SIR GEORGE SKENE'S HOUSE IN THE GUESTROW, ABERDEEN-ITS HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE by EDWARD MELDRUM, D.ARCH., A.R.I.B.A., F.S.A.SCOT.

i. INTRODUCTION THE GuestroAberdeen'f o e on ws i s most ancient thoroughfare shares ha t n i di s- the storms and in the glories of the burgh's history since at least the fifteenth century. s shortIt , cobbled, narrow causewa manw ysa y famous personages traversd an t ei dwell in its old houses - today little is left, for by the late nineteenth century the ancient tenement becomd sha e slum condemnee b o st demolitiono dt forgotted an ; n wer e medievaeth l mansion f provostso s , bishops, nobles, advocate d generalsan s ; vanished wer e slopinth e g walled gardens built ove y lateb r r accretions which obscure originae dth l good Scots architecture Guestroe .th f Todao e wl se tha ye al tw e streeith s t itself denude mansionss it f do , sav restoree eth d town-hous f Provoseo t r GeorgSi e Skene, standing somewhat starkly, deserte neighbourins it y db g buildings whose foundation beneate sli surroundine hth g wast parksr emucs i ca area t d I h. san hopee b o t d that future developments wilt obscurno l e permanentl line thif yth eo s ancient Guestrow vere th yr namfo , embeddes i e Aberdonian di n e historth d yan derivatio name bees th subjecf e eha no n th mucf o t h interes eved an tn controversy. name Th e 'Guestrow pronounces i ' d 'Gaistra dialece Aberdoniae th th f n i 'o t n and has nothing to do with guests or guest-houses. Although Parson Gordon in A Description of bothe Touns of Aberdeene is doubtful whether 'guests' or 'ghosts' led to the name, G. M. Fraser in Historical Aberdeen claims its origin from the fact that it overlooke kirkyare dth Toue th f ndo t NicholaKirthus S f wa kso associated san n di the medieval mind with ghosts. Now it is of course impossible to see the burial yard of St Nicholas from the Guestrow today because high buildings intervene. But even in the fifteenth century it scarcely 'overlooked' the kirkyard, and between street and Toue th n Kirk flowe Loce th dr Flourmil ho l burparalled an n thao t l t alone gth wes Guestrote sidth f eo w garden r Flouo d r sMi Mill flowee th lade . r dth Howe fo - ever chartea , f 143o r 9 refer 'Vicuo t s s Lemurum' (the spectrese streeth f o t ) and, whil medievae b e y thisma l latinisation onle th ys i acceptabl t i , e explanatio thif no s intriguing name, failin gpossibla e derivation from Gaelic othen i s a ,r Aberdonian place-names, i.e. Mounthooly (Monadh-tulach): Green (Grianan): Fitt Footder yo e (Feithe). By the sixteenth century, the Guestrow was already somewhat built up — each tenement consiste housa f do e fronting paralled streete an th , , ,to l through whicha pend gave acces innen a o st r court side whicf e on o ,occupie s hwa buildina y db t ga right angles to the street house. The back of the court might be closed by another house also giving pend access beyond to the 'four-neukit' garden sloping to the west. We know from Parson Gordon1 (1661) that in his time the houses were of stone and 1 A Description of bothe Touns of Aberdeene (Sp. Club, 1842), 9. 6 8 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F O S , 1958-59 lime, slate-roofed, mostly thre r fouo e r stories high, some higher. Streets were carefully paved and house frontages were adorned by timber galleries and forestairs. Adjoining most dwellings were garden d orchardan s s wit mano hs y trees thae th t whole town would seem to be set down in a woodland. Throughout the centuries, the now-demolished houses of the Guestrow were the mansion famouf so s personages, for, apart fro r GeorgmSi e Skene 'Bloodye th , ' Duke of Cumberland d Majoan , r James Wolfe (late e victoth r d f Quebeco rha o wh ) occupied the 'Cumberland' House which is our subject, several civic chiefs resided along this street: Provost Leslie, Provost Jaffra Provosd an y t Bannerman Jacoe th , - bit f 1715lattee o Th . rhous e liveth n edi know. i Shepherd'No s na s Court jusf of t Guestrow; earlier occupants were Sheriff-Depute Andrew Thomson and his wife Agnes Divie in 1673, whose initials appear on a plaque over the gateway, originally re-erectew leadin courno e t th bu o Uniotgn t d i n Terrace Gardens. Howevee th r gateway itself is at least early seventeenth century, similar in date to the old house, which old photographs show to have been a semi-castellated building consisting of a rectangular block having attache corneone dstronat ra g round conical-roofed tower with entrance door. Sheriff-Depute Thomson's house had possessed the interesting qualities of sturdy Scots domestic architecture at its best. Unfortunately, when the Guestrow slum properties were demolished, few discerning eyes could distinguish good medieval buildings from relatively modern squalor. Even up to about 1850 the Guestrow was a 'respectable' neighbourhood - in 1807 for instance, the celebrated Duches Gordof so presens elegann nwa a t a t t bal t Major-Generaa l l Macdonald's residence Societthe ; Friendy of meeting-hous a shad streetthe Episcopalianein the ; s smala l Aberdeee chapelth d an , n Savings Bank their office from 1838 till 1858t A . No. 15 Guestrow was born Archibald Simpson, now famed as architect of Aberdeen's finest granite buildings, whil onle eth y other hous remaininw eno streete th n gi , other than Skene's House, belonged in the late eighteenth century to the'family of Black of Cloghill. This building, often referred to as the 'Dispensary', has little architectural merit, being much altere d addean d durino dt s morgit e recent conversion into offices. However, it retains its walled and tree-lined garden, grass-planted nowadays, t offerinbu g visual face prooth t f tha o fenclosee th t d gardens contributed muco ht Guestroe th w bein gdesirabla e residential neighbourhood t undoubtedli s a , s ywa unti centura l (figo yag . i). 2. DESCRIPTION (a) Exterior (figs. 3 and 4) Sir George Skene's House present impressivn sa e external appearancs it o t e edu massing and its sturdy granite walls (PI. XIV, i). There is a stark and austere quality given by the severe line of the flat roof and the comparative absence of decoration, a circumstanc notee b o et d whe considere non exuberance th s ofted ean n grotesque features presen mann o t y seventeenth-century country castle towd san n ludgings. The frontage to the south is by far the most attractive although the other aspects certaia ar f eo n aesthetic interest relativ evolutioe th buildinge o et th f nsouto e Th .h elevation, wit projectins hit g forestair lofto porchtw y s corbelled-ouit , t angle stair SIR GEORGE SKENfi's E GUESTROWHOUSTH N I E , ABERDEE7 8 N turretsalmoss it d tan , symmetrical fenestration intendes wa ,viewee b o dt d froe mth point where the arched pend led through from the Guestrow on to a courtyard of granite paving slabs higwallea y hb Scotch-copen di d dyke. This quitaspecw no e s i t lost, for, together with the huddle of lesser buildings which stood around, the pend and the Scotch dyke have now disappeared. Entrmaie th no yt eastmoste buildinbase th th f eo t a s ga i staif o ry towewa y b r very decorative entrance doorway with freestone surround carved wit h'Restoraa - tion' patter thistlf no rosd ean e motifs. Abov ornate eth e over-lintel with grapd ean vine-leaf pattern in relief is a panel holding the personal coat-of-arms of Sir George Skene and the motto 'Gratis a Deo Data' meaning 'Thanks be given to God'. Sir George Skene's arms were 'Gules a chevro, n argent between three skeene th f o s second hefte pommelled dan , surmountedor mans a y dyb wolfs' heads coupee th f do third, tusked proper'. The wooden studded door with massive timber deadshot lock is late seventeenth-century work. Unde staie eavee th rth rf so tower e th ,n higo p hu south-west angle double-faca s i , e sundial, undate t evidentldbu y late seventeenth centur oldes e town e square probabl d typth s th yit - Th an t n .ef i eo onle e yth y on stair storee toweon s yi r higher tha four-flooe nth r mai nflae th houst rood s ean i f reache e easterth y db n turret stair whil maie eth n flat roo s accessibli f e froe mth western turret .smalle e Savth r efo r opening stain si r towe turretsd ran , most windows are large and generous - nearly all jambs and lintels are in chamfered dressed free- stone with the exception of four windows with wave-roll moulding surrounds. Masonry is granite generally, rough in texture, built in uncoursed rubble, with many 'heathen' boulders - the original finish to the stonework had been harling, only the dressed surround openingf so s being left exposed. The west wing is slate-roofed with one dormer window at second-floor level, overlooking the courtyard. The semicircular pediment to this window, topped by a finely carved stone finial, bears a relief panel of the coat-of-arms of Maister Matthew Lumsden and his wife Elizabeth Aberdour, being initialled M.M.L. and E.A., with the date 162 vera 6- y intricate piec carvef eo d heraldry, craftsman'signee th y db n ow s interesting mason's mark. The shield displays two wolves' heads couped in chief and an escallop in base for Lumsden impaling, for Aberdour, first and fourth quarterly pala , e surmounte bena n do charged with three mascles, second an d third quarterly, a cross moline (PI. XV, i). Entry to the west wing is through a piended-roofed porch of early nineteenth- century date, although the outer doorway, with its delicate roll moulding, is evidently insertion a n from some other, earlier building wese Th .t elevatio wese th tf no win g simplea f i so mor d an r e domestic characte r - therasymmetr n a s ei fenestrationf yo , with a nicety of scale distinguishing each of the three floors, while the steep pitched roof wit thres hit e dormers, flanke sturdy db y gable-end chimney stacks dominates ,i d gable westerd th ey an b n stair maiturree th f no t house. norte Th h elevation exhibit fortress-liksa e character quite unrelate soute th ho dt frontage. The small, often square, windows, the batter of the walls, the plain gable- parapet d severite en eavee th th d f sysan o line sugges gria t m Highland stronghold rather tha nLowlana d merchant-laird's douce toun-ludging. This rugged exterior, 88 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1958-59 composed of stonework in places almost Cyclopean in size, conceals interior apart- ments displayin elegance th l adornmengd al ean t availabl seventeente th o et h and- eighteenth-century aristocracy. An interesting feature of the north side is the small corbelled-out turret (with overlapping capstones instea f conicado l roof) fitten i d between the main block and Lumsden's wing. To the east the main house presents no features other than a wee square window, originally a lozen - this east wall was at one time the mutual gable with the property which fronted on to the Guestrow. Exceptin soute gwesd th han t frontages which were intende appreciatee b o dt d from courtyard and garden respectively, the other exterior aspects suffer from the lack of neighbouring buildings - only the immense bulk of the House itself counter- act somn si e degre appearance eth isolationf eo .

