Category Archives: History

James Kidd DD

History,

 

Drawing of James Kidd

How things have changed! This is a brief account of the life of Revd Dr James Kidd (pictured) who was born on 6 Nov. 1761.

He was the youngest son of poor parents from Loughbrickland in County Down. His father died soon after his birth, following which the family moved to County Antrim where a friendly farmer paid for his school education. Later Kidd had sufficient means from running his own school, to go to Belfast to study English. He married Jane Boyd and in April 1784 they emigrated to Pennsylvania where he taught and also studied at Pennsylvania College. It was during this time that he chanced to see a written Hebrew character which started a new chapter in his life. He bought a Hebrew Bible, and with the help of a Jewish friend and by attending a synagogue he acquired fluency in Hebrew. At this time it was called Oriental Language and became his favourite subject. In 1792 he returned to Edinburgh University reading chemistry, anatomy, and theology, whilst earning money by teaching extra-collegiate classes in Oriental Language. In the autumn of 1793 he was appointed Professor of Oriental Language in Marischal College, Aberdeen, where he completed his theological qualifications and was licensed as a preacher by the presbytery of Aberdeen on 3 Feb. 1796. He was appointed evening lecturer in Trinity Chapel in the Shiprow. Then on 18 June 1801 he left Marischal College to become minister of Gilcomston Chapel of Ease where he stayed until his death on Christmas Eve 1834. During these years he took up the Abolitionist cause, founded the first Sunday School in Aberdeen and advocated the temperance movement. In October 1818 the College of New Jersey conferred on him the honorary degree of D.D.

His preaching was powerful and popular, reputedly to congregations of up to 2,000. But he was also a very forceful character who was not averse to being controversial. A source suggests he was an ‘Ian Paisley-like’ personality. One story told of him is that during one particular service a man wearing a distinctive red waistcoat fell asleep. The command came from the pulpit “Waken that man”. He was roused – for a while, but on falling asleep again there was a second reprimand from the pulpit. The third time, Dr Kidd picked up a small Bible which was to hand and threw it, accurately, at the sleeper – adding the words “Now, sir, if you will not hear the word of God, you shall feel it!” Dr James Stark published a biography of him in 1898. Dr Kidd had published a number of religious books.

The grave of James Kidd beside the main path in St Nicholas Kirkyard

He is buried in the Kirkyard at the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting. It would be easy to walk past his grave (shown in the photograph). It almost overhangs the central path from Union Street on the right hand side. The inscription for Dr Kidd is on the vertical face at the side of the path.  In the recent SPECTRA 2017, there were illuminated ‘spiders’ around there. One can only imagine what he might have said!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Witches’ Ring

History,

 

In the last few years of the 16th century there was great concern about the presence of witches in society. In part this arose because the king had written a book about it, but there had also been some poor harvests and various epidemics, so witches were convenient scapegoats. Aberdeen did not escape this hysteria where the first ‘witch’ was arrested in 1596. He was John Gordon, sometimes known as Williamson, and was imprisoned in the vault of St Nicholas Kirk on the charge of being ‘a manifest and open witch’.

The witches’ ring mounted in the wall of St Mary’s Chapel

It seems strange today that part of a church building should be used as a prison. The vault is now known as St Mary’s Chapel and had been built nearly 150 years earlier and dedicated to St Mary, the mother of Jesus. After the Reformation in 1560, the worship of Mary was no longer considered a suitable part of the new church practice. Thus, this part of the building became redundant and other uses had to be found for it. Over the years there were many, with its use as a prison being one. The spire of the Kirk was also used to house witches.

Part of the account for burning Isobel Cockie as recorded in the Guildry Accounts

 

 

A surprisingly large number of people were accused of witchcraft. In total 80 were put on trial; 72 were found guilty of which 26 were executed and 8 were branded. All this information is included in the Guildry Records of Aberdeen which are held in the City Archive. These are remarkably complete and have received UNESCO recognition for their importance. The records about the witches are extensive, with full details of each trial and any subsequent execution. To assist with their imprisonment, an iron ring together with appropriate shackles was purchased, fitted into the wall of St Mary’s Chapel and used to chain the witches. The cost for this is also included in the written records. The first photograph shows the ring, which can easily be overlooked as it is relatively insignificant. The records of each execution itemise the price of each material used in the burning, such as the stake, the pitch, the rope etc. Gruesome reading! Part of these hand written records are shown in the second photograph which records the cost for burning Isobel Cockie. Perhaps it is worth noting that the witches were executed before burning.

