Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/21

Rh ABERDEEN. 11 ABERDEEN. Aberdeen by Charles I. in 1611, and this union was con- firmed by Cromwell in 1G54. The united colleges re- ceived the designation of the " Caroline University." The union, however, terminated in 1661, but was again revived in 1858, at the recommendation of the Royal Commissioners, so that the two colleges form now the University of Aberdeen, with one staff of officers and professors, the buildings in the Old Town being devoted chiefly to the medical school. The students are at liberty to choose their place of residence. The dress of the students at both Colleges is a rod gown. Many distinguished men have been connected with this uni- versity, among whom are Bishop Burnet, Dr. Arbuthnot, Dr. Beattie, Dr. Campbell, and Dr. Reid. In addition to its university, Aberdeen has two grammar schools one in the old and one in the new town above forty day schools, besides Sunday and evening schools, and one of Dr. Bell's, endowed by him. Gordon's Hos- pital, an institution for the maintenance and educa- tion of sons and grandsons of decayed burgesses, was founded in 1733 by Gordon of Straloch, a noted miser. The building stands on the site of a Dominican monas- tery. It was greatly enlarged and extended some years since, by the liberality of Alexander Simpson, Esq. Its revenue at present is very large. The period of main- tenance is five years, and no boy is permitted to stay in the hospital after he is sixteen years of age. On leaving, the pupils are usuaDy apprenticed in Aber- deen, and become entitled, on certain conditions, to a gratuity from the institution at the end of the first year of the apprenticeship, and to another at the end of the complete term. There are several other charitable institutions for the benefit of poor and orphan chil- dren, and for the sick. The infirmary, which is situated near the centre of the town, was established in 1742. There is a lunatic asylum, which was built by subscription, and also a private asylum ; a dispensary, and a vaccine institution. Juvenile vagrancy and crime have been diminished by means of industrial schools, elsewhere called ragged schools, which were first devised by Sheriff Watson in this town some twenty years ago. Aberdeen has made during the last half century great advance in wealth, and this has been followed and exhi- bited by great improvements in the general appearance both of the surrounding country, which is by nature extremely bleak, and of the city itself. The best view is obtained from Stocket Hill, on the north-west side of the city. The streets have been made broader and finer ; a higher style appears in the public buildings ; the har- bour has been deepened and made more easily accessible ; docks and quays of great extent have been constructed. All the public buildings of the city, and most of the pri- vate ones, are of granite, obtained from quarries in tho neighbourhood. It is very hard, and shines when chi- selled. The approach to Aberdeen from the south is by the two bridges across the Dee. The old bridge, which is of stone, find has seven arches, was erected by Bishop Dunbar, in 1530. It was rebuilt in 1718, and doubled in width about 1841. It is a fine structure, of seven arches. At tho north end there was formerly a chapel in which travellers could pause on their way for purposes of devotion. In 1640 this bridge was the scene of a li' -rce conflict between the Cavaliers and the Covenanters, railed the "battle of the Brig o' Deo." Tho new suspen- sion bridge at the Craig Lug was erected in 1820, and is a very splendid structure of 140 feet in span. From these bridges the entrance to the town is by Union- street, one of the handsomest streets in the kingdom, and built almost; entirely since 1814. It is about 70 feet broad, and a mile in length. A ravine, in which runs the rivulet Denburn, intersects Union-street, and is crossed by a noble bridge of one arch, which has a span of 132 feet, with a rise of 50 feet. It has been pro- nounced by some to be superior to the famous Rialto at Venice. Union-street leads to Castle-square, the most important part of the town. The name is derived from the fact that Cromwell erected a fort on this spot. Hero av8 situated the beautiful market cross, a colossal granite statue to the last Duke of Gordon, the Athennjum, the court houses, town house, and other public buildings. The market cross is an object of great admiration. It is an octagonal structure, and has a column proceeding from its centre, with a unicorn bearing a shield. In the cornice round the upper part there are twelve compart- ments, with portraits in relief of Scottish monarchs. This cross was once adjudged a nuisance by the civic magistrates, and actually removed from the square ; but, in 1842, it was rebuilt where it now stands, with a base- ment, and other improvements. About thirty feet in front of the cross is a colossal statue to the late Duke of Gordon, hewn out of a single stone. The town house was erected in 1730 ; it has a remarkably elegant spire of 120 feet in height. There is the new court house, and in connection with it a prison, the best, it is said, north of Edinburgh. The old name for the prison is " Mids o' Mar." which is of similar meaning to the " Heart of Mid-Lothian." The county buildings, which were erected in 1820 at the cost of 11,500, are of fine granite, and are splendidly decorated within. They are used for the assemblies and meetings of the gentry. A large music-hall has recently been added, in which tho British Association met in 1859, under the presidency of the late lamented Prince Consort. To the west of the town is the Bridewell, or West-prison, a castellated structure, built in 1809. It is adapted to the solitary system, and contains 109 cells. There are in Aberdeen twelve churches belonging to the Establisliment. The church of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the town, was tho original parish church. It was an old Gothic edifice, but was reconstructed about 1750. It is now called West Church, and is a plain structure in the Italian style, containing an effigy of Provost David- son, who was the leader of the Aberdonians at the battle of Harlaw, and fell there in 1411 ; adjoining this church to the east is the new East Church, a masterly and much- admired Gothic building, erected about 1838, in place of the old Gothic structure which formerly stood there. The churchyard, of 2 acres, which surrounds it, is sepa- rated from the street by a very beautiful Ionic facade. A division of the parish was made in 1828, and, at the same time, a new arrangement of the places of worship to suit the new parishes. Several new churches have been erected North Church, in King-street, and the South Church, in Belmont-street. The former of these is an elegant structure, in the Grecian style, with a circular granite tower 130 feet in height. The latter has four ornamented buttresses, with pinnacles rising to the height of 110 feet. Greyfriars Church stands in a court ad- jacent to Marischal College, and St. Clement's is at Footdee. There are seventeen places of worship be- longing to the Free Church three of which, the South, and West, are built in juxtaposition, with an elegant spire rising between them, on the banks of the Denburn, and form a very conspicuous object in the town. There are fifteen other places of worship, belonging to the United Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Episcopalians. The Episcopalian church dedicated to St. Andrew stands in King-street. It is a handsome Gothic structure, built in 1817. A Roman Catholic cathedral has lately been erected in Huntley-st., in the Gothic style. The episcopal see of Aberdeen was transferred thither from Mortlach by David I., in 1151. Aberdeen is the seat of a presbytery, and a synod. The synod includes the several presbyteries of Aberdeen, Alford, Deer, Ellon, Fordyce, Garioch, Kincardine O'Neil, and Turriff. The trade of Aberdeen is consi- derable, and its manufactures are various and impor- tant. Towards the end of the 16th century, a Fleming settled here, permission being given him to do so on condition that he taught his art, the manufacture of grograms, worsted, and stamings, to an apprentice of tho town. The woollen manufacture was important in the 17th century. The principal articles made were stock- ings, mits, and woollen plaiden. Since tho introduc- tion of machinery great changes have been effected. The linen manufacture was introduced in 1749, and at present employs about 5,000 hands, while cotton and wool afford occupation for about the same number. There