restoratioe Th n wor thin ko s important piec Scotf eo s domestic architecture bega 1951n i d an , while no major rebuilding was required, its latter-day near-slum condition entailed considerable cleanin othed an rp gu urgen t remedial measures. Roo ceilind an f g timbers somd an , e panelling, showed evidence of woodworm attack, but no signs of dry rot were apparent anywhere in the buildings. f outsidO e works single-storeo tw , y buildings, attache maie th n o dfairlt f bloco t y kbu moder n date, were demolished l remnantAl .harlind ol f o sg were removed jointoriginae e th th f d so an l, granite masonry were repointed, while any recent accretions in brick work were cut out and rebuilt in stonework. Dressed quoin jambsd san , where decayed severad an , l fractured lintels, were replaced Moran i y sandstone e maiTh .n hous squard ean e stair tower were originally roofed ove sheen i r t lead - one small portion having been repaired with zinc sheeting. This lead platform roof had been in its day a most excellent job of plumbing craftsmanship, but lack of maintenance had caused it to be so far deteriorated that it had to be replaced by a more weatherproof covering of bituminous asphalt - these flat roofs are nowhere visible from the ground. A survey of the building made twenty- five year suggesto sag open sa n balustraded parape corbed an t l course roun platfore dth m rooft bu , there is no evidence in the form of toothings or other fragments to support a claim that such an attractive feature originally crowne wallheade dth . e wesTh t wing rooentirels fwa y re-slated using Scottish slates three th ; e west dormersf o o tw , d bricha whic kd pedimentshha e centrath onle d on lya skylight an , , were reconstructed, using Moray sandstone s simpla , e pedimental dormer-heads. Most chimney head d mouldesha d copes damage missinr do g- these were restore replacedr do chimneysl Al . , each consistin severaf go l flues divided up by flagstone feathers, were sealed off on top with slates, as the need for open fires was obviated heate w house th :no electri y s db ei c tubular convector t floosa r levele considerablTh . e arra rainwatef yo r pipinwalle sweps th swa n go t replaceawae b o a yminimut y db m numbef o r downpipes inconspicuously positioned. Many built-up openings were restored to their original use as windows. Frames and sashes were either in disrepair or of a modern design - practically all were replaced by traditional Scots domestic small-pane windows more in keeping with the character of the house. The stone decoration in relief round the main entrance, the Skene arms panel above, and the Lumsden arms dormer panel were cleaned, restored and given specialist treatment by craftsmen of the Ministry of Works, Edinburgh. The two-face sundial on the square stair tower was restored to use by re-gilding the lines and numerals, d replacinan missine gth g gnomons soute courtyard th ol hhouse o e T sidth th . f s dei o wits hit original granite slab stond san e gutters originae Th . l high Scotch-coped dyk othed ean r enclosing walls were replaced by a length of granite balustrading1 not wholly in keeping with the elevation, while the type of formal garden to the south lacks the shady walks, the rows of hedging and fruit-trees, and above all, the privacy of the medieval garden.

