1800 to 1899

In the late 18th century Magistrates had embarked on a scheme of road improvements, and by 1805 George Street, King Street and Union Street were open, the last two a feat of extra-ordinary engineering skill involving the partial levelling of St Catherine’s Hill and the building of arches to carry the street over Putachieside. The Denburn Valley was crossed by the graceful Union Bridge with a single span arch of 130 feet.

Along these new streets of the ‘Granite City’ were buildings designed by John Smith and Archibald Simpson.

Aberdeen Harbour

The increasing economic importance of Aberdeen and the development of the shipbuilding and fishing industries brought a need for improved harbour facilities. During the century much of the harbour as it exists today was built including Victoria Dock, the South Breakwater and the extension to the North Pier. Such an expensive building programme had, of course, repercussions, and in 1817 the city was in a state of bankruptcy. Recovery was made in the general prosperity that followed the Napoleonic wars and considerable social advantages were made during this period.

City Utilities

Improvements in street lighting came in 1824 with the advent of gas, provided by a private company until 1871 when it became the responsibility of the Corporation. An interesting custom dating from this period is the positioning of ‘two elegant lamps with the city’s arms’ at the door of a Provost’s home during his lifetime. Electric power was introduced in 1892.

Vast improvement was made to the water supply in 1830 when water was pumped from the Dee to a reservoir in Union Place and thence to a number of street wells. This served until 1866 when a large pumping station and reservoir was built at Cairnton on the Dee.

An underground sewerage system was begun in 1865 to replace the open sewers that previously ran along certain parts of the streets.

Culture

The cultural side was not neglected since the Public Library Acts were adopted in 1884 and the Art Gallery opened the following year. In the 1830s Aberdeen, like the rest of the country, was affected by a fever for Parliamentary and Burgh Reform. There were processions, public demonstrations and mass meetings, the largest of which took place on Broad Hill in May 1832, attended by 40,000 people. The Burgh Reform Act of 1833 put an end to the self-election of Town Councils and was greeted as a great triumph for democracy. However, until 1860, membership of the Council was open to Burgesses only.

The year 1848 saw a public demonstration of a different kind. The landing of Queen Victoria from the Royal Yacht ‘Victoria and Albert’ was the first by a reigning monarch for almost 200 years, and was an occasion of unprecedented pomp, ceremony and public enthusiasm.