Past Times

GALLERY: Walking through the decades on St Nicholas Street in Aberdeen

1992 - Getting the festivities started at St Nicholas Street were Joanne Bennett and Jack Duncan, as the first phase of the pedestrianisation in the city centre was completed.

By Kirstin Brown

December 4 2022, 6:00 am

December 4 2022, 6:00 am

Even before the construction of the shopping centre, St Nicholas Street was a hotspot for shoppers.

In these photos of the street from our archives, we can take a glimpse back in time to when the street was first pedestrianised- in some images we can see families and citizens walking along the traffic-free road.

We can also take a moment to remember the shops that the street used to be home to through the decades- as far back as the 60s. Some shops on the street included Reid & Pearson, Marks & Spencer and A. Lewis Reis & Co.

Do you recognise anyone in these old photos? Do you remember shopping on St Nicholas Street before the centre? Please let us know in the comments.

A policeman directing traffic on the St Nicholas Street Aberdeen junction — 1965 – A policeman on point duty directs the traffic at the junction of St Nicholas Street and Schoolhill in 1959, with the elegant Reid and Pearson store behind.

St Nicholas Street in Aberdeen before the construction of the shopping centre, people can be seen entering Marks & Spencer — 1982 – St Nicholas Street and George Street just before the demolition squads moved in for the start of the new shopping complex.

People walking along the pavement and window shopping — 1978- A busy St Nicholas Street in Aberdeen in June 1978 before being demolished in 1982-83 to make way for the St Nicholas Shopping Centre.

Shoppers walking along the middle of the road on St Nicolas Street Aberdeen — 1976 – Shoppers on St Nicholas Street/George Street enjoy the freedom of the traffic-free area on the first day of the pedestrian-only experiment in December 1976.

Christmas lights decorating the streets of Aberdeen — 1976- The festive lights are on display in this snap of St Nicholas Street from November 1976, and shoppers are out in force.

Shoppers waling across the street in Aberdeen — 1977- St Nicholas Street was to be included again this year in the city centre pedestrianisation trial.

Families walking along the middle of the road during a pedestrianisation trial — 1976- The Dons’ League Cup success is remembered in the street decorations on St Nicholas Street in 1976, where Christmas shoppers were taking full advantage of the pedestrian-only traffic experiment.

A young boy jumping over a work of art drawn out on the pavement on St Nicholas Street Aberdeen — 1989 – Taking a lot of care not to stand on a pavement artist’s work outside the St Nicholas Centre is Mark Cameron, eight.

A man and woman grinning at the camera with a large net of balloons in the woman's hand — 1992 – Getting the festivities started at St Nicholas Street were Joanne Bennett and Jack Duncan, as the first phase of the pedestrianisation in the city centre was completed.

Workmen preparing flowers and shrubs on the street — 1977 – Workmen of the leisure and recreation department lay flower and shrub beds.

Two women walking along the pedestrianised street — 1977 – Margaret Strachan, left, and Elma Jamieson enjoy the traffic-free spaces of the street.

Shoppers and pedestrians walking on the street — 1992- Shoppers take advantage of the new seats and pedestrian area in St Nicholas Street.

St Nicholas Street Aberdeen on a busy day- cars line the road and shoppers are walking on the pavement with umbrellas — 1965- A busy scene in St Nicholas Street on a dreich day in 1965. Shops including Jackson the Taylor and Reid and Pearson department store were among the popular spots of the day.

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