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See New Kings - but it is not new
scottishvisitor Says: New King's was constructed in the relative recent past in the year 1913. This magnificent building looks much older with its High Towers and ivy clad walls. The reason for this was so it would be inkeeping with the rest of the 15th. and 17th. century buildings which stand...
uglyscot Says: Just beside St Machar's Cathedral is a large park with trees and plants. It is a place for relaxing, and attracts students and visitors when the weather is fine. It had been raining shortly before I arrived, so I was unable to go far or I'd have been drenched.
uglyscot Says: As mentioned in the previous tip, King's College was founded by Bishop Elphinstone.On the lawn as you enter the college grounds, and in front of King's College Chapel is a bronze monument to him.William Elphinstone (1431 - 25 October 1514),was a Scottish statesman, Bishop of...
uglyscot Says: Streets are sometimes narrow [Thom's Close], others are cobbled [High St], and some are treelined [The Chanonry] . The majority of the buildings are built of stone [Old Town House] but there are some cottages that are particularly interesting among the larger grey stone...
uglyscot Says: King's College in Old Aberdeen is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and a part of the University of Aberdeen . Its historic buildings are the centrepiece of the University of Aberdeen's Old Aberdeen campus, often known as King's College campus.It was the...
uglyscot Says: The first church on the site was built about 580 AD, and the cathedral dates to about 1166. The ceiling , however, was installed in 1520 by Bishop Dunbar.What to look for:The Sanctuary Cross- part of the cross is 800 years old.The East Window replaces the door to the central...
Go Inside St. Machar's Cathedral
scottishvisitor Says: Since the Scottish Reformation in 1560 much of the details inside the Cathedral have been lost mostly due to destruction. The local artist Douglas Strachan created the stained glass window entitled "The Three Building Bishops" I liked the windows very near the roof of St....
See the Cathedral of St. Machar
scottishvisitor Says: The Church is actually called Cathedral Church of St. Machar and is a Church of Scotland Parish Church for Old Aberdeen having lost its Cathedral status after the Scottish Reformation in 1560. The Church of Scotland has no Cathedrals and no Bishops. With this in mind, let me...
The Townhouse & No.81 High Street
scottishvisitor Says: The Townhouse and No. 81 High Street have connections The foundation stone for No. 81 was laid in 1771 for the family home of McLean of Coll, Hugh McLean was the Magistrate in Old Aberdeen in the late 18th. Century. Consequently he was responsible for building the other...
scottishvisitor Says: The gardens stand in what was once Cluny's garden established in the early part of the 17th. Century. They were transferred to the University on 26th. April 1898 by a deed of trust from Miss. Anne Cruikshank for the teaching and study of Botany as a pure science. I don't...
See The Gates with a Turkish Twist.
scottishvisitor Says: The Powis Gates were erected in 1833-4 and were built in front of Powis House by the Leslie family. The house no longer exsists, all that is behind these lovely Castle looking gates is modern University buildings and we have all seen our fair share of those. Although the...
Seaton Park A Green Place with lots of Colour
scottishvisitor Says: Seaton Park is a large park in Old Aberdeen. We literally stepped out of the Cathedral gates and walked into Seaton's welcoming open spaces. The flower beds and trees were a riot of late summer colours and the little water fountain just charming on a sunny Sunday afternoon....
University Buildings of King's College
scottishvisitor Says: Aberdeen's King's College and Marishal College, in the city centre of Aberdeen, were amalgamated in 1861 and became The University of Aberdeen. Most of the learning and teaching is here in the many fine buildings at the Campus in Old Aberdeen. The Elphinstone Hall is a...
St. Machar Bar: If your hungry or thirsty stop here
scottishvisitor Says: If you are hungry or thirsty in Old Aberdeen then visit the St. Machar Bar - it is your only choice here - pity the poor students with no place to hang out - but the city isn't far away for them - so you can be assured of a seat here. The bar, like most of Old Aberdeen, is...
scottishvisitor Says: Old Aberdeen does not welcome a lot of traffic, the traffic lights seem to be permanently set on red here. When we visited there was a wedding taking place, hence the name on the bus, and the Traffic Wardens directed us to a side street. There are buses from the City Centre...
The Old Brewery turned to Teaching
scottishvisitor Says: The Old Brewery would have had a direct connection with Old Aberdeen trades and the row of cottages named Wright's & Coopers' Place with coopers being barrel makers to hold the beer brewed here. The Old Brewery is a very charming building when viewed from the pretty...
scottishvisitor Says: The Mitchell Hospital was never really a proper hospital, it was the politically correct term for a building which went some way to help the poor and unfortunates. Built in 1801 and founded by an Eglishman, David Mitchell from the County of Essex, the 'hospital' was home to...
The Bishop Who Had to be Moved
scottishvisitor Says: Bishop Elphinstone was the key figure in the creation of King's College. He was born in Glasgow, an illigitimate Son of a Canon in 1431. He was schooled in Glasgow and also ordained there as a priest in 1455, later he became Bishop of Aberdeen on 19th. March 1483. His...
scottishvisitor Says: When we visited the quaint streets of Old Aberdeen it was still holiday time - just - the University starts the serious business of study and teaching in the middle of September. So if you want to see more than the noisy young seagull competing with the very skilled wedding...
scottishvisitor Says: Lord Byron wrote of Brig O' Balgownie in his poem Don Juan "The Dee the Don, Balgownie's brig's black wall" Legend has it that the bridge was built in the 14th. century under the direction of Bishop Henry Cheyne and was completed by Robert the Bruce, whether this is true or...
Plan a Old Aberdeen vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Old Aberdeen locals
If you are hungry or thirsty in Old Aberdeen then visit the St. Machar Bar - it is your only choice here - pity the poor students with no place to hang out -...
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Old Aberdeen was once an independent town between the years 1489 - 1891. It is now part of the City of Aberdeen but walking its tiny streets and visiting its University Buildings, you are left feeling...
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After putting my tips under Aberdeen, I changed my mind and looked to see if there was a separate page for Old Aberdeen. There was , and scottishvisitor has already made an excellent job of...
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