Josh Banks
@tramfires.bsky.social
Short-sighted gable gazer from Old Aberdeen, posting on antiquities and topography anent the Scottish burghs.
#Woodside A curious stone, by 324 Clifton Road, marking the death place of the Rev. Robert Forbes of Woodside Free Church (died 21 October 1859, erected February 1894).
October 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
#Woodside A curious stone, by 324 Clifton Road, marking the death place of the Rev. Robert Forbes of Woodside Free Church (died 21 October 1859, erected February 1894).
#Aberdeen A skewputt for James Dyce (of Badentoy), wigmaker, in the relict* gable of 59-60 Castle Street. In 1770 he wed Jean, daughter of Baillie William Fordyce of Achorthies of kidnapping infamy. He died Christmas Eve 1791, and is interred with his mother and brothers in St Nicholas kirkyard.
![Inscription on upper left half of a chest tomb slab. The entire left half reads: "[...] Deposited / The Remains of / [CH]RISTIAN CHASSER. / Spouse to JAMES DYCE / Late Farmer in the Parish of Bourtie / Who died the 10th April 1765 / Aged 63 Years / ALSO HER SONS / ALEXANDER DYCE / Merchant in Aberdeen, Who died / April 25th 1790, aged 52 Years / JAMES DYCE, Who died December 24th 1791, aged 57 Years / AND / ROBERT DYCE of Cuttlehill / Merchant in Aberdeen Who departed / this Life Novr 20th 1796, aged 6[.] / With him died the affectionate / Husband, indulgent Parent / And Poor Man’s Friend / ALSO / MAY DYCE, spouse to / the said ROBERT DYCE / Who departed this Life 26th February 1803, aged 70 Years / ALSO / WILLIAM DYCE of Cuttlehill / Physician in Aberdeen & / Son of the Above / ROBERT & MAY DYCE / Who died 10th March 1835 / Aged 65 Years. / ALSO THEIR DAUGHTERS / MAY DYCE / Who died Decr 20th 1850 / Aged 87 Years. / MARY DYCE / Spouse to JAMES GORDON / Merchant in Aberdeen, / Who died 11th February 1855 / Aged 89 Years."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mnqkk2tqwshbjno27iuljkrt/bafkreica72j2cxwyiybbgsj5ujtlf6lv3jm3pk5najtrvubc76ej3sm22i@jpeg)
August 20, 2025 at 11:18 AM
#Aberdeen A skewputt for James Dyce (of Badentoy), wigmaker, in the relict* gable of 59-60 Castle Street. In 1770 he wed Jean, daughter of Baillie William Fordyce of Achorthies of kidnapping infamy. He died Christmas Eve 1791, and is interred with his mother and brothers in St Nicholas kirkyard.
Weel-riggit ships #Aberdeen #TallShips
![Malcolm Miller [Cyprus] at 1748](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mnqkk2tqwshbjno27iuljkrt/bafkreidnzn7n746h5vt73eu74erbgjyamalconexs5cnruenxcxnzzyxyu@jpeg)
![BAP Union [Peru] at 1945, sailing to anchorage](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mnqkk2tqwshbjno27iuljkrt/bafkreifvelqtzofxteuaazv72yzbeqqjbuvsys5zdphjhcqfygcha6pqjm@jpeg)
![Corsaro II [Italy] at 2008](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mnqkk2tqwshbjno27iuljkrt/bafkreig5nnj5i5b5knsakbu2rrztquih5gpfqyzk5r2ukv5vlcd5i5u5le@jpeg)
![Fryderyk Chopin [Poland] at 2030](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mnqkk2tqwshbjno27iuljkrt/bafkreigzdzkp65yvzfszmea5nk3ecb7mhhb5stk3qsvgsbg6ybuu5tcnz4@jpeg)
July 16, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Weel-riggit ships #Aberdeen #TallShips
#Edinburgh Cavetto skewputts marking property limits at Gledstane's Land, Lawnmarket. "TG / BC" for proprietors Thomas Gledstane & Bessie Cunningham. The "trade mark" is described by John Geddie as "key and crescent" and HES as "saltire on vertical stem". I think the bowed part might be a staple.
July 8, 2025 at 9:01 AM
#Edinburgh Cavetto skewputts marking property limits at Gledstane's Land, Lawnmarket. "TG / BC" for proprietors Thomas Gledstane & Bessie Cunningham. The "trade mark" is described by John Geddie as "key and crescent" and HES as "saltire on vertical stem". I think the bowed part might be a staple.
Not sure what it stands for yet, but found another in the wall at Walker Park near the lighthouse.