BBC cameraman filming a page from the Guildry Accounts in St Mary”s Chapel

BBC Scotland did a short report about the records last June (accessible at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36488855) and the current (January/February 2017) issue of the magazine History Scotland has a two page article about the history of the building and the witches’ trials. During the filming by the BBC, reporter Fiona Stalker took a few photographs. The third photograph shows the filming of the archive document in St Mary’s Chapel. This is just Volume 1 of the Guildry Accounts. What is not shown is that the accounts for the costs of burning are signed off by the Provost of the day, Alexander Rutherford. Also in St Mary’s Chapel is the ‘Provost’s loft’ created less than a decade later by the same Alexander Rutherford when he was again Provost (see blog of 18th February 2014 to learn more about him and to see the panel with his name on).

Thanks to Martin Hall, City Archives, for some of the detailed information and the photograph of part of the records.

Elizabeth Duthie

History

Lady Elizabeth Crombie Duthie of Ruthrieston was born in 1818 to Alexander Duthie. Her father was a member of the wealthy family of merchants, ship owners and ship builders. She inherited considerable sums from her uncle Walter and brother Alexander Duthie, who had both been in the legal profession. In their memory she was determined to do something to benefit the people of Aberdeen. Therefore, in 1880 she purchased the 44 acre estate of Arthurseat by the banks of the River Dee for £30,000 and gave it to the City of Aberdeen to be developed into a park. The estate, on the north bank of the River Dee, was marshy ground covered with gorse and was traversed by a street, Sycamore Place. In the language of the day it was determined that the park be “available for all classes of citizens, that it should have a broad expanse of grassy sward upon which the young might indulge in innocent frolic and play…”. The work of designing the park was given to William R McKelvie of Dundee. Work progressed quickly with the first sod cut on 27th August 1881. The official opening of Duthie Park on 27th September 1883 was performed by HRH Princess Beatrice, substituting for her mother Queen Victoria who was recovering from an accident. Many of the original features of the park remain today, although they have evolved with time. Perhaps the best loved are the Winter Gardens, now known as the David Welch Winter Gardens. The original glass houses were opened in 1899. Today’s glasshouses were built following severe storm damage in 1969. They house the second largest collection (after the Eden Project) of bromeliads and giant cacti in the UK.

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The memorial to Elizabeth Duthie in St Nicholas Kirkyard

Elizabeth Duthie died on 30th March 1885 at the age of 67. Her substantial memorial in the Kirkyard at the Kirk of St Nicholas is shown in the photograph and has the epitaph “Her best and most enduring memorial is the park she gave to her fellow citizens”. The memorial also records other members of her family. There is a less obvious memorial to her in Duthie Park. In recognition of her contribution to the city, the council erected the ‘Hygeia Statue’, which was unveiled in 1897. The four lions around the plinth of the statue are supposed to represent the strong citizens in the park whilst Hygeia is the Goddess of Health, shown holding a cup from which a snake drinks (a symbol linked with various health related professions). There is a third memorial to Elizabeth Duthie in the city – a plaque outside 34 Maberly Street where she lived. The original house was demolished fairly recently. A portrait of her, painted in the year she died, is owned by Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Margaret Brotchie

History,

In St Mary’s Chapel, there is a brass plaque on the wall in the south aisle commemorating Margaret Mansonia Brotchie, a member or ‘sister’ of the Guild of St Margaret. The plaque is shown in the photograph. The Guild was started in 1882 during the first year of the innovative ministry of Revd. James Cooper, but Margaret Brotchie had only been a member for 18 months when she died in July 1886.

This Guild is believed to have been the earliest guild for women in any Scottish parish church and was active 6 years before the formation of the Women’s Guild at national level. The intention was that it should provide a focus for mutual support and encouragement for women who were engaged is some aspect of church work – Sunday school teaching, district visiting, soup kitchen, knitting or sewing garments for the poor, etc. In addition to these practical activities, they were also devout, frequently meeting for worship, for which they even had their own printed service book. Much of the activity of the Guild was centred in the Mission Rooms in Guestrow and it was there that the memorial was initially placed. However, when the Rooms closed it was appropriately moved to St Mary’s Chapel in which many of the Guild services were later held.

