45-75 Gallowgate

E25

DescriptionA large excavation carried out in 1986 in the area of 45-75 Gallowgate took place before the construction of the Bon-Accord Shopping Centre recorded evidence of occupation from 1200 to the 19th century (see also NJ90NW0103 for earlier investigation 45-47 Gallowgate).

An industrial centre on Lochside included buildings, tannery, midden. Between October and December 1985, a trench was excavated in Chapel Court, prior to the demolition of buildings on the site.

Well-preserved archaeological remains were found, and a larger area was excavated, following the demolition of the surrounding buildings in 1986. The earliest activity on this site was the infilling of quarrying pits in the mid-13th century, followed by a large spread of midden, digging of cess pits and boundary ditches, and in the last quarter of the 14th century a tannery was established. Yard boundaries were established in the 15th and 16th centuries, perhaps marking the start of domestic building on the street frontages. Several stone buildings were erected in the 17th century, followed by demolition and rebuilding. In the early 18th century an episcopal chapel (NJ90NW0104) was erected on the site

This excavation in the Gallowgate has hinted at the possibility of various medieval industries, such as bronze casting and leather working, being based in the vicinity of the town loch on the west side of the Gallowgate. The finds from this site are in the collections of Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums. See also NJ90NW1167 for further work at Bon Accord Centre in 2007.
Location InfoNational Grid Reference: NJ 9412 0658
Easting: 394125.636190214, Northing: 806583.513464578
Postcode: AB25 1DP

Excavated trenches located modern day Marischal Square, Bon Accord and Littlejohn St. (Evans 2001)
NotesEvans, D H. (1986c) 'Gallowgate, 53-59, medieval burgh, industrial remains, kilns, chapel', Discovery Excav Scot, 1986. Page(s): 12-13 Murray, H. (1985) 'Excavation of 45-47 Gallowgate, Aberdeen', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol. 114, 1984. Page(s): 303-13 Murray, H. (1979a) '45-47 Gallowgate, medieval frontage', Discovery Excav Scot, 1979. Page(s): 11, No.65 Murray, H. (1979b) 45-47 Gallowgate, summary report, Aberdeen Archaeological Unit. Murray, J C (ed.. (1982a) , Excavations in the medieval burgh of Aberdeen 1973-81, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland monograph series no 2. Edinburgh. Page(s): 114 RCAHMS Shelf Number: E.13.11.MUR See Cameron, A. and Stones, J. (ed.) (2001). Aberdeen: An In-Depth View of the City's Past. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Monograph Series No. 19. 83-115, for a detailed account of the excavation. See also Dennison, E. and Stones, J. (1997). Historic Aberdeen. Edinburgh: Historic Scotland. 33-36, 40-45, for more context. Reference Numbers