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Aberdeen City Archives Aberdeen City Archives Aberdeen City Archives Aberdeen City Archives

Police Commissioners rent rolls (Town House) Introduction First Steps Sources in the City Archives The annual Police Commissioners rent rolls note the name of the owner and occupier of every property in the City, and the This leaflet introduces the sources in the City Archives which There are many guidebooks for those starting to trace the his- Maps local taxation payable. Rent rolls were compiled each year you can use for tracing the history of a building in Aberdeen, tory of a building. Both Scottish Local History by D Moody (Town House/Old Aberdeen House) from 1795 to 1859/60. Those produced from the 1830s are such as your house, a local church, school, shop or factory. (Batsford, 1986) and Tracing Scottish Local History by Cecil The City Archives holds maps showing the layout of the most useful, as the address of each property is also given. The records are split between the two City Archives offices: Sinclair (HMSO 1994) provide useful introductions to the Aberdeen from 1661 to 1970. Of these, the sets of Ordnance the Town House and Old Aberdeen House, as indicated in the subject and to sources at the National Archives of Scotland. Survey maps printed in 1870/71 and 1901 are particularly use- Valuation rolls (Old Aberdeen House) text. These are general indications only, and we strongly advise You may find that the information you want is readily avail- ful, as they provide a detailed outline of each building in the Valuation rolls note the address and use of properties, the you to contact us in advance if you are at all unsure about able without having to visit the City Archives. City. Less-detailed maps were produced in 1926 and 1947, but owner and occupier, and the valuation for local taxation. where records are held. The most useful sources for each individual properties are still identifiable. Ordnance Survey These records have been compiled each year since 1855. Sets enquiry will depend on the age and type of building being If you are looking for the names of owners and occupiers of maps are also available at Aberdeen Central Library. of valuation rolls for Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, studied, and also on the location of the property. The City of your own property, and the uses to which it has been put, start Kincardineshire and Morayshire starting at various dates in the Aberdeen now includes parts of the former counties of with your title deeds. These documents indicate the changes Building warrant drawings mid 19th century are available to view at Old Aberdeen Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire: often the records for in ownership, and may reveal the date of construction. (Old Aberdeen House) House. Please ask the duty archivist for more details about these county areas differ significantly from those for the City. Alternatively, the names of occupiers of many City buildings Since the 1870s proposals to construct any building within the these. For further advice on sources for a specific building, please can be found in the printed postal directories, known as the city limits have required local authority approval. Each appli- contact the duty archivist at either City Archives office. Aberdeen Directory. Aberdeen Central Library holds a com- cation for approval includes a set of architectural drawings of A small fee is charged to those consulting valuation rolls for plete set of these directories from 1824 to 1982. the proposed building showing floor plans, commercial purposes elevations and sections. Many of the drawings submitted If you are interested in the history of one of Aberdeen's between 1871 and 1960 are preserved in the City Archives; notable buildings, consult Aberdeen: an illustrated architectural those submitted after 1960 are held by Aberdeen City Council guide by W Brogden (Rutland Press, 1998). The description of Planning Department. Planning application files also survive each building in the guide includes the architect's name and for certain sites in Aberdeen & Kincardine counties which the date of construction. were transferred to the City in 1975. The whereabouts of further documentary sources for Aberdeen's architects and architecture are detailed in Aberdeen Deposited architectural collections on Record (HMSO, 1997). Alternatively, if you are interested (Town House/Old Aberdeen House) in the work of a particular architect, look at the online A number of collections of architectural drawings from private Dictionary of Scottish Architects, 1840-1940. sources have also been deposited with the City Archives, This is available at www.codexgeo.co.uk/dsa/index.php notably those of George Bennett Mitchell & Son, Aberdeen, and is searchable by name or location of architect, practice, or and Duncan & Munro, Turriff. building, as well as by client. Aberdeen City Archives Burgh register of sasines (Town House) Sasines document the transfer of property ownership and give the names of owners and a brief description of the property involved. The City Archives holds the burgh register from 1484 to 1809. The National Archives of Scotland holds later volumes of the burgh register, as well as the Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire sasines register. A small fee is charged to those consulting the burgh register of sasines for commercial purposes. new building sources 16/4/09 10:53 Page 5

Aberdeen City Archives Aberdeen City Archives Aberdeen City Archives Town House Old Aberdeen House Burgh records (Town House/Old Aberdeen House) Town House I Broad Street I Aberdeen I AB10 1AQ Old Aberdeen House I Dunbar Street I Aberdeen I AB24 3UJ As well as holding a large collection relating to the Burgh of Tel: 01224 522513 I Fax: 01224 638556 I Tel: 01224 481775 I Fax: 01224 495830 I [email protected] Aberdeen, the City Archives also provides access to collections e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: Aberdeen www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives of 19 Burghs in Aberdeenshire. Town Council minutes, C ITY A RCHIVES accounts and papers can include a vast amount of information Searchroom opening hours I Wednesday - Friday, Searchroom opening hours I Monday - Wednesday, 9.30am about buildings under the Council's management, such as 9.30am - 4.30pm I Please telephone in advance to make an - 1pm, 2pm - 4.30pm I Please telephone in advance to make Building Sources churches, schools, bridges, transport depots and other munici- appointment I Pencils only may be used in the searchroom an appointment I Pencils only may be used in the searchroom pal buildings. Please ask the duty archivist for assistance in identifying relevant sources for your investigation.

City Architect’s records (Old Aberdeen House) The City Architect’s Department’s main responsibility was the design of the Town Council’s housing schemes. The Department’s records consist mainly of architectural drawings for housing built since 1919, but also include drawings for some public buildings.

Useful Addresses Aberdeen Central Aberdeen City Library Development Local Studies Department, Department Rosemount St Nicholas House, Broad Viaduct, Aberdeen, AB25 Street, Aberdeen, 1GW AB10 1BW tel 01224 652512 tel: 01224 522286 email: www.aberdeencity.gov.uk localstudieslibrary@aberdeen city.gov.uk Royal Commision of www.aberdeencity.gov.uk Ancient and Historical National Archives of Monuments of Scotland Scotland HM General Register House, John Sinclair House, 16 Town House Old Aberdeen House Edinburgh, EH1 Bernard Terrace, Facilities Facilities 3YY Edinburgh, EH8 9NX reference library I sources leaflets I photocopying car parking I reference library I sources leaflets I tel 0131 535 1314 tel: 0131 662 1456 available I microfilm reader I e-mail, telephone & postal photocopying available I e-mail, telephone & postal www.nas.gov.uk www.rcahms.gov.uk enquiries answered I research service I internet access enquiries answered I research service I internet access A Guide

Published by Aberdeen City Archives, April 2009 www.aberdeencity.gov.uk www.aberdeencity.gov.uk