Description

Before 1828 (see Notes). 4-storey and attic, 5-bay classical tenement with altered shops to ground. Grey granite ashlar, rubble to rear. Piended dormers. Segmental arched pend opening on far left, leading to Adelphi.

Predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows, sometilt and turn. Plate glass to shops. Grey slates, gable stacks.

Statement of Interest

Situated towards the East end of Union Street, this is a good early example of a row of classical tenements. The row provides an entrance to the small street of Adelphi, which was created in 1815. It was constructed between 1794 when Union Street was planned and 1828 when it appears on John Wood's plan of Aberdeen. The simple classical style is typical of granite buildings of this period before sophisticated cutting techniques were developed. The row forms an essential component of the planned streetscape of Union Street. Planned as the major thoroughfare in an increasingly wealthy and confident city, Union Street was a bold and confident project which required major engineering to complete. The buildings which aligned the street had to reflect this sense of grandeur and confidence as the visual appearance of the street was of the utmost importance.

Union Street was developed after 1794, when a town council meeting asked the engineer Charles Abercrombie to find a way to connect the original steep, haphazard network of Medieval streets of Aberdeen to the surrounding countryside. His plan was for two streets, one of which would run from Castlegate to the Denburn and the other which would run from the Castlegate to the North of the town. The former became Union Street. This was a particularly difficult project to complete as the street had to cut through St Katherine's Hill at the East end and be built on a series of arches culminating with a large bridge at the Denburn. The street was to be lined with classical buildings, but the initial idea of having a long, uniform classical design that each new house would have to conform to was abandoned, as it was realised that different purchasers would require some control over the design Some variety was therefore conceded. This variety had, however, to conform to the 'uniformity and regularity of the street' and that between each crossroads, the houses had to be the same height, the same number of storeys (4) and have the same pitch of roof.

Part of B Group with Nos 5-53, 67-89, 95-139, 143-153 (odd nos) Union Street, Nos 26-42, 46-62, 78-106, 114-144 (even nos) Union Street and St Nicholas Churchyard.

Reference from previous list description: Number does not appear in Aberdeen Directory 1824.

Category changed from B to C(S), 2007.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56625156

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
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  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas