A photograph by Roddy Millar, taken 17/07/2024, from a series surveying the architecture of the north side of Union Street.

This image shows nos. 156-166 Union Street. These buildings are located between Diamond Street to the east and South Silver Street to the west.

The building on the far right of this image, with a vacant ground floor shop unit, is 156 Union Street. Historic Environment Scotland suggest this three-storey and attic building was constructed between 1824 and 1833.

For many years the shop at 156 was occupied by Scottish Hydro Electric, which sold electrical household goods. This closed down in approximately 2016. These premises were first laid out as an electrical showroom by Aberdeen Corporation Electricity Department in the 1920s.

The Granite Mile (2008) by Diane Morgan, page 113, states that prior to commercial use no. 156 was the townhouse of Miss Ogilvie of Auchries, who was succeeded by W. J. Lumsden of Balmedie and later Francis Ogston, first professor of jurisprudence at Aberdeen University.

By the 1890s, Peter Clark's Shetland Warehouse and the Sixpenny Bazaar replaced the Ogston family at 156.

To the left is no. 158. Compared to the original 1823-33 townhouses on either side, it underwent a complete transformation around the later 19th century. Morgan states "an asymmetrical pile emerged, restrained but quite chic, with a slim campanile-like staircase tower on the east side. This features a delightful oriel window, complete with mini-battlement, on the first floor and is topped by an onion-style dome." (The Granite Mile, p. 115).

The ground floor premises in this image are occupied by a branch of the Caffè Nero coffee shop. This was formerly Strathdee's Restaurant, which was renamed the Palace Restaurant in the 1950s. With function rooms upstairs, it was popular meeting place and site for celebrations.

Location

Union Street

Keyword

Architecture

Photographer

Roddy Millar