Housing

Photographer George R Donaldson

Date1930s

Object NameNegative

Mediumglass

ClassificationsScience And Technology

DimensionsOverall: Height: 8.8 cm, Width: 3.2 cm

AcquisitionPurchased in 1992.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS022345.1

Keywords

About MeStreet scene in Aberdeen in the 1930s. This has a very 18th-19th centuries feel to it, with the outside staircase (the forestairs) the tiled roofs and the rubble built walls. A great contrast to the granite tenements which were built round about 1900. These houses would have once formed part of the distinct Denburn community. In the 1780s it was described as a fine village. Shoemakers and weavers were to be found there as well as bleachfields and tanneries. By 1818 some of the buildings were being described as mean and very irregular. Gradually the village was absorbed into the larger city. By the 20th century many of the older properties had become slums with poor, if any, sanitation. The Council began to place closure orders against them. But the process of closure and clearance was slow and the shortage of housing was acute. In the 1930s over 25% of one room dwellings in the area were said to be overcrowded and in Aberdeen as a whole 10% of accommodation lacked an indoor fresh water supply and acceptable sanitation.