1 Originally in situ at Craigielea House, in the Mannofield district of the city. SIR GEORGE SKENE's HOUSE IN THE GUESTROW, ABERDEEN 89 (b) Interior (figs, i and 2) The main entrance to the House is by the large decorative doorway at ground soute leveth hstain e lo fac th rf eo tower . Within finde spacioue on , sth s stone stair- shora ) (i tlefe s passagi th t o t d e an leadin y barrel-vaultea wa o gt d room which originally had a floor of beaten earth and had served as a store; and (ii) another short hallway to a larger barrel-vaulted storage chamber now subdivided into two small stores and one large room. This large vault has two windows to the courtyard, therd stile an ear l opposite traceth n so simila o e sidtw f eo r windowa s t buila p u t late rHouse'e datth n ei s history ease Th t. partitio thif no interestinse vaulth s ha t g constructio verticaf no horizontad an l l timber strut framing with brick infilling- typical late eighteenth-century work. The ground floor level is, on the average, 12 in. below that of the courtyard slabs outside - evidence of the gradual heightening of the surrounding ground since the sixteenth century. The west vault of the main house - also lit by two windows to the court - is reache doorwaa y db y throug masonrha y partition. Just within this doorwaya rectangular openin flooe seved th an rn gni stone steps lead dow smala o nt l under- ground apartment which served as a wine-cellar with stone shelves and arched recesses built in brick and probably late eighteenth-century work: it has been claimed without substantiation, tha stepe th t s gave acces 'secrea o st t passage persistena ( ' t tradition regardin Housee gth - )thi s passage leading undergroun harbour.e th o dt 1 restorinn I originae gth l numbe vaultef ro d rooms relativelo tw , y modern brick partitions were removed. The stonework of the barrel vaults was left exposed and the joints repointed. Floor repairs discovere th undergroune o t th d f yo le d wine-cella amond ran debrie gth s removed fro lowee mth r level, much broken glass and earthenware and crockery fragments of early nineteenth-century date were found, but nothing of unusual interest or value. In the main house the first floor is reached by the fine stone-stepped stair of simple proportions, this stair continuing to second-floor level,. with semicircular arches with double-roll mouldings at each landing. turremaie e walle th th Th f f nso to staistaird ran s have been replastered mand an , y stone steps required repairin r replacementgo e sturdTh . y timber balustradin second-flooe th t ga r stairhead was cleaned and the natural oak surface restored. At first-floor level large acces th double-leavea eo y t shal b s i l d door withina doorway with chamfered stone surround. This large apartmen evidentls wa t e yth original dining hall anciene th , t arched fireplac eashavine d th en t t a eg been built up to provide a smaller opening with a mural closet behind. This closet and the arched alcove on the same wall were revealed by the removal of panelling of a later smaldateo Tw l. square sixteenth-century windows have been restore clerestoret da y level in the north wall. The present screen of pine panelling replaces the timber partition which in more recent times had divided the old hall into kitchen and dining room. The latter apartment still retains the atmosphere of an eighteenth-

1 A possible reference to some past incident involving the uncovering of either a medieval sewer or the culverted burn running underground between Broad Street and Guestrow. 90 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1958-59 century dining hall wit panelles hit d wall Baltif so imposins cit pin d ean g Corinthian columns, executed in mahogany, flanking the Victorian fireplace surround (PL XV, patternee 2)Th . d flagstone floooriginalld ha r y extended throughou entire tth e hall. halsquara e Wess th i l f o et apartmen withdrawina - t g chamber. Here three wall panellee differenar o s tw n di t design mouldingsd an s e fourtTh . h wall, from whic panele hth s were removed founs wa ,contaio dt nlarga e wide-lintelled fireplace of considerable interest. The opening is flanked by two finely-carved fluted square pillar sandstonen si fire eth cheekd an , s were painte black-and-whita n di e diced tile pattern: ove lintee suna th r s i lk empty coat-of-arms panel with painted imitation frame whole Th . e desig similas ni severao rt l other example latn si e medieval castles dated an s fro mperioa flooe t lateTh drno . herr 3) tha moders , ei n XV 160L n 0(P pavestones but the plaster ceiling displays seventeenth-century plasterwork decora- tion in the best Scots tradition, the design being a ribbed surround with a centre piec f Restoratioo e n motifs e monarch th e ros f th e mids,o e th f encirclinn o yti g crowns, thistles and fleurs-de-lis.

firse Ath tt floo large th r e halwithdrawind lan g room contain panellin decoratiod gan l al t nno dating from the same period. The hall had a large area of pine panelling which required to be cleaned of numerous accumulated paint layers, as did the panelled and pillared fireplace. The walls at the east end of the old hall were plastered and, where original flagstones on the solid floors over the barrel vaults were missing, these were replaced with cast stone paving. In the withdrawing room, the intricate details of the ceiling design were obscured by layers of whitewash. These were removed and the plasterwork restored. The wall panelling, of two different types, required renovation: the moulded stone pillar d paintean s d cheeke finth e f o sixteenth-centurs y fireplace wer l giveal e n restoration treatment. At second-floor level ther foue ear r room s- thre thesf eo e apartment ease th t n si portion being arranged en suite with connecting corridor leading from top of main stairway accese th , s door opening havin gsimpla e roll moulding surround threl Al . e apartment corridoe th d panellede san ar r panelline th , g with dado moulding being more carefully executed and undoubtedly later in date than that on the first floor. westmose th n I t suite roo panelline th eth f m o roundes gi e cornere th th t d da san ceilin excellens coveds gi it d an ; t proportions mosmake th t ei pleasing apartment in the house — the marble fireplace surround with overmantel and mirror is an unfortunate insertio earle th yf n o Victoria n period smale Th . l middle e rooth f mo suite contains most interesting painted panelling dating fro eighteente mth h century, the subjects recalling the painting work of the Norie family in Edinburgh. The style raild paintee san s ar represeno dt t pastora classicad lan l landscapes with figures buildingd an s rendere picturesque th n di e manner, whil panele eth s have been given n all-ovea r marbling effect. These three room e floorear s d with pitchpine cross- tongued floor boardin g- eighteenth-centur y work. A doorway had at one time connected the east portion of the second storey with the fourth room in the west part. The fitting up of the panelling has blocked this original access which is clearly discernible from the fourth room. This apartment has much of interest, particularly the plaster ceiling - late seventeenth century in date - a masterpiece of the plasterer's craft with ribbed panels, and floral and classical SIR GEORGE SKENE'S GUESTROWE HOUSTH N I E , ABERDEEN gi figurine decoration fireplace Th . hollorold s ean ha l w moulding sandstone th t sa e jambs with plain lintel; the hearth composed of black and white tiles. At the north- west corner is a wee one-windowed mural closet built into the thickness of the west gable. The chamber itself has no panelling but the wooden strip rail around the ceilinedgee th f sindicatioo s g i n tha walle tth s were hung with tapestries.

