acquired by the House of Fraser and traded as Arnotts before closing down in 1986. James J. Wilson's bakery fleet, Bucksburn, 1910s
1140 James J. Wilson's bakery fleet, Bucksburn - this photograph dates from the 1910s, when the shop and bakery at 13 Auchmill Road was owned by James Wilson. Here we see his horse-drawn vans setting out on their deliveries to homes and shops in the area. By 1920, however, the shop and bakery belonged to James S. Rodger and "Rodger's Bakery" was to be a familiar store in Bucksburn for more than 30 years. It is now the parent shop of Chalmers of Bucksburn Ltd., which owns shops all over Aberdeen and Deeside. Aberdeen Public Soup Kitchen
1191 Aberdeen Public Soup Kitchen was first established as a charity in 1800 in St. Mary's Chapel in St. Nicholas Church. It supplied a breakfast of coffee and bread and a lunch of bread, soup and a piece of beef or mutton to the needy of the city. In a period of nearly 240 days it supplied over 140,000 servings of soup and bread.
The Soup Kitchen moved to Loch Street in 1838 and this new building was opened by Lord Provost Stewart in December 1894. The ground floor dining room had accommodation for at least 50 people and the tables were marble topped. In 1926, a total of nearly 27,000 meals were provided with funding still coming from charitable donations since few could afford even the two pence (1p) for the lunch.
The building survived major developments in the surrounding area but in recent years its charitable purpose was no longer thought necessary, and it was converted into a café in the mid 1990s. In 2022, the building still stands at 41-43 Loch Street, with the covered walkway for John Lewis and the Bon Accord Centre to its south (to the left of this image). It is occupied by a outlet of the Jo Malone London fragrance and candle store. George Street
1203 This photo from 1987 shows part of the west side of George Street prior to the demolition of the whole area for the massive shopping development which became the Bon Accord Centre, which opened in 1990. Jaspers Knitting Wools were at No.23, beyond it had been a Granada TV store and to its right at No.17 was Attitude, a clothes shop. Although the buildings had suffered some years of neglect because of the impending redevelopment, the intricacy of some of the original architecture is still obvious. The flats above the business premises were quite run down with some not even having hot and cold water at the sinks and only a shared toilet on the landings. Wallace Tower
1286 Wallace Tower, Netherkirkgate. Originally known as Keith's Lodgings, it was supposed to have been the home of Sir Robert Keith of Benholm. After the construction of the Marks and Spencers store in George Street, the Wallace Tower was removed to a new site at Tillydrone (1965). Aberdeen Central Library, Local Studies c.1905
1401 Known as the vestibule to the Reference Department, this room (formerly a store and binders department) was transformed to accommodate the foundations of what would become the Local Studies Collection.
The large bookcase in the photograph was 24 feet long and held Council Minutes, Aberdeen Directories and Spalding Club publications. The Hosier
1744 Members of staff stand outside the front of The Hosier shop around 1930. This photograph was lent to Local Studies by a member of the library staff whose mother features in the image.
The shop, owned by Leslie M. Hatt, was at number 90-92 Union Street. The Hosier first appears, among 23 other hosiers, in Aberdeen Directories for the year 1925-26 and continues to feature until the 1960s. In the directory for 1965-66 the shop has moved to premises at 82 Union Street and another store has been opened at 73 Victoria Road. At this point it was one of only three hosiers listed for the whole city. Hatt also owned a menswear shop which in 1926 was located at 116 Union Street.
Hatt was a patriotic, civic minded, and well known fellow. He was involved in Aberdeen's YMCA and a captain of The Boys' Brigade. The Press and Journal reports a lecture he gave in the 1930s on the meaning of the Flag and Empire. He was most well known, however, for delivering humorous sketches and recitations. Moreover he and Mrs Leslie Hatt were keen singers and regularly contributed to concerts for worthwhile causes.
In 1928 a young sheep that had spent three or four weeks in the window of The Hosier was sold at auction to raise funds for the Lord Provost's Joint Hospital Fund. After much bidding it was eventually won by a butcher from Great Northern Road, who donated it right back to be auctioned again the next week. Waterloo Bar
2234 This harbour pub was located at 79-80 Waterloo Quay. It was popular with employees of the nearby shipyards. This photograph likely dates from the 1930s. The name of proprietor, George Whyte, is written on the frontage of the pub and adverts for various drinks and anti-prohibition posters decorate the windows.
To the left of the pub can be seen a newsagent and the entrance to a cement tar and pitch store. On the right can be seen offices of the Aberdeen Steam Navigation Company Limited. McKay's of Queen Street
2764 This photograph shows the exterior of McKay's clothing shop at 29-31 Queen Street in 2018. The business dates from around the 1910s and this large 2 floor outlet was opened on 25th March 1971.
A newspaper advert from the time describes their stock as "Workwear, Footwear, Leisurewear, Camping Equipment, plus our usual Government Surplus Lines".
The advert states that the business was a contractor to the Ministry of Defence.
