Union Street Building History
A few years ago we assisted with an Aberdeen Code The City event (https://codethecity.org/). We looked at some of the buildings on Union Street, drawing together information about the residents and businesses across the 1900s. We decided that the research we did for this would be perfect as a blog!
111 – 119 Union Street Building History
Located on the south side of Union Street, 111-119 was well known as Woolworth’s, which opened in 1926 and closed in June 1990. It is now the McDonalds.
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| Aberdeen City Council Planning Photo Survey 1937 |
Our building warrant BW/11366 shows the property in 1925, with proposed alterations by Messrs F. W. Woolworth. The first plan shown really gives you an idea of the scale of the property.
We took a look at our series of Post Office Directories for this property as well.
The following residents were given for 1855 and 1922-1923:
1855:
111 – David Whyllie and Sons, booksellers to her Majesty
113 – William Hay, bootmaker
115 – William Ramage, architect / John Barnett, auctioneer / Furniture Salesrooms / Writing Academy, by G. C. M’Conachie / William Hunter, commission agent / James Asher, agent for West of England Insurance Co., / James Asher, commission merchant / William Duthie, advocate / James Fraser and Son, boot and shoemakers.
117 – James Lumsden and Co., clothiers
119 – A. Morrison, silk mercer, &c.
1922-23:
111 – Robert Hunter, chemist
113-119 – R. K. Smith Ltd., hatters and outfitters
By the 1950s, there is just F. W. Woolworth & Co., and a hairdressers in residence.
1950-51:
119 – F. W. Woolworth & Co., Ltd.,
119A – John F Neave, Ltd., hairdressers
The frontage has not changed a lot in the 20 years since the 1937 photo survey was completed, but the produce clearly has!
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| Aberdeen City Council Planning Photo Survey 1951 |
154 Union Street Building History
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| Aberdeen City Council Planning Photo Survey 1951 |
Post Office Directories 1900: 154 - Scottish Temperance Life Assurance Co (G. Newlands, secretary) / W. C. Henry, insurance secretary / MacKenzie & Wilson, solicitors / D. L. Lunan, stockbroker 1922-23: 154 РScottish Temperance * British Association Co. Ltd (G Newlands, secretary) / James a Jeffrey & Co., chartered accountants / West of Scotland Insurance office Ltd. / Standard Life Assurance Co. / Peter Scott, solicitor / National Insurance Co. of Great Britain Ltd. (William Stables, secretary) / Aberdeen Photographic Association / Alexander Emslie Smith, advocate / John Johnston 154a РWest-End Cafe 1950-51: 154 РScottish Temperance & General Assurance Co., Ltd. / Scott & Reid, advocates / North-East of Scotland Coal Importers Association Society / The Scottish Plate Glass Insurance Co., Ltd. / Guardian Assurance Co. Ltd. / Municipal Mutual Insurance Ltd. / Murdoch, George S., insurance broker / Dominion Insurance Co., Ltd. / Mercantile Credit Company, Ltd. / Aberdeen Photographic Association / Garden, James / Western Assurance Co. / Aberdeen & District Wholesale Confectioners Association / Confectionary Trade Council / The Employers Liability Assurance Corporation, Limited. / Clerical, Medical & General Life Assurance Society / Smith, Mrs M. A. 154a РWest-End Caf̩
The census can also provide some useful information on residents of specific properties. We use Ancestry for this online resource and the following people were given as living at 154/156 Union Street in 1901:
257 - 259 Union Street Building HistoryHave you been to eat at Amarone? Situated at (modern address) 269-271 Union Street, this building on the south side is the next property we looked at.
Post Office Directories 1855: 257 – William Keith, M. D 259 – N/A 1900: 257 – J. A. Ogilvie, upholsterers 259 – Miss Greig, lodgings 1909-10: 257 - J Alexander & Co., upholsterers [previously at no. 269 in 1900] 259 – P. Cooper & Son, advocates / D. S. Rose, advocate / Douglas Strachan, artist / William Smith, junior artist / C. Lindsay Smith, artist / T. W. Hector, solicitor / Mrs Milne, apartments / British Women’s Temperance Association. 1922-23: 257 – J Alexander & Co., upholsterers 259 – P. Cooper & Son, advocates / D. S. Rose, advocate / William Smith, junior artist / T. W. Hector, advocate / Miss Kidd, dressmaker / Simpson Shepherd (of S. S. and Sons, Ltd.) 1930-31: 257 – J Alexander & Co., upholsterers 259 – District Valuer, Inland Revenue / Valuation Department / Tough’s Boarding House / William Smith, junior artist / James A. H. Hector 1940-41: 257 – J Alexander & Co., upholsterers 259 – Victoria House, Liverpool Victoria Insurance Offices / The Phoenix Assurance Co., Ltd. / London Guarantee and Accident Co., Ltd. / H. M. Office of Works The following plan is from our building warrant series and is a lovely colour drawing of the frontage -
  Again, the section of the building included in this plan shows the scale of the property, whilst the ground floor plan depicts a tiled arcade and display spaces for the shop. By the 1950s, the Ministry of Works and Liverpool Victorian Insurance Offices were in number 259, whilst number 257 had become James Allan & Son, a shoe shop!  If you look at the top of the restaurant Amarone now, you can see the same glass window and pattern as the building had in 1937. It's fascinating and brilliant that it is has survived. Interested in learning more about the businesses and buildings of Union Street and Aberdeen? You can search our catalogue of building warrants online here: https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/. Post Office directories are available online up to 1912 or up to the 1970s in our search room. The census is available on Ancestry or Find My Past sites (usually require a subscription, or available for free in local libraries). You can view visitor information on our website here: Kim Smith, Archivist |
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