Aberdeen memories
Here are memories of Aberdeen and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Aberdeen or a Aberdeen photo.
Jaffrays of Kingswells
In 1997 I decided to trace my maternal family history through following the name of Jaffray, a name that had been carried down the family through the centuries, finally as a middle name. To my astonishment I discovered a family history that led me to the Jaffrays of Kingwells, and onto a great deal of fascinating history. I have visited Aberdeen twice since, but unfortunately I have not been able to see the Kingswells mansion, and I do not know if it, or indeed the Quaker burial ground where some of my Quaker ancestors are buried, still exist. I am delighted to see the photograph of the house that holds such a wealth of Jaffray family history, and stories of the 16th century and 17th century.
Footdee ( The Squares )
My father-in-law was living with his aunt Elsie Jenkins at 17 North Square during the Second World War years. He was in the Navy at the time so he was not a permanent resident for that period. But as a boy he and his brothers spent a lot of time with his mother's sister (Elsie), playing and going to the Mission in the Square. He also remembers neighbours and friends at that time. Jemima Caie lived next door and the Allan and Baxter families lived the other side. My father-in-law's name is Ernie Nelson and he is 85 years of age with a great memory. His great-great-grandfather was a founder of the Mission in the Square, his name was Deddy Allan. We would be pleased to hear from anyone who might remember him or his family at that time.
The Queen
My maternal grandmother, Barbara Morison Diack and her sister Margaret Morison Howie used to meet at "The Queen" and go for afternoon tea at least once a month.
The Quest
When my grandfather turned 16 he brought two fine horses onto a huge cruise boat and brought them to Canada to a buyer only to find out the buyer was not to be found and so he kept the two horses and sold them to another buyer and continued to stay in Canada through the rest of his life.
The Workforce
There was a large main house surrounded by four smaller houses - two on each side of the large house. My grandfather's father lived in one of the smaller houses and worked as a groundskeeper. He had a family of 3 children.
Memories of Aberdeenshire
Balgranach
I believe my mother worked at Balgranach, Betty Robb, does anybody have any memories of her?
Going to Kinellar School
My family lived in Kinellar (Blackburn) before we emigrated to New Zealand in 1959. My sister and I went to Kinellar School, and my Dad, Bob Forbes, also attended the same school when he was a lad and has often talked about his schooldays there. I still have my Primary II report card and I remember my teacher Miss Brown and the Headmaster (or Dominie as it's called in that part of the world) was Mr Massie. We lived just a couple of doors away from school so it was just a quick walk from home. I was in the Kinellar Brownies as well, our Brown Owl was Hettie Kirkpatrick, and I remember my sister and I being presented with the gift of a bible by the Brownies when we left to start a new life on the other side of the world. My granny and grandad, John and Marjory (nee Beedie) Forbes lived just down the road and I used to love visiting them. My Granny was... Read more
Mecca
My paternal grandparents were one of the first families from Aberdeen to have a holiday home, called Mecca, in Newtonhill pre World War 1. I have a photo of my father in a wounded soldier's uniform sitting at a loaded table in Mecca after his discharge from hospital. The uniform, he told me, was a blue suit, a white shirt and a red tie. Alex Fraser, a well known local artist and etcher (one time Principal of Gray's School of Art), was a relative of our family and had a studio in Newtonhill which I recall visiting as a child. Newtonhill was a favourite holiday place for our family and I remember very well buying ginger beer and sugar mice from Mr Milton's bakery with our Saturday pennies. Geordie Taylor's was the grocer's shop where we got paraffin for the oil lamps and we carried the accumulator to, I think, Reid's garage, on the main Aberdeen - Stonehaven road, for a recharge so the more senior members of the family... Read more
Muchalls
My sister and I lived at the other side of the Muchalls crossroads on the road to Cookney, a little way from the village. There we had an idylic childhood of sorts (though we were far from well-off). We had the freedom of the countryside that we would roam most of the summer days on our bikes and a whole wood to ourselves to walk and explore. Then on one night it all changed. We both witnessed being beneath a strange silent circular flying machine of unknown origin that hovered over our heads for a short while. On subsequent evenings similar machines (in two's and three's) would move over the landscape seemingly looking for something or observing the people. They would hover over most of the farms and houses for a few minutes each on a daily basis for years on end. This we would watch in fascination and almost had to pinch ourselves to make sure we weren't dreaming it up. It was some form of survey, but... Read more
Hillhead of Kintore
My grandparents owned the croft Hillhead of Kintore, my grandfather James Kerr Argo was the manager of Kemnay quarries and rode the old road to Kemnay each day to work. I have many childhood memories of staying there.They had a well in the garden, my grandma kept hens and bees and had a herb garden and knew all the herbal cures. One Argo aunt taught at Kemnay School, the other at Woodside, Aberdeen, both sons were bank managers although the youngest (Alexander) was killed aged 18 in the First World War. As children we played in the woods at the back of the house and there was a sweety shop we used to walk to.
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Places this week
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- Aveley, Essex
- Chelmsford, Essex
- Upper Arley, Worcestershire
- Margam, West Glamorgan
- Pengegon, Cornwall
- Aberbargoed, Mid Glamorgan
- Methilhill, Fife
- Ryhill, West Yorkshire
- Hounslow, Middlesex
- Kitts Green, West Midlands
- Stanhope, County Durham
- Newhaven, East Sussex
- Marchwood, Hampshire
- Great Tew, Oxfordshire
- Glossop, Derbyshire
- Earlestown, Merseyside
- Hadlow, Kent
- Chadwell Heath, Essex
- South Woodford, Greater London
- Wishaw, Lanarkshire
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
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I Remember When...
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