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        The brass plaque in memory of Margaret Brotchie now in St Mary’s Chapel

Very little is known of Margaret herself: she was born on 7th April 1835 daughter of John Brotchie, parochial schoolmaster in Kintore, and died at 134 Crown Street at the age of 51. At a meeting of the Council of the Guild on 13th September 1886, in noting her death, mention was made of ‘her goodness and kindness of heart’ as having won the respect of all. It was agreed to send an expression of sympathy to her brothers, and with their agreement, to erect a brass memorial tablet. The cost was estimated at £3 and it was later calculated that that could be raised if each member contributed 6 pence. It was shown to members, prior to erection, on 7th February 1887 and was ‘much admired’

Hope

History

In the former East Kirk there is a beautiful ‘arts and crafts’ stained glass window featuring the ‘three graces’ of Faith, Hope and Charity. This blog completes the explanation of the tryptic.

The definition of the word ‘hope’ indicates that it is an expectation and desire of receiving something good. Conversely, hope can be refraining from despair and not giving up. It is not about certainty, but about an assurance that something is likely – it is not wishful thinking. For a Christian, hope is clearly based on the belief that God’s word and His purpose in their life can be trusted. Thus, hope gives a Christian a foundation for their life, to avoid despair and cynicism and to strive for good. It becomes something which they ‘hold on to’ through thick and thin, trusting in God’s promises. This meaning of hope is different to the secular meaning of ‘I hope it happens’ because it is not wishful thinking.

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The ‘Hope’ window in the former East Kirk

How can artists represent this? They have used a number of different symbols, including a harp, a flaming brand, an anchor, a palm frond, or hands with fingers closed together. In this window, the unknown artist has used an anchor, which Faith holds across her chest.

 

Discussion of Love (Charity) was put on the Blog for Valentine’s Day on 14th February 2016 and Faith on 3rd August 2016, where some of the background to the window was included. Finally a photograph of the whole window is shown here, so that the three figures can be seen in context. At present it is not possible to see the window, but it will be a feature on the ground floor of the completed Mither Kirk Project.

 

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The whole of the ‘Three Graces’ window

Sir George Skene

History

Recently a diseased tree was removed from just inside the Back Wynd gate into St Nicholas Kirkyard. As a result a number of gravestone have become much more visible than they were previously. An elaborate one on the wall will be shown at a later date, but whilst photographing it, another memorial was noticed almost hidden at ground level, and partly covered by the sawdust from the tree removal. One of the people interred there is a significant person in the life of the city of Aberdeen and, indeed, his town ‘lodgings’ are in the news at the moment as well.

He is Sir George Skene of Fintray and Rubislaw, better known as Provost Skene, whose ‘house’ is being surrounded by the new Marischal Square development, and which is to house a new museum celebrating famous Aberdonians over the centuries. Provost Skene’s House is quite close to the former East Kirk which will complement with the stories of the development of Aberdeen – its buildings and people.

George Skene was born in 1619 at the Mill of Potterton in Aberdeenshire. His father died when he was just 12 years old and his half-brother arranged for him to be apprenticed to George Aedie who had strong trading connections with Danzig (modern day Gdansk, Poland) in the Baltic. Living there, he proved to be a very able trader and became a wealthy man. He returned to Aberdeen in 1665, then aged 36, and the following year purchased the Wester Fintray estate (near Kintore) with some of the money he had made. Three years later, in 1669, he purchased a mansion on Guestrow – now known as Provost Skene’s House. The house had been built in 1545 and has a fascinating history. Not only was George Skene a significant trader, he also became involved in the civic life of the area becoming Provost of Aberdeen in 1676, a position he held until 1685. During this time he used the house on Guestrow as his town ‘lodging’. He was also a benefactor of King’s College and the University of Aberdeen in general. He was knighted in 1861 by James, Duke of York (later James VII of Scotland). After ‘retiring’ as Provost, he bought the house and estate of Rubislaw in 1687 and used this as his main residence. George Skene never married, but supported his brother’s children. However, his nephews disappointed him, so much of his wealth was passed to his niece’s sons and his property to the family of his former employer. When he died on 9th April in 1707, aged 88 years, he also left 1,000 merks to the Kirk Session of St Nicholas to be used for the poor of the parish. A merk was worth 13 shillings and 4 pence, that is two thirds of a Scots Pound.