June 20, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Not sure what it stands for yet, but found another in the wall at Walker Park near the lighthouse.
#Aberdeen Some Gallowgate sketches from the Bon-Accord magazine. #1, a corbelled wing in Plasterer's Court, No. 70; #2, an anonymous tenement; #3, Mar's Castle pending Reid's Place, No. 144 digital.nls.uk/scotlands-ne...
June 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
#Aberdeen Some Gallowgate sketches from the Bon-Accord magazine. #1, a corbelled wing in Plasterer's Court, No. 70; #2, an anonymous tenement; #3, Mar's Castle pending Reid's Place, No. 144 digital.nls.uk/scotlands-ne...
The second, in the vestigial wing of Viewbank House at the International School, is from 62/64 Shiprow, cleared 1876 for Trinity Congregational Church. It may betoken John Stewart & Christen Erskine in 1692, but the 1633 sill of the houssing beckons back further (as may the tusks of the port, r.)
May 18, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The second, in the vestigial wing of Viewbank House at the International School, is from 62/64 Shiprow, cleared 1876 for Trinity Congregational Church. It may betoken John Stewart & Christen Erskine in 1692, but the 1633 sill of the houssing beckons back further (as may the tusks of the port, r.)
The first is on Flourmill Lane, hailing from atop the pend/yett to Galen's, later Shepherd's Court, 18, renumbered 21 Guestrow, the home of advocate Androw Thomsone & Agnes Divie in 1673. This house and its drum tower were swept up in the clearances of 1930, pend and panel alone surviving.
May 18, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The first is on Flourmill Lane, hailing from atop the pend/yett to Galen's, later Shepherd's Court, 18, renumbered 21 Guestrow, the home of advocate Androw Thomsone & Agnes Divie in 1673. This house and its drum tower were swept up in the clearances of 1930, pend and panel alone surviving.
#OldAberdeen This neat wee fella has kept watch over College Bounds for 255 years. (№ 2, the vestigial gable)
January 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
#OldAberdeen This neat wee fella has kept watch over College Bounds for 255 years. (№ 2, the vestigial gable)
The only example that comes to mind in Aberdeen is Holburn Mansions, four tenements at 17/39 Holburn Street. The name persists on the transom of the corner building.
December 20, 2024 at 1:45 PM
The only example that comes to mind in Aberdeen is Holburn Mansions, four tenements at 17/39 Holburn Street. The name persists on the transom of the corner building.
#Aberdeen Stones in Seamount Place from the east side of the Gallowgate between Littlejohn Street & Porthill Close. The topmost seems to betoken Skipper Daniel Farquharson & his wife Elisabeth Innes, wed 1714, who got sasine of William Souper's tenement in "vici furcarum", the Gallowgate, in 1716.
![Built into a wall, a lintel inscribed "D F ⚓ E I" surmounting three smaller stones, likely skewputts, respectively inscribed "1764 / W·L", "[?] M / J67[8 or 9]" & "1777 / A·M / H·F"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mnqkk2tqwshbjno27iuljkrt/bafkreicbbhk4f6uqglhlc6zsjxlr7td4ehuvkdxixuobxskrhbyh7c7ngi@jpeg)
December 15, 2024 at 5:54 PM
#Aberdeen Stones in Seamount Place from the east side of the Gallowgate between Littlejohn Street & Porthill Close. The topmost seems to betoken Skipper Daniel Farquharson & his wife Elisabeth Innes, wed 1714, who got sasine of William Souper's tenement in "vici furcarum", the Gallowgate, in 1716.
Spotted today round back, this skewputt betokens Andrew Affleck, namesake of nearby Affleck Street, sometime convener of the trades & another deacon of the Shoemakers.
Early plans don't show a house here so I'm keeping an open mind on the stones' provenance.
Early plans don't show a house here so I'm keeping an open mind on the stones' provenance.
December 1, 2024 at 7:24 PM
Spotted today round back, this skewputt betokens Andrew Affleck, namesake of nearby Affleck Street, sometime convener of the trades & another deacon of the Shoemakers.
Early plans don't show a house here so I'm keeping an open mind on the stones' provenance.
Early plans don't show a house here so I'm keeping an open mind on the stones' provenance.
#Aberdeen At first glance 34 Marywell Street seems like just another late C20 build, but the dormers, lum & 1755 skewputt suggest otherwise.
"W S" may be William Shepherd, deacon of the Shoemakers trade in the 1750s, which laid out the street on the Marywell Croft c.1809.
"W S" may be William Shepherd, deacon of the Shoemakers trade in the 1750s, which laid out the street on the Marywell Croft c.1809.
