52

A photograph showing many large sailing ships in the Upper Dock of Aberdeen Harbour. This image looks north west towards the junction of Market and Guild Street from Regent Road (near the start of Blaikie's Quay). The prominent granite building in the background was at the corner of this junction at 62-68 Market Street. It was a warehouse and offices with shops on the ground floor. The site was redeveloped for the office blocks that can be seen today in around the early 1980s. This block may have been demolished at that time. Prior to the late 19th century continuing development of Market Street and the creation of Provost Jamieson's Quay, the south side of the Upper Dock was the site of various ship building yards, with timber yards behind. The ship shown in front of the building is the City of Aberdeen. It was built in 1862 by John Duthie, Sons & Co. for the China trade. It was altered to barque rigging in 1877 and this be the period of this photograph. The ship has an entry on the Aberdeen Built Ships website.

641

This photograph shows the corner at the end of Regent Quay in the late 19th century. The building in the centre of the image, with pediment, is the offices of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company and to its left is the entrance to the Waterloo Railway Station. The railway station was opened by the company on 1st April 1856. It was built to supersede an existing station at Kittybrewster. Waterloo was once the station for all railway passengers and goods going between the city and the north. Trains coming and going from the south stopped at a nearby, but unconnected station on Guild Street. It had opened two years earlier in 1854 and was operated by rival railway company, the Scottish North-Eastern. Passengers with connecting trains would need to dash along Trinity and Regent Quay or wait for a bus. Connections were not guaranteed. It took Parliament to settle the differences between the companies. This saw the construction of the Joint Station, opened in November 1867, and the creation of the Denburn Valley Railway. Both Waterloo and Guild Street subsequently became stations for the transport of goods only. The buildings shown in this photograph were altered and eventually demolished in the 20th century. Remnants of the station can still be seen today in a small yard and the railway line following the old canal path and joining the main tracks heading north at Kittybrewster. On the right of this image can also be seen an building, likely a goods shed, of the Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Steam Company. This passenger ship service was founded in 1865 and had offices at 43 Marischal Street. The building to the left of Waterloo Station, far left here, was the site of an establishment called Berry's Hotel and served as various pubs until the late 1960s. It looks like it was closed or being refurbished at the time of this photograph. To the left of this image would be Commerce Street and Regent Quay. Waterloo Quay would begin to its right.

792

A photograph showing 13 Skene Square in the late 19th century. This tenement is thought to be the birthplace of the genre and portrait painter John Phillip (1817-1867). The image is included as a plate in Historical Aberdeen: the Castle and the Castle-hill, the Snow Church, the Woolmanhill and neighbourhood, the Guestrow by G. M. Fraser (1905). Fraser indicates that the tablet that can be seen above the door was put up in memory of John Phillip by his friend William Brodie (1815-1881), the sculptor. Fraser elaborates as follows: "The first plate on the house, 13 Skene Square, was placed there by William Brodie, the sculptor. that house was pulled down six years ago, but fortunately Mr George Watt, architect, the proprietor of the house erected on the spot, has, with much public spirit, placed a bronze tablet on the new house telling that Phillip's house stood on that site. I wish we could be absolutely certain that Phillip was born here. There can be no doubt that he lived here as a child, but it suggestive that in the detailed notices of Phillip in the Aberdeen papers at the time of his death, it was said that he was born in Windy Wynd, where his father was a shoemaker. See Aberdeen Journal, 6th March, 1867; Aberdeen Free Press, 1st March, 1867.

1398

Gentlemen browsing the local newspapers, The Press & Journal and the Evening Express, in Aberdeen Central Library's Newspaper Room. This image likely dates from the 1970s. The newspaper boards were divided into sections containing Aberdeen newspapers, Scottish nationals and English provincial and London papers. Another section was set aside for international and other titles such as the Cape Argus and the Ceylon Observer.

1399

The list of papers and periodicals in the Reading Room amounted to 21 dailies, 100 weeklies, 78 monthlies and 11 quarterlies. Railway Timetables were also stocked. The ladies had their own selections including Girl's Own Paper, Good Needlework and Women's Employment.

1476

A photograph of Springhill Farm. Looking north up Springhill Road. The building on the left can still been seen in 2017. The land around the farm and Springhill estate has been radically altered over the years. It is now flat parkland. This photograph was likely taken by James G. Kellas in around 1951.