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The gravestone which features ‘Provost Skene’

Because of its position, it is very difficult to photograph George Skene’s tombstone properly, and it has many other people listed on it. The two photographs show the whole stone (just inside the Kirkyard to the Union Street side the Back Wynd gate) and a closer view of the part of the inscription about George Skene taken when there was a low morning sun.

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The inscription related to Sir George Skene of Fintray and Rubislaw

Look up!

History,
Post 74 (a) General view of east building
The east end of the building looking from the north-east

The east end of the Kirk of St Nicholas building seems rather austere with its fairly plain granite walls, although the windows do have some nice sandstone tracery. The walls at the east end date from 1837, although towards the west of the side walls there may have been some rebuilding or repair after the fire in 1874. For the most part the granite seen is simply the outside of the solid granite wall. However, at the lowest level, around St Mary’s Chapel at the top of Correction Wynd, the granite is a cladding on the outside of the 15th century wall which still remains on the inside.

However, this plain exterior is deceptive if one looks right up to the top of the east end. The first photograph shows a general view of this end of the building looking from the north-east. At roof level and above, it can be seen to have some quite elaborate adornments. These also are in granite. A close up, before cleaning and repointing work, of one of these is shown in the second photograph.

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Detail of one of the finials before restoration

 

Looking more closely at the first photograph it can be seen that there is quite a complex roof structure above the apse, with three separate gables set at right angles to each other, facing north, east and south). This produced some interesting dilemmas during the roof replacement because there are hidden sumps in the gullies between the gables. These require drains for the rainwater and the building design requires these to be internal.

 

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Interior view of gables and roof structure

The third photograph was taken inside the roof space during the preparation for the roof repairs. It shows the interior structure of one section of the apse roof. The stone wall towards the left is the interior of the north gable wall (shown in the first photograph it is partly in shadow) whilst the stone wall towards the right of the photograph is the inside of the east gable wall (facing left in the first photograph). Between is the ‘V’ shaped timber of the ‘north’ sump. On the first photograph this is hidden behind the buttress which supports the pinnacle between the two gables discussed. Also in the third photograph the internal drain can be seen going across this wall, draining from the ‘north’ sump (left) to the ‘south’ sump (not visible) from where there is a connection to the external downpipe. Buildings may look simple from the outside, but the hidden internal structures can be complex!

Faith

History

In February this year, we featured Charity from the window featuring Faith, Hope and Charity in the former East Kirk. This blog looks at the left hand light – ‘Faith’. It is shown in the photograph.

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Faith as shown in a window in the former East Kirk

In Christianity, Faith, Hope and Love are known as the ‘theological virtues’. These three virtues are highlighted in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13. All three virtues point people towards God and Paul exhorts his readers to aim likewise.

How we move from Paul’s written word to the artistic depictions of the ‘three graces’ of Faith, Hope and Love is more difficult. There are early Roman writings about three martyred female saints bearing these names (Fides, Spes and Caritas in Latin). Their mother was Sophia (Greek for Wisdom). Some sources suggest their martyrdom was commemorated on 1st August, whilst the Eastern Orthodox Church had the feast day on 30th September. As with most of these early saints there is scant reliable information. Nevertheless, the history, real or otherwise of these women, produced icons featuring them. These would then lead to these more recent depictions of these three early martyrs in works of art in various media.

What is ‘faith’? It is difficult to be precise and also succinct, but it has been defined as ’the theological virtue by which a Christian believes in God’. Most acutely, this shows in accepting the redemptive act of Jesus in his crucifixion and resurrection. It is, therefore not surprising that most artistic representations of ‘Faith’ include an empty cross. Another common feature is a lamp, candle or chalice. The representation of Faith in this window in the former East Kirk is no exception – Faith is seen holding a cross in her right hand and what appears to be a lamp in her left hand (unfortunately the support bar partially blocks this part of the picture). Her expression is beautifully tranquil.