All the excellent pine panelling of the suite of three rooms and corridor was given restorative treatment, and the plain plaster ceilings here were renewed. The oil painted panels of the small apartment have been partially restored - their pristine appearance could not be regained by cleaning. The flooring here, of good pitchpine cross-tongued boarding, was in good condition and was retained, but elsewhere in the building wooden floors had to be renewed, all new boarding being treated by staining and wax-polishing. The late seventeenth-century decorated plaster ceiling in the fourth or west second storey roo restores moriginas wa it o dt l stat cleaniny eb numerouf gof s accumulated layer whitewashf so . The topmost floor of the main house is reached from the head of the stairway by mean spiraa f o s l turret stair turning left-wise, thus indicatin lats git e datee Th . doorwa a turre e entry th b o s yt i y with chamfered jambs displaying masons' marks - the timber studded door and its latch are very probably sixteenth century in date. Unde platfore th r m maie rooth f no f hous roomsthers o ea e thertw t ear e bu , ear three fireplaces, it is likely that there were originally that number of rooms. The east gable fireplac speciao n s ha el feature soute t flankin smala th bu ,s ho i t lt gi square winnock, the old traditional shuttered 'lozen' being now replaced by a glazed pane. The second fireplace in the larger attic room is on the north wall; it has a bolection-moulded stone jamb and lintel, the cheeks being tiled in black and white, whil overmantee eth l consist onle th yf so piec floor p panellinf eto o e . th n go mose Th t interesting featur thesf eo e attic apartment mose th s sti unusual ceiling unde platfore rth m roofsceiline largee Th th . f go r roo unfortunatels mha e b o t d yha completely restore e smalle t th tha bu dn i tr roo ms originali e constructioTh . n consist f massivo s beamk eoa s carrying meany b , blocksf o s e rafterth , s supporting the purlins. On these latter are laid the wide sarking boards, the joints of which are covere mouldey db d timber strip XVIL s(P , 2,3,4) onle yTh . roo Scotlann fi d similar to this was that over the James VI building on the north side of Linlithgow Palace - destroyes wa t i fir y d174n b i e 6 durin occupatios git troopy Hanoveriae nb th f so n monarchy under General Hawley. Als interesf o o smallee th n ti r atti cfireplace rooth e mar e wit originas hit l bowtell moulded jamb murae linteld th sd an l closean , t with small windo north-wese th t wa t corner. The chamfered jambs of the linking doorway between the attics contain masons' marks. The east turret stair leads to two apartments, one over the head of the main stairway othee th , t fifth-storea r y level unde platfore th r m square rooth f o fe stair tower lowee Th . r chambe excellenn a s smalls ri ha t t bu exampl, plastea f eo r ceiling, contemporary with others elsewher housee th n ei , wit familiae hth r grap vined ean - leaf motifs e smalTh . l fireplac bolection-mouldes ha e d lintee jambsd th an ld an , walls, originally panelledplasteredw no thicknes e e th ar ease , n :i th tf waln so a s i l 'aumry' recess, indicatin chamber'e gth s studypossibla topmose s a Th e . eus t room PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1958-59

G U E STROW — 3RO AD S TREET AREA hvxi/^; ^• Demolishe d since 190 • Presen I 0 I t building line Sir George Skene's Mansio • nL__ , c.1545- _^-JI c.157 . 0 162 . 6IHIIIIIIIIIIc.167 0 • ... 18O. .c O