1533

A photograph showing the house that was located at the junction of Portland Street and Wellington Road. It can be seen on the Ordnance Survey 1867 Aberdeen town plan, sheet LXXV.15.3. This image looks north and gives a good view of the building that is thought to have once been the home of Provost George Auldjo of Portlethen (1756-1806). He followed his father, John Auldjo, in running the brick and tiles works in the Clayworks, located to the rear of this house. The brick and tile works exploited the large amount of clay in the area. By the late 1860s the clay pits were ceasing to be worked. The Clayhills area was consequently leased out for yards and works of various kinds. The building visible on the right is likely the preserved provision works which was active for only one or two years before moving to South Mount Street. This house was demolished, and the area radically altered, with the road and railway improvement scheme that finished in 1904. This was carried out by the railway companies as part of the Joint Station extension scheme. The improvements saw the construction of the lower part of South College Street, which would run through the Clayhills area. For more details on the Clayhills brick and tile works and the roadworks see G. M. Fraser's article 'Affleck Street and the Clayhills' in The Press and Journal, 16th July 1926, page 4 and the article 'Ferryhill Street Improvements' in The Aberdeen Daily Journal, 24th October 1904, page 4.

2231

A correspondent has got in touch to plausibly suggest that this photograph looks north-east along the River Don south of Kildrummy and Knowehead Farm (OS grid reference: NJ 4794 1521). The bridge in the foreground of the image is just to the south of the site of Boat of Drumallachie. The latter was a cottage that no longer stands but can be seen on old Ordnance Survey maps References online suggest the bridge may be known as Brux Bridge, or Bridge of Brux. The Ordnance Survey 25-inch Aberdeenshire LXI.8 (Towie) map sheet, surveyed in 1867, shows a fording point on the river at the rough location of the bridge. The later 25-inch Aberdeenshire LXI.8, revised to 1900, shows a bridge in place. If this identification is correct, the farm visible in the distance, towards the right, would be Dukeston. The further away farm, in line with the river here, would be Newton. The hill rising behind Dukeston Farm would be Craigiebeg Hill. This photograph likely dates from around the early 20th century. The bridge shown here differs somewhat from the one that can be seen today in 2022. The bridge has likely been replaced or altered in the intervening years.

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.

2689

Union Bridge, with the statue of Prince Albert in foreground. At the east end of the bridge (centre of image) can be seen the Trinity Hall, home to the Incorporated Trades since its construction in 1846. It replaced an older Trinity Hall located on the south side of The Green. This second Trinity Hall was largely demolished in 1967 when the Incorporated Trades moved to Holburn Street. It made way for an extension to Littlewoods Stores, though the frontage on Union Street was retained. Union Bridge was widened in 1905 and saw the introduction of the "Kelly's Cats". The bridge was also altered in 1963 with the construction of shops on the south side.

2693

A photograph of Powis House taken from the book Powis Papers: 1507-1894 edited by John George Burnett and published by the Third Spalding Club in 1951.

2880

Sadly, my report ends here. It has been a great pleasure researching the relationship between two countries with which I strongly identify. I was born in Poland and moved to Scotland when I was 6 months old along with my family. I can relate to both parts and consider myself a citizen of both countries. I hope you have enjoyed reading this report and are encouraged to research into your own family ancestry. Maybe you'll find some Polish heritage. Who knows? But most of all I hope you have become more knowledgeable on the matter, possibly making our community more aware of racism and prejudice and helping to tackle these very important issues in Aberdeen. Sources and References 'Scots in Poland, Poles in Scotland' from The Krakow Post link Aberdeen Press and Journal, Saturday 27th April 1935 Aberdeen Press and Journal, Friday 13th September 1931 Wikipedia entry for Alexander Czamer link 'Scotland and Poland' from #ScotlandIsNow link 'Polish "most targeted group" in prejudice in Aberdeen' from BBC News link 'Alexander Chalmers, Scottish Mayor of Warsaw' by Ross 'Teddy' Craig link 'History of Gordon's' from Robert Gordon's College website link 'Scots Diaspora' by Andrew Elliott link 'Did you know?' from Mapa Scotland: the Great Polish Map of Scotland link 'Papers Relating to the Scots in Poland (1576-1798)' from Electric Scotland link