Dr James Gregory

History
Post 72 (a) DSCN0008 Gregory Memorial in Drum's Aisle 2013
The Gregory Memorial in Drum’s Aisle

High on the west wall of Drum’s Aisle in the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting is an elaborate monument, as shown in the first photograph. This memorial relates to two members of the distinguished Aberdeen Gregory family, five generations of whom became professors. To the left of the monument reference is to Elizabeth Gregory, nee Forbes, who was married to John Gregory. The latter was professor of medicine at King’s College in Aberdeen and then moved to Edinburgh University. The section to the right refers to James Gregory, son of Elizabeth and John Gregory. The inscriptions are in Latin, and for James Gregory it records that he visited the place where his mother was buried and, together with his wife and surviving children, to mourn the passing of his daughter Jane MacLeod Gregory in 1813 at the tender age of eight (see below).

Like his father, James Gregory was an Aberdeen-born physician who achieved great distinction. The family had moved to Edinburgh in 1764 when James was 11 years old. He graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University in 1774. His father died whilst he was still a student and he delivered the lectures his father should have given. Just two years after graduating he was appointed to the chair which his father had held. Later he became first physician to the king of Scotland (George III), a position renewed by George IV in 1820. James Gregory died in April 1821 and is buried at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.

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Close up of the Latin inscription (translation to the right)

A closer view of the section referring to James Gregory is shown in the second photograph. The translation of the Latin reads: “Here also her son James Gregory, MD, FRSE, Professor of Medicine in the University of Edinburgh and His Majesty’s principal physician in Scotland – who when a boy, as yet a stranger to sorrow, had paid the just dues to his beloved mother – after 52 years, now an old man, and not unacquainted with misfortunes, but glad to revisit with his wife and children this district and his native city, surrounded by four of his sons and a circle of weeping friends did sorrowing pay the same just dues to his eldest daughter Jane MacLeod, a child most winsome, of highest promise, her father’s delight, her mother’s other soul, by cruel death snatched away in the eighth year of her age, 27 August, 1813”

During his academic life James was popular with students but often not far from controversy. However, he is probably best remembered for his popular remedy of Gregory’s Powders also known as Gregory’s Mixture. This is a mixture of powdered Rhubarb root (2 parts), Light Magnesium Carbonate (6 parts) and Ginger 1 part. The normal dose was about 1 to 4 g. The powder mixture could be taken as such with a draught of water, or dispersed in the water before taking. It was used as a stomach sedative and also had mild laxative properties. It did not taste good – but there is the old adage that if it tastes bad it does you good! Along with many ‘traditional’ medicines, it has fallen out of use in the last half century.

 

 

 

The bells – bringing the story up to date

History

 

Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums Collection
Some of the bells. Some have two clappers to allow them to be used for the Westminster chime

By 1952 the carillon in the Kirk of St Nicholas had been used very sparingly for the previous 50 years or more. Things were about to change. That year Queen Elizabeth acceded to the throne and the City Council decided that the bells should be recast so that they could be used properly. Accordingly Messrs. Gillett and Johnston of Croydon were given the contract. During the process, the composition of the metal was corrected. Back in the spire, the old wooden frame for the bells was replaced by a steel framework. The bells were rehung later in 1952 and dedicated on 31st October 1952 at which ceremony a recital was given by Clifford Ball, Carillonneur at Bournemouth. A magnificent sound was heard demonstrating that the recasting had been successful. A plaque in Drum’s Aisle records the recasting.

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The list of bells with pitch and dimensions

So popular was the new sound that in 1954 the Council decided to add a further 11 bells to the carillon, also made by Gillett and Johnston. These were dedicated on 17th September 1954 and Clifford Ball again gave a recital. One of the photographs is of a framed list giving details of each of the bells, which together have a 4-octave range. It is the largest carillon in the United Kingdom (along with one other). Some of the bells, which are a floor above the actual carillon (where the louvres are in the tower), have two clappers. This is to allow the bells to be used with the clock. The Westminster Chime is normally sounded every quarter of an hour, the clock activating the mechanism which is operated by compressed air. There is also a mechanism which would allow automatic playing of some music through something like a large musical box with metal pins (shown in photograph).

Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums Collection
The system for automatic playing with some drums

 

Since the recast bells were installed, there has been a City Carillonneur. The present incumbent is Ronnie Leith, who gives recitals at various times. Most common is before worship on a Sunday morning, but also through the week, especially in summer.

Ronald Leith City Carilloneur Playing the Carillon in St Nicholas Church Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums Collection
Ronald Leith, City Carilloneur, playing the carillon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums Collection
The largest bell which sounds the hour

 

 

 

 

The previous posts about the bells were on 12th March and 9th April 2016.