December 1, 2024 at 7:24 PM
#Aberdeen At first glance 34 Marywell Street seems like just another late C20 build, but the dormers, lum & 1755 skewputt suggest otherwise.
"W S" may be William Shepherd, deacon of the Shoemakers trade in the 1750s, which laid out the street on the Marywell Croft c.1809.
"W S" may be William Shepherd, deacon of the Shoemakers trade in the 1750s, which laid out the street on the Marywell Croft c.1809.
In the 1824/5 directory, Milne's Court, later Concert Court, is № 27. That would place № 25 wholly on the Gallowgate, several buildings south of the Vennel pend or St Paul Street corner.
November 23, 2024 at 6:32 PM
In the 1824/5 directory, Milne's Court, later Concert Court, is № 27. That would place № 25 wholly on the Gallowgate, several buildings south of the Vennel pend or St Paul Street corner.
G.M. Fraser has it as 1842 in "Aberdeen Street Names".
November 23, 2024 at 4:29 PM
G.M. Fraser has it as 1842 in "Aberdeen Street Names".
There does happen to be a vestigial skewputt nearby which might be of interest. It's needing a bit of TLC! It's worth noting that the wider St Paul Street wasn't laid out until about 1840ish. Its predecessor was Gordon's Wynd or the Vennel, entered by a pend from the Gallowgate.
November 23, 2024 at 2:45 PM
There does happen to be a vestigial skewputt nearby which might be of interest. It's needing a bit of TLC! It's worth noting that the wider St Paul Street wasn't laid out until about 1840ish. Its predecessor was Gordon's Wynd or the Vennel, entered by a pend from the Gallowgate.
Facing the building from the top deck of the car park, it's just to the left of the turret.
November 23, 2024 at 1:19 PM
Facing the building from the top deck of the car park, it's just to the left of the turret.
Keen to read that!
It's a great building. The stone at the back left skew (either a skewputt or a section of turret corbelling) suggests an even older origin. 1559? I've not figured out the initials yet: ? E/F & M ?
The front left skewputt is very worn, but it might bear the same initials.
It's a great building. The stone at the back left skew (either a skewputt or a section of turret corbelling) suggests an even older origin. 1559? I've not figured out the initials yet: ? E/F & M ?
The front left skewputt is very worn, but it might bear the same initials.
November 23, 2024 at 11:16 AM
Keen to read that!
It's a great building. The stone at the back left skew (either a skewputt or a section of turret corbelling) suggests an even older origin. 1559? I've not figured out the initials yet: ? E/F & M ?
The front left skewputt is very worn, but it might bear the same initials.
It's a great building. The stone at the back left skew (either a skewputt or a section of turret corbelling) suggests an even older origin. 1559? I've not figured out the initials yet: ? E/F & M ?
The front left skewputt is very worn, but it might bear the same initials.
#Aberdeen Fit fine wis "One Great Circle", a suite inspired by Stanley Robertson & played this afternoon at the Cowdray Hall by Fraser Fifield, Chris Stout & Catriona McKay. I've nae picture of that, so here's some Marischal rosettes instead. Also, Christmas market / Buith-raw is back, yay.
November 17, 2024 at 5:45 PM
#Aberdeen Fit fine wis "One Great Circle", a suite inspired by Stanley Robertson & played this afternoon at the Cowdray Hall by Fraser Fifield, Chris Stout & Catriona McKay. I've nae picture of that, so here's some Marischal rosettes instead. Also, Christmas market / Buith-raw is back, yay.
#Aberdeen On 4 August 1741, a fire broke out in a Broad-gait bakehouse. The damage is said to have compelled the council to legislate against wooden façades, prompting a flourishing of new granite tenements. I'll head to the Archives next year to get some particulars from the Council Registers.
November 16, 2024 at 4:04 PM
#Aberdeen On 4 August 1741, a fire broke out in a Broad-gait bakehouse. The damage is said to have compelled the council to legislate against wooden façades, prompting a flourishing of new granite tenements. I'll head to the Archives next year to get some particulars from the Council Registers.
Hullo! I'm interested in Aberdeen's antiquities, the auld streets, its buildings and their inscribed stones. My favourite kind of these is the humble skewputt, found at the foot of the gable, and overlooked by most. Four skewputts, four centuries. Faraboots?
November 15, 2024 at 4:19 PM
Hullo! I'm interested in Aberdeen's antiquities, the auld streets, its buildings and their inscribed stones. My favourite kind of these is the humble skewputt, found at the foot of the gable, and overlooked by most. Four skewputts, four centuries. Faraboots?