3127

A photograph showing the gateway on Broad Street that once lead through to Marischal College and Greyfriars Church. It was demolished to make way for the new frontage of the College opened in 1906. On the right can be seen a small part of the College Gate Clothing House. The following description is given on the back of this undated printed image: "The City of Aberdeen has risen rapidly within the last decade or two in population and in importance as a commercial centre, and those conducting its business have from time to time found it necessary to adapt themselves and their premises to the altered circumstances. There is no business in connection with the Drapery Trade which has developed more than that conducted by the Proprietor of Greyfriars Warehouse. The business was commenced in 1867, in a small shop with one window on the east side of Broad Street, in front of Marischal College. Two years later a double shop adjoining was added, and, in 1878, the premises known as Greyfriars Buildings were opened, with several new departments. "Ultimately these were found to be insufficient for the rapidly increasing business, when three blocks of buildings were secured on the west side of Broad Street, fronting Marischal College. These were partly rebuilt and arranged so as to admit of the introduction of new departments, such as Furniture, Carpets, Bedding and General Upholstery, and during the past year an entirely new block has been erected."

3177

This stone is located near the kerb at 79 Hardgate, at the east side of the intersection with Union Glen. It is march stone 1 and marks the the junction of the Inner and Outer Marches to the south of the town. The 1929 Blue Book gives the following 1525 description for an earlier version of the stone: "[...] ane gret grey stane, with ane sawssir [...]". It was still marked with a saucer in 1698 but a new stone marked '1 ABD CR' was in place by the late 18th century. The Ordnance Survey town plan of Aberdeen from 1867 has a first March stone marked on the north east corner of the New Bridge, on the Hardgate, which went over the then open Hol Burn. This stream ran east then south, joining Ferryhill Burn on its way to the Dee (where we can now find the Alpha stone). The Hol and Ferryhill burns have since been fully, or for the most part, covered over by urban development. The Blue Book records stone 1 at the north gable of 81 Hardgate and a photograph of it up-right at this location is included. The inscription in this 1980s image looks different and the marker was likely moved to this flat, roadside location when the properties on the Hardgate were redeveloped sometime in the mid-20th century. The stone would have been either moved and altered, or replaced. The stone in 2020 looks in better condition than shown here in the 1980s, which suggests it has had further attention in the intervening years. A slide of this image was kindly lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston so that we could create a digital copy for public use. The image was taken in the early 1980s when Colin worked as a teacher at Bridge of Don Academy. He led several current and former pupils, and staff members in an investigation into the location, physical condition and public knowledge of Aberdeen's historic boundary markers.

3194

This stone is located adjacent to the footpath at the amenity area, south of Friarsfield Road and Kirkbrae junction, Cults. It is marked '12 ABD'. In 1698 the then marker was described as "ane merch stone, with an sauser and four witter holes...". The 1929 Blue Book includes an image of the stone against a rough stone wall. The sluice gate and stream visible in the background of this image is the Cults Burn. Above the slope shown here was once Cults Dam. The junction of Friarsfield Road and Kirk Brae has been significantly altered since this photograph was taken. Frairsfield Road has since been extended to meet Kirk Brae in a straight line. The previous, smaller junction, that curved to the south west, has been replaced by the footpath through the newly created amenity area. In 2020 the March Stone remains at broadly the same location shown here, just off the footpath, on the other side of the burn from a public bench. A slide of this image was kindly lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston so that we could create a digital copy for public use. The image was taken in the early 1980s when Colin worked as a teacher at Bridge of Don Academy. He led several current and former pupils, and staff members in an investigation into the location, physical condition and public knowledge of Aberdeen's historic boundary markers.

3210

This stone is located adjacent to Littlemill/Brodiach Burn, on rough ground, north west of Borrowstone Farm, off the Clinterty/Blackburn Road. It is marked "28 ABD". The line of the marches has followed the Brodiach 2 miles north from number 27. Present next to marker number 28 is an older stone marked "P" for "Propertie". The Blue Book states: "Stone No. 28 looks like it was placed on the wrong side of the burn, but it appears that, at one time, the burn was diverted, and the stone lettered 'P' signifies that the Town claimed the nook when the course of the burn was altered." The book also explains that Borrowstone was owned by the Weavers' Incorporation and it was at this stone that their "Doupin'" ceremonies took place and also includes a photograph of the two stones. A slide of this image was kindly lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston so that we could create a digital copy for public use. The image was taken in the early 1980s when Colin worked as a teacher at Bridge of Don Academy. He led several current and former pupils, and staff members in an investigation into the location, physical condition and public knowledge of Aberdeen's historic boundary markers.