feet 10 10 FIG. i SIR GEORGE SKENE's E GUESTROWHOUSTH N I E , ABERDEE3 9 N

Suite f o Panelle, d Apartments

feet

FIG. 2 94 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F O S , 1958-59

CROSS -SECTION EAST ELEVATION AND MAIN DOOR

SOUTH ELEVATION

FIG. 3 SIR GEORGE SKENE's HOUSE IN THE GUESTROW, ABERDEEN 95

LUMSDEN W I N 6 ENTRANCE

NORTH ELEVATION

feet • ;o 20

FIG. 4 96 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1958-59 has panelled walls with a press hidden behind the panels along the length of the east wallfireplace Th mouldea . s eha d surround suggestin eighteenth-centurn ga y date - the timber ceiling here is not the original one. Unde platfore rth maie attico mth tw nroofn si e housth , e hav floorind eha g renewe walld dan s replastered. The unique roof construction was for long partly hidden by a false ceiling. This was removed, and during the roofing operations the woodwork of the ceiling of the larger room was found to be in such bad condition as to be unsafe. It had to be replaced by a similar construction in new timber, thus reducing its interest considerably. In the smaller room the original roof timbers remain, although two new timber beams for extra stability had to be inserted under the supporting purlins at the load-bearing walls. Of the stair tower rooms, the topmost has had the roof timbering and flooring renewed panelline th d an , g cleane restoredd dan , lowewhile th n eri chambe walle rth s were re-plastere splendidthe dand , though small, decorated plaster ceiling cleaned originadowits nto l state. Although all three floors of the west, or Lumsden, wing are linked to the main house floors (although the levels are not similar), there is a separate entrance door from the courtyard by means of a stout timber studded door within a roll-moulded doorwa smale th yn li pavilion-roofed porch unde westere rth n stair turret porce Th . h wa seighteente addeth f o dd abouhen centure th t y wit purpose hth enclosinf eo e gth dog-leg forestair (originally external) leading to first-floor level. At this level the porc smalr a anne o hd lxha compartment (latterl privya y removes - )thi wa s d during restoration to reveal the corbelling of the stair turret and the deep-chamfered round arch leadin groune th o gt d floor thin O s. floor wer roomso formeetw w no , d into one, although the door to the old south apartment remains; adjoining it is the doorway (the east jamb only remaining kitchene th o t ) . Fro shore mth t passageway unde forestaie th r accesn a rslappes wa sgroune leao th dt o dt d floor vaulte th f so mai kitchend Lumsdee houseol th e f no Th . n wing contain versa y good examplf eo a deep fireplace with wide stone arch (PI. XVI, i). The forestair at first-floor level (where the original main entrance to the west house had been) leads to two apartments, access to the south room being made from the north room. Originally both apartments had separate doors leading directly off the stone-slabbed platt at the top of the stairs. Traces of these doors (lintels and jambs) are still visible, the south doorway being flanked by a double-barred window (originally external). These first-floor rooms have several most interesting features: decorative plaster ceilings of the late seventeenth century, good pine panelling on every wall except that on the south, where over the fireplace, faint traces were apparen muraa f o t l paintin temperan gi , most likel portraiya possibld an t y dating from about 1626. Unfortunatel remnante yth s wer t sufficieneno justifo t t y restora- ease th southere t tion n th sid O f .eo n chambe hiddeo tw e nar rrecesse s (probably used as cupboards), fitted behind the panels - one of these recesses being formed behind the original door now blocked. The centre piece of the ribbed ceiling in this heraldirooe th ms i c shiel Georgf do einitiale Skenth d sean G.S., indicating thae h t commissioned the decorative plasterwork before 1681, when he received his knight- hood. The north panelled room has a good example of a bolection-moulded fire- place and the plaster ceiling contains the ribbed patterns and Restoration motifs seen in the other designs (PI. XIV, 2). This room has also two recesses on the east SIR GEORGE SKENE's HOUSE IN THE GUESTROW, ABERDEEN 97 wall e beinon , g simpl ya cupboar othee veritabla th f o rd y leadindan ewa y gb 'secret' pane smala o t l l semicircular chamber (originall lowee yth r halturrea f o f t stair), connecting wit firse hth tmaie flooth f no rhouse . This turret staiprobs rwa - ably wooden and was the original access to the top floor of the Lumsden wing - two small closets replaced the timber stairway when the west stair turret was built, forming vertical circulation betwee l flooral n f bot o e smai th h ne th hous d an e west wing. Restoration Lumsdee worth n ki n wing consiste repairf dog-lee dstepo e th th f so o s t g forestairs, additioe th balustrade e d th f an no removae smalTh e . th f lo l first-flooe rth porcclosee o t th d n hi tle revealing and cleaning up of the stone corbel courses under the stair turret. The piended roof over the annex was re-slated using Scottish slates. The main feature of the old kitchen - the great stone- arched fireplace - had its later brickwork infillings removed to display its original large dimensions. The floor here has been renewed where the original paving no longer existed - building of storage and toilet accommodation at the east end of the ground floor involved the removal of the old paving o gardene tw th time e wino througe d t on where Th le th .t n gf a o pene o soute d eth hd th d ha h en first-floor rooms have excellent pinewood panelled walls, which commoin , n with other panelling throughou housee th t , were either heavily whitewashe r paintedo d dark brown. Cleaning revealed the finely grained woodwork - on the ceilings removal of layers of limewash revealed the details of decorative th e plasterwork. At second-floo rwes e leveth t mosn wine li th tgs i interestin g Hous e rooth mn ei - the Painted Gallery. Access is from the west turret stair by a timber panelled door whic bees hha n clumsil openine th dowt t fi ycu g o - nhowever t originae th , l access had been in the north-east corner, where the old timber studded door now leads to the closet which had been the upper part of the wee spiral stair from the floor below. e PainteTh d Gallery, whic divides hwa d into three apartments before restoration, regainew no s dha somethin originas it f go l splendour e ceilinTh . g consist lininf so g boards with a flat central portion, running longitudinally, and with sloping sides unde e rooth r f pitch e wesTh t. e soffitsidth f thre s brokeei o y s b ep nu dorme r windows and the east side contains one dormer. Although some of the paintwork vanishew no s dha fro north-ene mth Gallerye th f do , enough remain shoo st w that the whole original conception, painted in tempera using the complete colour range with yellow d bluean s s predominating rectangulan te , f consisteo l al rn d i frame d panels; on the flat ceiling is one oval panel centrally positioned and one rectangular pane eacn lo h side. Ther foue ear r panel eaco st h sloping side l thesal , e panels being linked into one grandiose design by a pattern of sacred decorative emblems, car- touche d representationan s f wingeo s d cherubs, fruid floraan t l motifs e carTh -. touches contain paintings of the Five Sacred Wounds and of the sacred monograms in the Latin form I.H.S., and in the Greek form X.P.E. The panels on the west side are painted to display scenes of Christ's Nativity, and on the east, scenes from the Passion. The flat portion contains the central oval panel indicating that the subject is the Ascension, while flanking this to the south is an excellently preserved rectangular panel representin Resurrectioe gth n wit Romae hth n soldiers cla latn di e sixteenth- century armour; at the north end another rectangular panel, its painting lost, may have displayed either Christ sitting in Judgment or the Coronation of the Virgin. wese th t n slopinO g ceilin panelse gth , startin soute th t hga end Annune (ie th ),ar - 98 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1958-59 ciation to the Virgin, (2) the Adoration of the Shepherds, (3) possibly Christ in the Temple unknown) (4 , , being completely blank slopine Th . g ceilinease s th ha t n go two panels displayine ,on Crucifixioe gth n (PI. XVII othee Depositioth e rd ,th i)an n (PI. XVII, 2) - missing panels at the north end may have illustrated the Last Supper and Christ before Pilate. mose Th t interestin sacree th f go d emblem Five thas th si e f o tSacre d Wounds, represented heraldicall e 'Armth s ya a Christi' d consistinan , heare th f tgo placed centrally with the pierced hands above and pierced feet below arranged in saltire; this emblem is very prominent in the Gallery. The Instruments of the Passion (on 1 the flat ceiling) are arranged in four sets of four, each set surrounding a star and separated by the oval and rectangular panels. From the south end of the Gallery, and taking the emblems in the chronological order of the events with which they are associated, they are as follows: (i) relating to the Betrayal; including the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the betrayal by Judas; the torch and lantern by the light of which Christ was taken; St Peter's sword and the ear of Malchus; the cock which crowe t Peter'da s denial relatin) Condemnatione (2 : th o gt basie ewed th ; nan f o r Pilate colume ;th n against which Chris bounds twa . Symbol Crucifixioe th f so e nar embleme th s whic hCrose followth d s itselan , f does appearremaindee th t bu , e ar r missing completely, although ther indicatione ar e s tha l sixteeal t n Instrumentf o s the Passion had been originally portrayed. e sout e soffith th f ho tn dorme e wesO th tn i r wall e Lumsdee armth th ,f o s n family are displayed as a part of the painted ceiling: this indicates that the great work of painting this gallery was about the year i626 - the completion date of the Lumsden wing e e paintenam t knowth Th f .no e o s i r n e —facth t tha e sceneth t s 2 show Flemish influence and may have been reproduced from Flemish originals has caused the belief that the ceiling may have been the work of George Jamesone, the first great Scots less-talente s paintehi f o r ro j d uncle, John Anderson. The plastered walls of the Painted Gallery also bear some traces of paintwork representing round classical arches and columns with capitals and bases. On the side wall betweedooro tw se thernth excellenn a s ei panellingtk examploa d ol f e,o forming cupboards; the fitting together of the panels is a unique example of work somy b e seventeenth-century master-craftsman opposite th n O e. wall plastee th , r s bee t bacha n cu displa o kt rooe yth f constructio exposiny nb hammer-beae gth m timbers wher walle e th the buil.e o t y ar n i t This Painted Gallery has been referred to as the 'chapel' but there are no records to substantiate that it was ever used as such. 3 Originally one long compartment, the Painted Gallery was, until restoration, divided into three rooms — only in the central smallest compartment of the three were there traces of the paintings, 1 Representation devotionae th f so l cult Fiv e ofth eAberdeenshir foun e e Woundb th o n dt i e sar e castles of Craig, Gigh Towied an t wer firso e th :tw et Gordon houses last-namee th , Barclada y stronghol d- bot h staunch Roman Catholic families (see Simpson , P.S.A.S.,D. . W , LXIV, 48-106). 2 Most post-Reformation tempera ceiling thif so s typ datable eperioe ar th o et d 1625—40, e.g. Stobhall Chapel; St Mary's Kirk, Pitcairn, Grandtully; Skelmorlie Aisle, Largs Kirk; Pinkie House, Musselburgh; Earlshall, Leuchars e PalaceTh ; , Culross (see Hay , ArchitectureG. , of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches (1956),

