Gallery: Archive photos of September in Aberdeen over the years

Our monthly trip into the archives has unearthed a variety of old photos showing September as a month of change in Aberdeen.

Not only the passing of seasons as summer drifts into autumn, but buildings going up and buildings coming down.

At one time, many people lived in abject poverty in Aberdeen city centre in crowded, run-down housing, with open sewers and little in the way of sanitation.

Condemned Black’s Buildings was Aberdeen’s oldest tenement by September 1958

It’s hard to imagine these days, but where shiny office blocks, shops and roads are now, stood slum tenements, rife with disease.

Nearly 3,000 slums were cleared by the 1930s and Aberdeen’s housing improved greatly by the mid-20th Century.

But still clinging on in 1958 was one of the city’s most notorious slums – Black’s Buildings at the Denburn.

An image of Black’s Buildings in the 1800s, the iron bridge is where Rosemount Viaduct stands now. Image: DC Thomson

Black’s Buildings ran from the top of Denburn Road down towards the Well of Spa, behind His Majesty’s Theatre.

The houses were named after James Black, a wine merchant who traded on Crown Street, Union Street, and was described as a man “not easy to deal with”.

Built in stages between 1798 and 1830, by the time Black’s Buildings was demolished, it was Aberdeen’s oldest tenement block.

And it stood in stark contrast to the grand library, church and theatre towering above.

Neglected buildings made tenants ill

There were calls for the demolition of the neglected buildings as early as the 1920s; they were long considered an eyesore.

An EE article about the dangers of Black’s Buildings in 1954 showing the arrow where masonry fell. Image: DC Thomson

And Black’s Buildings featured regularly in the Sheriff Court rolls as the home address of petty criminals.

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Before the dual carriageway and developments, Woolmanhill was a close-knit neighbourhood.

Many children had a fun upbringing there, despite the poverty.

There were independent shops, and children enjoyed playing at the ‘Trainie Park’ and old air raid shelters at Woolmanhill Hospital.

But in early 1958, there were grave concerns the poor condition of Black’s Buildings was making its inhabitants ill.

Demolition had already begun at the Upper Denburn here in late 1956, initially a bus station was planned for this site. Image: DC Thomson

A pipe burst above a bedroom where a six-month-old baby boy slept, leaving an inch of water on the floor.

The infant had already been hospitalised with pneumonia and was still suffering from bronchitis months later.

When the ceiling collapsed into properties below, it was the final straw before the council began rehoming residents.

And by September the old buildings were taken down and the area became the Denburn dual carriageway.

In pictures: Looking back at September days over the decades

1990: Cutting their silver reunion cake are these nurses who attended a 1965 training class course at Aberdeen. Image: DC Thomson

1955: The smoke and stour of trawlers in Aberdeen Harbour tied up during strike action. Image: DC Thomson

1984: It was celebration time for Littlewoods staff after the Union Street store was named Littlewoods Store of the year in the UK. Longest-serving member of staff Sandra Rae received a £600 cheque on behalf of the store from group managing director Desmond Pitcher. Image: DC Thomson

1990: The interior of Bon Accord Centre with two high street names now gone from Aberdeen – John Lewis and C&A. Image: DC Thomson

1939: James Christie’s specially-built underground air raid shelter at the bottom of his back garden in Tullos Circle pictured just after the outbreak of war. Mr Christie is standing centre back. Family members, presumably with neighbours (and even the cat) took refuge. Image: DC Thomson

1976: Northfield Academy, then with a roll of 1520, drew pupils from five primary schools in the area. They were Cummings Park, Smithfield, Middlefield, Quarryhill and Holy Family. Our picture shows Provost Fraser Drive, left, leading to North Anderson Drive, with the city centre behind. Image: DC Thomson

1973: Grampian Police Chief Constable Alistair Lynn pictured at his desk in September 1973. His career began as a constable in Argyll before he later rose through the ranks in Grampian. Based in Aberdeen, he was responsible for the security of the Queen during her stays at Balmoral. In 1988, Mr Lynn led Grampian Police’s response to the Piper Alpha disaster. Image: DC Thomson

1970: Lollipop woman Edna Cowling helping children to cross the road on Cairncry Road, Aberdeen, as six-year-old Gary Mitchell mirrors her with his own sign. Image: DC Thomson

1959: The bustling scene at the market on Aberdeen’s historic Green in 1959. This area had been a market area since medieval times. Image: DC Thomson

1970: A site at West Heathryfold in September 1970, where 100 new SSHA houses were being built. Image: DC Thomson

1987: Woodside School went back in time to celebrate its 150th anniversary in September 1987. Pupils learned about schooling in days gone by with lessons in the archaic-style alphabet, along with displays of old photos and furniture. Teacher Miss Anne McQueen tells primary 3 and 4 pupils what it was like in the old days. Image: DC Thomson

1966: At nearly 60 years old, Gray’s School of Art still looks as modern and stylish as it did when it was nearing completion in 1966. The exterior view of the art school shows the spacious grounds and studios with large glass windows. Although the view has changed slightly in recent decades as the building has been extended. Image: DC Thomson

1958: One of Aberdeen’s most notorious slums, Black’s Building, at the Denburn, was under demolition in September 1958. It was long considered an eyesore, and was removed as major road works in the area continued. This view is looking back towards the Cowdray Hall and the Triple Kirk spire in the background. Image: DC Thomson

1989: Getting the lowdown on the wartime years was Robert Gordon College pupil Richard Yallop. He was attending an exhibition called The Home Front at Aberdeen Central Library to mark the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of war. It proved so popular it was extended by a month. Thousands of visitors inspected gas masks, ration books and archive photographs from the Press and Journal. Image: DC Thomson

ALL IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE COPYRIGHT OF DC THOMSON. UNAUTHORISED REPRODUCTION IS NOT PERMITTED.

To purchase archive photos, contact archives@dcthomson.co.uk

If you enjoyed this, you might like:

Slum demolitions, developments and the Denburn: Photos of September days in Aberdeen over the years

Condemned Black’s Buildings was Aberdeen’s oldest tenement by September 1958

Neglected buildings made tenants ill

In pictures: Looking back at September days over the decades

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