3223

This stone is (likely) located at the north side of road, 50 metres east of No. 38. It is marked "39 ABD". The road from Ashtown to the Newhills Homes has been substantially altered to make way for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR). This stone may have consequently been moved. On a different matter, the Blue Book states "It appears that this stone marks the original extent of the Lands of Craibstone in the direction earlier known as the top of the folds of Craibstone. The portion of Craibstone now within the Freedom Lands was a subject of controversy with the Town Council for a century." A slide of this image was kindly lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston so that we could create a digital copy for public use. The image was taken in the early 1980s when Colin worked as a teacher at Bridge of Don Academy. He led several current and former pupils, and staff members in an investigation into the location, physical condition and public knowledge of Aberdeen's historic boundary markers.

3366

The Tivoli Theatre on Guild Street opened in 1872 as Her Majesty's Opera House. The first performance was of with the play The Lady of Lyons. At the end of the show, architect Mr Phipps and the superintendent of works were called on stage by the audience to take a bow. The auditorium was later altered in 1897 by the noted architect Frank Matcham. Her Majesty's closed in 1906 temporarily following the opening of the larger His Majesty's Theatre on Rosemount Viaduct. The interior of the theatre was reconstructed in 1909 and the venue reopened in 1910 as the Tivoli Theatre of Varieties. The theatre enjoyed immense success until 1966 when it was converted into a bingo hall. The venue finally closed in 1997 and fell into disrepair. In July 2009 the Tivoli Theatre Company Ltd. was formed and bought the building. Work to restore the historic theatre to its former glory was then started. The Tivoli Theatre reopened on the 25th of October 2013 with the play Inferno by Thomas Bywater. Today, the Tivoli is a grade-A Listed Building, and remains a jewel of our city. In addition to the Tivoli Theatre of Varieties, the Criterion Bar can be seen on the far left of this image. The board in front of the Tivoli indicates that the theatre is hosting Happy Days, a variety show by the George West Company. This dates the photograph to around August or September 1935.

3401

An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the Capitol cinema at 431 Union Street in February 1980. At this time the Capitol was in more regular use as a concert venue than as a cinema. This image shows large numbers of people queuing to get tickets for a performance by the band Genesis. The Capitol was built as a cinema back in 1933. A few days before its opening, it was advertised in local papers as "Aberdeen's wonder cinema". Opened to large crowds on Saturday 4th February 1933, the Capitol was then the largest venue of its kind in the north of Scotland and had a stage that could be adapted for both film and variety entertainment. The Capitol was built by Aberdeen Picture Palaces Ltd. on the site of an earlier upmarket cinema called the Electric Theatre that dated from 1910. When the Capitol opened, it was regarded as the most up-to-date theatre in the country due to its complex lightning system, organ music and other modern features, some of them being introduced for the first time in Scotland. The venue could accommodate more than 2,000 people. The building's plans were prepared by Aberdeen architects A. G. R. MacKenzie and Clement George. Local newspapers stressed the local ownership of the cinema and the local craftsmanship that went into its construction. Aberdeen City Libraries hold a souvenir brochure of the cinema's opening. One interesting feature of the brochure is the inclusion of specially created adverts for all the companies involved in the construction and furnishing of the new cinema. Some of the adverts provide rich information on the history of the companies and give an insight into how the companies saw themselves. The brochure details the companies behind every aspect of the buildings from the cinema seating and terrazzo work to the innovative lighting. On the opening day, Mrs A. D. Hay, wife of the chairman of the Aberdeen Picture Palaces, unlocked the main entrance door with a gold key. This key is still held by the Hay family today. The cinema's first, busy evening featured a variety of entertainment. In addition to the showing of films, there was a ballet performance by the Henrietta Fuller Dancers and Mr Edward O' Henry played the theatre's new top of the line Compton organ. During the opening ceremony, Bert Gates, another director of Aberdeen Picture Palaces, said: "It was a long lane that had no turning. They had built the Capitol not for to-day, but for the generations of Aberdeen people to come. The company had dedicated the Capitol to the people of Aberdeen, their children, and their children's children in the hope that in generations to come they might appreciate what had been given them." [Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson] Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd.