223 et seq.). Roberts3 , D., Innes Review, , 119v , claim havo t t si e bee nPopisa h chapel. R GEORGSI E SKEN E GUESTROWS HOUSE TH N I E , ABERDEE9 9 N although it had long been thought probable that they extended along the length of the top floor ceiling. Whe partitione nth falssw werelo ceilina soute d carefulltaked th an t hgt en a nou y removed, the complete timber vault, resplendent with colourful religious scenes painted in tempera on the boarding revealeds wa , . Manboarde th f yo s were missing, som beed eha n whitewashed overd an , other beed sha used n lathss splian d a seenp e u tb . ,w Almos ceiline completelno th n l gal tca w yne boarding having been inserted wher originae eth l painted board totalld sha y vanished wore f Th .ko piecing togethe ceiline rth g boarding required infinite patienc cared ean , whil clevee eth r restoration tempere oth f a paintwor successfulls kwa y accomplishe skile expertsf th o l y db e plasterwor Th . n ko the walls was renewed, except where traces of painting were discovered; part of this was preserved indicato t originae eth l l foustatal rf eo walls . Durin generae gth l restoration work, some interesting relics were discovered, including fragments of patterne fireplaceso d tw tile r o s e foun:on thest da e tiles appeare Netherlandf o e b o dt s origint bu , insufficient examples remained to reconstruct a complete tiled surround. A hand-written visiting car f Provosdo t Chalmers (whose year officf so e were 1738-4 d 1746-80an discoveres wa ) d among debris removed at the sixteenth-century fireplace on the first floor. Here also was found a George III penny of 1806, a piece of decorated eighteenth-century china and a miniature round brush with handle. 3. HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURAL EVOLUTION title-deede Th house propertth d f esan o chartee hele th yar n d i r Towe rooth f mno House: they date bac o 154kt 5 whe e oldesnth house t buils a parth f y ewa o tb t membe famile th f f Knollio yo r s (Knowle Knod an svariane xar te forms)ar o wh , frequently mentione accountn di burghaf so l affairs durin sixteente gth h century. The Knollis family evidently originated in Galloway: in 1465 James III granted lands there to Johan de K.nov?is familiari scutifero suo. By 1488, when he was granted lands at Westir-Essintulye (Ashentilly in Durris), John Knollis had become a burgess of Aberdeen. His son, also named John, was granted his late father's property in 1492, and in 1503 he also acquired the lands of Cults. In 1506, a second son, David, bought land on the west part of the Gallowgate, doubtless referring to the property on which the descendant of Johan de Knowis later built a toun-ludging: until the mid-seventeenth century, the present Broad Street was considered as part of the Gallowgate, and in 1500 the Guestrow was hardly separate from the Broadgait. Saiidris (Alexander) Knollis whof o , m ther mentios ei burghan ni l records 1531n i , apparently succeeded David Knollis. n 1545I e originath , l Knollis house, buil y Sandrib t s Knollis a simpl s wa e, rectangular building of no more than three floors, with perhaps an attic lit by dormer pitchee th n si d roof: built with gable facin streen e parallegd th ru e an t th o lt tenemente oth f , acces originalld sha y bee externay nb l (and possibly timber) fore- stair firssecond o st an t d floors t thiA s. period most Scots dwellings contained much timberin externan gi l stairs, balconie boarded san d gables, while roofing, despite eth constant fire danger, was almost invariably thatch. Portions of the Knollis house seee b nn presentodae ca th n yi t structure sturde th : y barrel vaults tracee d th ;ol f so first-floor windows (indicate relieviny db g arches), remove e late alloo th dt r wfo insertion of stair tower and turrets; the arched fireplace, now built up, at the east end of the hall; the two small square windows nearby; and the paving of the original hall. thif o wes e sd firsth en t tA hous extension ea same buils th newa o n t i styl d ean the same height: another barrel vault at ground level with access slapped through 100 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1958-59 e walth l fro e adjoininmth g vault withdrawina ; g room with well-preserved late sixteenth-century fireplac t firsea t floor; above tha bedchambera t south-ease th t a , t corner of which is a connecting door, now blocked by panelling, to the older house. This extension seems to have been added about 1570 by Alexander Knowis, son of Sandris Knollis, whose other son Gilbert was murdered in 1574 at the Causewayend by James Gordon, brother to the Laird of Abergeldie, and whose daughter Janet was the paramour of the worldly William Gordon, last pre-Reformation Bishop of Aberdeen whoo t , bore msh e three sonthred san e daughters. The sons of Alexander Knowis were David, apparently his heir (1582); William (1584) and George (1585). It was at the last date that the Guestrow ludging passed Alexandeo t r Duf Torriesoulf o f , e burgesth o t Aberdeenf t so pu n 159i s o 7wa wh , horn, i.edeclares wa . d rebe d outlaan l r non-paymenwfo f debtso t n 159I e . 8th House belonged to Thomas Bisset, burgess, and to George Bisset, whose son Robert is mentione 1601n di Bissete th , s remaining owners until 1610 when Peter Blackburn, Episcopalian Bishop of Aberdeen, bought the property and lived in the House until 1615. Bisho three pth f Blackbureo wisese mosd on s an t t nwa moderat e ministerf so the reformed Kirk appointed by James VI in 1600; in 1593 as a Master of Arts he was one of the witnesses who signed the foundation charter of Marischal College, where in 1598 he became a Dean of Faculty. In his tolerant outlook in an age of religious bigotism, he was a worthy predecessor of the liberal 'Aberdeen Doctors'. From 161 e owne th 5s Dunca wa r n Wilson until 1622, when Matthew Lumsden Roberf o n acquireso t e Lumsde th propertye s dth wa name e Clovaf e nth o H .d -an , s unclsakhi f eo e Matthew Lumsde f Tillycairno n e historiath , d genealogistnan . The heraldic dormer pediment dated 1626 indicates that Master Matthew Lumsden was the builder of the west wing, and the inclusion of the Lumsden arms in the painted ceiling indicates that the Gallery was commissioned by him. He was appointed Bailli regardes 163n wa i n 1634e i 'knowa e d 9h s da an , n Covenanter', being held as hostage by Lord Aboyne while his Guestrow house was used as billets for Royalist troops. In 1644 Baillie Lumsden was one of the many citizens of Aber- deen e disastroukilleth t a d s Justice Battlth f o ee Mills when Montrose gaineda victor kins lated hi gan r ry fo pillage burghe dth . By 1641 the House had passed from Lumsden to Alexander Simpson, from whom t cami e int possessioe oth f Williano m Christie (1651): three years later Alexander Davidson is mentioned as proprietor and by late 1654 Andrew Skene of Ruthrieston became owner. Skene was Dean of Guild in 1667: two years later he sold the Guestro whosn wma house bearnamth w o no et s t e i — George Skene. George Sken bors f Davio ewa n 161n i dt so Mil9a e f Pottertono lth s wa e h : seconSkenhis deand wif e Clari half-brothe sbroughhis Seatonwas by up tand , r David apprenticeo wh , Georgo t m dhi e Aedie Aberdonian a , n merchant tradinn gi Danzig. Like other Aberdonians before and after him, George Skene amassed a considerable fortune as a merchant in Poland, enabling him to acquire the estate of Wester Fintra 1666n yi 'ludgings hi , Guestroe th n i 'estate th w1669n i f d eo an , Rubisla moste th f o importan w1687n e i On . mostd an burge t th wealth n hi n yme latee th rn i seventeenth century Provoss wa e h ,t from 167 1685o 6t , Commissioner SIR GEORGE SKENE'S HOUSE IN THE GUESTROW, ABERDEEN IOI to the Three Estates in the years 1678, 1681 and 1685, and was knighted in Edin- burg Duke 168n th h i Yorkf ey o 1 b , later James VII. Provost Skene carried out major alterations to his Guestrow property, which he used as his town house while most of his days were latterly spent at Rubislaw House.1 By the improvements and reconstruction work which he made around 1670 to both Knollid frontage interiool e th e th Westh se d f housth ro an e td wingean , Skens ewa responsible for the architectural design of the house as we see it today. The master- mason who carried out the work is unknown, but John Montgomerie, the Old Rayne mason who built the Mercat Cross in 1688, may have been involved: the ornate stone carvin entrance th f go e doorwa strikingls yi y simila decoratioe th o e t r th n no Cross. The alterations made to the south frontage resulted in a more regular pattern of fenestration, window openings were enlarged square ,th e stair tower ove entrance rth e door replace originae dth l timbe staio rtw r forestair e turretth d san ,contribute o dt improved vertical circulation - the west turret also giving access to the Lumsden wing , spirad wherol e l eth stai r between seconfirsd an t d floor removeds e wa s th n I . interior the good pine panelling in most of the rooms (save in the second-floor suite, whic lates hi r work carrie s Skeney b )wa recurrent d dou an , t feature decoratee th n si d plaster ceilings are Restoration and Royalist motifs and emblems, including royal crowns, thistles, rose fleurs-de-lisd an s , which appear bot plasterworn ho k ceilings and in the relief carving enriching the entrance doorway. Heraldic devices in the shape of the coat-of-arms of Skene are executed in plasterwork and stonework. The platform roof constructio s leait dd coverinan n d beegha n execute n Provosi d t Skene's time, when more top-floor accommodatio gaines nwa thuy db s converting attice coveth d san d ceiling earliee th f so r house. possible Thith s si e explanatior nfo favourin flaga t roo againss a f traditionae th t l steep-pitch slating, unless therd eha been an intention to carry a balustraded parapet on a corbel-course round the wall-head — an intention which never became reality. It is probable that at this period the old pend which had given access through the Lumsden wing to the garden and Flourmill burn beyond, was blocked up, thus enlarging the ground-floor accommodation. s significani t r I GeorgSi f o te Skene's individuality that, despit e manth e y Renaissance house d classicaan s l style e mush s t have been conversants withi n hi journey t homa s d abroadan e e chosh , reconstruco t e s 'touhi t n ludginge th n i ' traditional Scots manner, onl e soutth y h front betrayin e influencgth f formao e l design. This would appear to be typical of the man - he disregarded the fashion in architecture preferree h , d heraldr conicad yan l turret spirad san l stairs r GeorgSi . e was frankl Royalista y supportea , e Stewarth f o r e latet a Scoth caus -n d i t an e medieval merchant-laird traditio y architectur1670-8d b ol n- e th 0 e whice h favoured was becoming outmoded. In 1694 he made over his Guestrow property to David Aedie, the husband of his half-brother's daughter — in 1698 it belonged to

