Building record MAB23948 - OLD TOWN HOUSE, OLD ABERDEEN
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Town house, designed by George Jaffrey in 1787, completed in 1788.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (A) 19992
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 9391 0848 (12m by 10m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ90NW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire City |
| Civil Parish | Aberdeen |
Type and Period (3)
Full Description
Town house, designed by George Jaffrey in 1787, completed in 1788. This splendid Georgian building is three-storey, of ashlar, 3-window with a projecting central bay with pediment, square clock stage above which is a cupola. At first it incorporated a Grammar School and English School and a hall for the use of different societies and the Incorporated Trades of Old Aberdeen. It was partly funded by the Masons, who until recently retained the use of the attic. This building replaced an earlier Townhouse completed in 1703 at a cost of £712/3/6. In turn that had replaced an earlier complex of buildings dating to the later 1660s. Previously the Council and trades had met in the nearby School House. The panel above the door (dated 1721) comes from another building, possibly an earlier version of the townhouse: it incorporates Old Aberdeen's arms under the burgh's motto 'By harmony small things increase'. The arms on the east side of the building are those of the kings of Scotland with an imperial crown and are of unknown origin and date. The town house is the property of the University of Aberdeen which refurbished the interior in 2005, and reopened it as a visitor centre for the University.
Period Notes
Listed 12/01/1967.
DENNISON, E, 1997, HISTORIC ABERDEEN: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT. THE SCOTTISH BURGH SURVEY, p. 108 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4057.
ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL, 2016, OLD ABERDEEN TRAIL: A GUIDE TO OLD ABERDEEN (Bibliographic reference). SAB8368.
May 26 1986 , GD 33, GD 33 (Ground Photograph). SAB34050.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ACY;
- HES Listed Building Number: 19992;
- NMR Card Number: NJ90NW184;
- NRHE Numlink: 20091;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ90NW0119;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB19992 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/20091 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (3)
- --- SAB34050 Ground Photograph: May 26 1986 . GD 33. Black & White. GD 33.
- --- SAB4057 Bibliographic reference: DENNISON, E. 1997. HISTORIC ABERDEEN: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT. THE SCOTTISH BURGH SURVEY. Y. p. 108.
- --- SAB8368 Bibliographic reference: ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL. 2016. OLD ABERDEEN TRAIL: A GUIDE TO OLD ABERDEEN.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Dec 12 2022 2:34PM