3402

A photograph showing the Capitol façade in January 2021. By the 1960s and 70s the Capitol was increasingly being used as a venue for live events. Michael Thomson credits its survival over the Majestic, closed down in September 1973, as due to the Capitol's superior stage facilities. The Donald family, the venue owners, had the stage enlarged in 1975. Appearances by popular groups like the Bay City Rollers in 1974 suggested the future for the venue at the time. The Capitol also saw performances by the Rolling Stones, Roy Orbison, Queen, Boyzone and Chuck Berry among many others. The Capitol ceased showing films in 1995. The Capitol contained a restaurant, and subsequently bar, in the cinema's former café area around this period. 1993 saw the opening of the Art Deco and cinema themed bar Oscars in this space. The Capitol functioned as a wonderful venue giving North-East audiences the chance to see top performers for many years. It became increasingly uneconomic to run and the curtain finally came down on the venue on Monday 15th December 1997. The building was later converted into a nightclub and restaurant called Jumping Jaks and the Chicago Rock Café that opened in around 2003. These closed down in 2008 and the Capitol laid empty for some time. In 2013 Knight Property Group began plans to redevelop the site as a modern office complex. The £30m project retained and restored the cinema's original façade and employed an Art Deco style in its foyer entrance to reference the history of the building. The venue's auditorium that had been much altered and had fallen into disrepair was demolished. The launch of the new office complex was held on 10th June 2016.

3586

This photograph shows snow covered fifies and small line boats moored in the Torry Harbour. Two Peterhead steam drifters rest mid-shot. This image faces North-East, towards a Torry leading lighthouse and North Kirkhill, which is visible in the distance. The South Breakwater lighthouse is visible just beyond. The steam drifters presence indicates this photo was likely taken no earlier than 1905, when the Aberdeen Daily Journal started showcasing their launches. Two buildings on the right of the image sit along Torry Quay. The building on the left, as indicated by its sign, is the University Bar. This was a pub in the building that still stands at the time of writing in 2023, though altered, at 170 Sinclair Road. It was a pub for many years, called Campbell's, and is currently a school of dance. The Aberdeen Pub Companion (1975) by Archibald Hopkin suggests its original name was due to a connection to University boating activities. By the time of Hopkin's book, the pub was called the Nineteenth Hole, after its proximity to the Balnagask golf course. Hopkin describes the Nineteenth Hole as a "splendid traditional pub", praising its wide range of drinks, decoration and fine view over the harbour to the North Sea. He also states that the licensee for many years, Charles Campbell (likely the source of the pub's later name) was regularly adding to the pub's range of over 130 whiskies.

3852

A photograph from around 1986 looking north west, showing numbers 119 to 167 George Street. The large building that ends with a turret at the corner with St. Andrew Street (143-167) was the premises of Isaac Benzies, the well known local department store. This shop was bought by House of Fraser in 1955 and latterly traded as Arnotts, before closing down in 1986. The building stands today, though has been considerably altered. On the other side of the junction with St. Andrew Street can be seen a branch of the Bank of Scotland and beyond it the sign and canopy of Aberdeen Bowl.

4457

A photograph of the Prince Albert Statue. The statue was designed by Baron Carlo Marochetti and was unveiled by the Queen Victoria on 13th October 1863, two years after Albert's death. The statue is a life-sized depiction made of bronze. It shows Albert seated, wearing the uniform of a Field Marshall and a robe with The Order of The Thistle insignia, the highest chivalric honour in Scotland. Following its unveiling in 1863, the statue remained at its original location at the junction of Union Street and Union Terrace, the north-west corner of Union Bridge, until 1914. It was then replaced by Alfred Drury's statue of Edward VII and was moved to the enclosed triangular garden area at the north end of Union Terrace. This enclosed garden was significantly altered as part of the 2019-2022 redevelopment and is now the location of the Rosemount Pavilion, shown in the background here. The statue remained in much the same location. This photograph was taken on 29th April 2024.

4494

An undated photograph looking north west towards the Simpson Pavilion of Woolmanhill Infirmary. The clothes and cars visible in the image suggest it might date from the late 1930s or 1940s. The street in the foreground is Woolmanhill. Its course has been much altered in the intervening years. A digital copy of this image was kindly given to Aberdeen Local Studies by our colleagues in the Masterplanning, Design and Conservation Team.