mos1A t interesting seventeenth-century laird's house, buil Arthuy b t r Forbes garde(1675e th - )n contained the Earl Marischal's sundial, now at Schivas House, Aberdeenshire. The House of Rubislaw was demolishe 1886n di . 102 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1958-59 David Aedie junior. 1707 was the year of Sir George Skene's death - he was buried Rubislae th n i w family burial plact NicholaS n ei s Kirkyard. e Aedith f eo family'd en e sth ownershit A n 1732pi e wholth , e mansios nwa divide partso ease tw th ,n dt i house being entere maie th ny d b doorwa separated yan d from the west portion by the masonry wall which had been the west gable of the 1545 house e wesTh .t house, enteree fligh th f ston o y t db e forestairs consistee th f o d Lumsden wing and the rooms entered off the east side of the turret stair. Alexander Thomson of Banchory was the owner of the west house from 1732 to 1776, and it was during this period that the whole mansion was occupied by the Duk f Cumberlaneo stafs hi f d previoud an Battle th f Cullodeno est o e housTh . e was commandeere 27tn do h February 1746 whe 'Bluide nth y Butcher' (the epithet given him by the Highlanders) entered Aberdeen. Cumberland's troops were billeted e incompletth n i e Gordon's Hospital, renamed Tort Cumberland'f o s i t i d an , interest that Major James Wolfe, later the General who captured Quebec, was one e Duke'oth f s officers, being aide-de-cam o Generat p l Hawley e Duks Th . wa e 'guest' in Thomson's house and Hawley and Wolfe in the east house, where Mrs Gordo Hallheaf no tenante th sta e s thesf yTh o d.wa e gentlemen occasioned bitter complaints fro displacee mth d occupant claimeo wh s d that provision liquord an s , and many valuables, were plundered from their houses. The Town Council, on the other hand, endeavoured to find favour with His Royal Highness by presenting him with the freedom of the city before he left the town on 8th April. It cannot now be established whether it was because of this latter honour or because of the above- mentioned charge f dishonouo s r thae mansioth t n became familiarly knows a n 'Cumberland House' for the succeeding two hundred years. From 1732 till 173 e ownee eas8th th tf o housr Georgs ewa e Keith, advocate, during whose occupancy the pillared fireplace and adjacent panels of the dining excellene th halld an , t panelled secon e worth n ki d storey suit apartmentf eo d sha been executed intricate Th . e oil-painted panellin smallese th gn i t chamber adjoining e als f thiar o s period, being contemporar feelinn yi g with similare worth n ki 'primitive' Scottish landscape style of James Norie of Edinburgh (1684-1757). Other eighteenth-century proprietors of the house were John Douglas from 1738 to 1748, Patrick Soupe f Auchlunieo r s from 174 o 17628t , thereafter William Thorn until 1795 and Mrs Mary Thom until 1808. In 1776 Alexander Duthie, advocate, acquired the west house, and his son Alexander Duthi f Ruthriestoeo n acquire e easdth t hous n 1808ei . Another son, James Duthie, solicitor in London, became owner of the whole mansion in 1832. The porch built to enclose the west wing forestairs would date from about the end of the eighteenth century, during the ownership of Alexander Duthie, advocate. The property remained in the hands of the Duthies - a legal family - until 1885. Walter Duthie, owner from 1844 to Writea JSigne 87othe was Edinburg, to rin t h and it was during his ownership that the building became a House of Refuge some time before 1857. Alexander Duthie, an Aberdeen advocate, was owner from 1870 to 1878, when it passed to his sister, Miss Elizabeth Duthie (who granted the Duthie