Prior to this larger store, the business operated at 24-26 Queen Street. Ordnance Survey maps from the 1950s indicate that this address was on the opposite side of the road, across from Greyfriars Church.
Correspondent Alan Duthie has pointed out that McKay's was also located in the building on the southern side of the junction of Broad Street and Queen Street. This can be seen in old photographs. These were the same premises previously occupied by George and James Anderson, ironmongers, and later Ewen & Co., cabinetmakers and furnishers and had the address of 34 Broad Street and 2 Queen Street.
McKay's was likely at this location shortly prior to its demolition for the widening of Broad Street and the construction of the Town House extension. Alan remembers that the shop was entered from Queen Street and the door on Broad Street was not used.
This building at 29-31 Queen Street was demolished in the early months of 2021. McKay's had relocated to Great Northern Road. 402-408 Union Street and Summer Street
2788 Thomson's, confectioners, at 402-408 Union Street and Gilcomston South Church on the junction with Summer Street in around 1937.
Correspondent Philip Wright tells us that the shop was known as "Sweetie Thomson's" and that it was every child's dream store. 65 Union Street
2795 John Falconer & Co., Ltd. at 65 Union Street in 1937.
Falconer's was a department store. Adverts described it as a general drapers, outfitters and house furnishers. At the time of this photograph they also had a hairdressing department and a millinery salon.
John Falconer & Co. was acquired by the Scottish Drapery Corporation Ltd in 1929. This company was in turn acquired by the House of Fraser Ltd in September 1952. John Falconer & Co Ltd went into voluntary liquidation in 1952 and from then on operated as the Aberdeen branch of the House of Fraser.
See the House of Fraser Archive website for more on the history of the company.
65 Union Street was a former hotel and was known as 'The Royal Buildings'. 199 Union Street
2800 F.W. Woolworth & Co., Ltd. at 119 Union Street in 1937. This first 3d and 6d department store in Aberdeen opened at 50-52 St. Nicholas Street on Saturday 18th October 1919. The lowest price was 1d and nothing cost more than 6d (2 and a half pence). Although they were an American company, goods were of British manufacture and straight from the factory - hence the low prices. Crowds of spectators had peered through the windows before the opening preview on the Friday afternoon when over 35,000 people visited the premises. On the Saturday, the shop was open till 9pm and was so thronged that a policeman had to regulate the crowds. Around 1927, this second store was opened at 119 Union Street and this 1937 photograph still shows the 3d and 6d advertising and window displays of pyramids of pans, tins and other household goods. "Woolies" moved to the Bon Accord Centre when it opened in 1990 and these Union Street premises have later been occupied by McDonalds, while the St. Nicholas Street premises were demolished for the St. Nicholas Centre. Aberdeen Cinemas: Casino
3410 An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the Casino cinema in around 1963.
The Casino cinema was opened on Wales Street on 7th February 1916 by John Peter Kilgour, a dealer in various waste materials. It had close competition with Bert Gate's Star Picture Palace just around the corner on Park Street. Michael Thomson in The Silver Screen in the Silver City describes the Casino as the second of Aberdeen's purpose-built picture halls. It and the "Starrie" served the population of the city's east end for many years.
The Casino was built on the site of Kilgour's factory yards. The architects for the project were George Sutherland and Clement George. The building's "Spanish villa" design is described by Thomson as unique for Aberdeen and highly unusual throughout Scotland. One distinctive feature was the low square tower at the Park Street side of the building that was topped by a red-tiled concave pyramidal roof. Thomson writes that features of the building combined to "bring a welcome splash of colour and gaiety to an otherwise drab corner of the city."
Following the death of John Peter Kilgour in 1920, the running of the Casino and his waste business was taken over by his son, Ormande L. Kilgour.
In the silent era the venue was a stronghold of cine-variety, showing all manner of performances in-between film screenings. In February 1936 the cinema celebrated its 20th birthday and a cake was cut by Kilgour and one the Casino's oldest patrons, a Mrs Stewart.
In November 1939 Bert Gates and Aberdeen Picture Palaces bought a controlling interest share in the Casino. The Beach Boulevard, which opened on 25th May 1959, ran directly outside the cinema and gave the Casino a prominent location. In March of that year the cinema was given a thorough renovation.
Despite its new prominent location and recent renovation, the Casino closed down as a cinema on Saturday 3rd October 1959. A spokesperson for the Donald Cinemas Group stated in the Evening Express at the time that the closure was due to the housing in the area being pulled down and people moving to new estates. Michael Thomson suggests that the proximity of the relatively new first-run Regal in Shiprow might also have drawn away the hoped-for holiday crowds from the Casino.
In 1961 the empty Casino was sold to local bookmakers James Rennie and Arthur Forbes to be used as a bingo hall. This was at the height of bingo's popularity and the Casino proved too small. The bingo operation was moved to the Kingsway Cinema which had showed its final film, Warlord of Crete on 3rd February 1962.
The area around the Casino was earmarked for redevelopment by Aberdeen Town Council. The cinema building was compulsorily purchased and, after spending some time as a store, was demolished at the same time as the Star in 1971. The site is now occupied by a residential development.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. |