Aberdeen is a seaport on the north-east coast of Scotland. Lying between
the mouths of the Don and the Dee (its name means "mouth of the
Dee" in Gaelic). It was initially established by the Romans but
it was the Normans who exploited its potential as a port. By the end
of the 13th century it was sending fish, wool, hides and timber to
other parts of Britain and across the North Sea to Europe.
The city developed from two separate settlements. One known as Old
Aberdeen, grew up around St Machar's Cathedral in the north. The other
district, commercial Aberdeen, developed in the south, round the harbour
on the Dee. Two of the earliest houses, Provost Skerne's House (1545)
and Provost Ross House (1595) are now museums.
After the successes of the Stockton &
Darlington and the Liverpool & Manchester
lines, Aberdeen merchants began to consider the possibility of building
a railway. Under the chairmanship of Thomas Blaikie, the prospectus
of the Aberdeen Railway was issued in 1844. Work began in 1845 but
there were serious engineering problems. This included the collapse
of three arches of a viaduct being built in the town. As a result
of these technical difficulties, the railway was not opened until
April 1850.
The railway line was a great economic success. Whereas the steamship
had permitted trade in live cattle to England, the greater speed of
the railway enabled dead meat to be transported. Overnight fish trains
from Aberdeen to Billingsgate in
London was another important development.
By the 19th century Aberdeen, also known as 'granite city' after the
stone of which it is largely built, was Scotland's largest fishing
port. Aberdeen University was formed
in 1860 by the merging of King's College (1494) and Marischal College
(1593).
The Aberdeen Art Gallery was founded in 1885. Fifteen years later,
Alexander Macdonald, bequeathed his collection and a large sum of
money with the proviso that it must be spent on paintings not more
than 25 years years old. As a result the gallery contains an excellent
collection of 20th century paintings.
(1)
Daniel Defoe, A Tour Through the Whole
Island of Great Britain (1724)
Aberdeen is divided into two towns or
cities, and stands in the mouth of two rivers; one on the River Don,
the other on the River Dee. The market-place, which is very beautiful
and spacious; and the streets adjoining are very handsome and well
built, the houses lofty and high.
The profits from salmon fishing are very considerable, for the quantity
of fish taken is exceedingly great, and they are sent abroad into
several parts of the world. Herring fishing is also a common blessing
to all those living on this coast.
They also have a very good manufacture of linen, and also of worsted
stockings, which they send to England in great quantities, and of
which they make some so fine, that I have seen them sold for twenty
shillings a pair.
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