Park to the city). In 1879^e leased the building as the Victoria Lodging House, s SIR GEORGE SKENE S HOUSE IN THE GUESTROW, ABERDEEN 103 the proprietor from 1885 until 1926 being John Lyall Grant, an Aberdeen merchant. In 1926 the City Corporation of Aberdeen bought the house and left it standing while the surrounding slums. of the Guestrow closes were demolished in the early nineteen-thirties. The House was saved from destruction only after long controversy, thoscampaigneo wh e s retentioit r dfo n includin e lat r Williagth eD m Kelle yth architect, and many others interested in the Aberdonian heritage of architecture, and history. Nothin f restoratiogo s actuallnwa y done, althoug e Offichth f Worko e s (noMinistre wth Worksf yo Edinburgn i ) h submitte dcompleta e restoration scheme as early as July 1933. The building remained as a common lodging house until October 1951 when restoration work finall e begab o t y n - complete yearo dtw s later. The complete restoration scheme was the responsibility of the City Architect to the Corporatio Cite Aberdeenth f yo f ngenerae o th d e lan , th wor carries y b kwa t dou Corporation Works Department under his supervision. Restoration and preservation proceeded with the assistance, interest and advice of some of the staff of the Ministry of Works, whose officials made the preliminary investigations, and whose experts, including the late John Houston, A.R.I.A.S., worked on the Painted Gallery ceilings, decorative th e plasterwor carvee th d dk an stonework . decides wa t I d tha t wouli t d com t Gallere Ar unde e care yth rf th Committe eo e as a Period House, to be used to display seventeenth- and eighteenth-century furni- ture, the top floor becoming a local history museum. r GeorgSi e Skene's Mansio e Guestrowth n i n s restoratioit , n completes wa , r openeMajestHe y db y Queen Elizabet e Queehth n Mothe 3Otn o r h September

APPENDIX

BIBLIOGRAPH REFERENCD YAN E WORKS

(1) Anderson, P. J. (ed.), Charters and other Writs of the Royal Burgh of Aberdeen (1890). (2) Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis (Sp. Club, 1845). (3) Title-Deeds of Sir George Skene's Mansion. (4) Corporatio e Cit th Aberdeenf yf o no , Official Guide (1953). (5) Trans. Aberdeen Eccles. Soc., Part V (1890). (6) Fraser, G. M., Historical Aberdeen, 153 et seq, (7) Burr, G. G. and Munro, A. M., Old Landmarks of Aberdeen, 17-20. (8) Lawrance, R. M., The Skene Mansion (1933). (9) Percy, W. S., Artistic Aberdeen (1932). (10) Wyness , 'ProvosF. , t Skene's House', Weekly Scotsman, 24th September 1953.