Aberdeen, the principal city in the North of Scotland, situated on the coast of the German ocean, at the efflux inf the rivers Dee and Don, 127 m. N. E. from Edinburgh It has an obser- vatory ; in Ion. 2. 29. W. lat. 57. 9. N. Under the dftnomination of Aberdeen are comprehended two towns, distinguished as the Old and New, which, however, are almost united by their re- spective suburbs.
Aberdeen, Old, formerly Aherdon, in the parish of Old Machar, or St. Machar, is pleasantly situ- ated on an eminence near the mouth of the river Don, about a mile north of the New Town. It is of great antiquity, and was of some importance so long ago as 893, when, according to tradition, king Gregory the Great conferred on it some pe- culiar privileges, but no authentic records are ex- tant prior to 1154. By charter, the free burgess- es of the town are vested with the power of choos- ing their own magistracy, who are a provost,* 3 bailies, a treasurer, and council, with the deacons of 6 incorporated trades. The town consists chiefly of one long street. There is a neat town-house, a new building, and a Trades Hos- pital for decayed freemen and their widows, and a hospital for 12 poor men, founded by Bishop William Dunbar, in 1532. But the chief orna- ment of Old Aberdeen is the large and stately fa- bric of King’s College, founded by Bishop Elphin- stone, in 1494, situated on the S. side of the town. It is built round a square, with cloisters on the south side. The structure contains a chapel, li- brary, museum, common hall, and lecture-rooms, with a long range of modern houses, for the ac- commodation of the professors and students. The library and museum are well furnished. The old town, being formerly the seat of a bishop, had a most magnificient cathedral, first founded in 1154, but the present edifice was begun by Bishop Kin- niinonth, in 1357, and was 80 years in building; it was dedicated to St. Machar, hut like many others it fell a sacrifice to the religious frenzy of the reformers. Two very antique spires, and one aisle, which is used as a church, are all that is now left. In this cathedral there was a fine library, which was also destroyed. Over the Don at Old Aberdeen, there is a noble Gothic bridge, built by Bishop Cheyne, in 1281, of one arch, 67 feet span and 34 1-2 high from the surface of the river. On both sides it rests on a solid ledge of rock. The population of Old Aberdeen and parish was 3,901 in 1801, and 18,312 in 1821. |
Aberdeen, New, is the capital of the shire of Aber- deen. For extent, trade and beauty, it far exceeds any town in the north of Scotland. It is huilt on a gentle eminence, rising from a small hay, form- ed by the river Dee, over which there is an elegant bridge of 7 arches, rebuilt in 172a, the first having been built by Bishop Dunbar, in 1532. The streets are numerous, spacious, and well paved; the houses are huilt of granite, (from adjoining quar- ries) generally four stories high, remarkably neat and elegant, having almost universally, gardens in their rear. The whole town is about two miles in circumference, and in 1821 contained a popu- lation of 21,484. The municipal government is vested in a provost, 4 bailies, a dean of guild, treasurer, town-clerk, a town council, and 7- dea- cons of incorporated trades. The town is a royal burgh, and uniting with Aberbrothock, Brechin, Inverbervie, and Montrose, sends a member to parliament. New Aberdeen is graced with an elegant college, founded by George Keith, the Earl Marischal of Scotland, in 1593. Its other public buildings are the town-hall, market-house, the house of the Aberdeen Banking Company, a cross, an octagon building of curious work- manship, a dispensary, infirmary, and lunatic asy- lum, a poor-house, bridewell, gaol, and extensive barracks. An elegant street from the S. is con- tinued over an arch of cut granite, 132 ft. span, 29 in height, and 40 wide between the parapets. Aberdeen had formerly several religious houses ; besides the university, there is a respectable gram- mar school and several alms-houses, and upwards of 20 places for religious worship. The harbour was formerly dangerous, but has been rendered safe and commodious, by a pier 1,200 ft. in length, and 38 in perpendicular height; and the construc- tion of wet docks, authorised by an act of parlia- ment, in 1810. Aberdeen was formerly celebrated for the manufacture of knitstockings, and woollen fabrics generally, which, although still carried on to some extent, are now superseded in importance by the linen and cotton manufactures, which, in all their branches, are carried on to a great extent. There is a valuable salmon fishery in the Dee ; a considerable number of vessels are built at Aber- deen, and about 40,000 ton3 belong to it. It has several public breweries, rope works, iron foun- deries, &c. and three fairs annually on the 31st Jan. 3rd Wed. in June, and 13th of July ; a canal 19 m. in length to Inverary, contributes not a lit- tle to the advantage of both places.
Aberdeen, a county of Scotland, bounded on the N. W. by Banffshire, and the Deveron ; on the N. and N. E. by the German Ocean : on the S. by the co. of Kincardine, Forfar, and Perth; and on the W. by Elgin, and Inverness-shire. It is divided into 8 districts; the S. part is wild, rugged and mountainous, some of the hills rising to the height of 4,000 ft. above the level of the sea, covered in some parts, with extensive natural forests ; the N. part is bleak and barren ; but the midland parts of the co. are more fertile ; and since the period of 1786, have undergone improvements equal to any part of Scotland. Its rivers are the Dee, Don, Ythan, Bogie, Urie, Ugie, Cruden; and the Dev- eron, for many miles forms its boundary with the co. of Banff; all of which abound more or less, with salmon, and on the Ythan some valuable pearls have been found. Its mineral productions are various, but none of much note, except the granite, the exportation of which constantly em- ploys several 100 tons of shipping.
Aberdeen, p.t. Brown Co. Ohio, on the river Ohio, opposite Maysville.
Aherdour, a parish in the N. of Aberdeenshire, on the S. coast of Murray Frith. Pop. in 182L, 1,495 also another parish and village 2 m. W. of Burnt- island, in the co. of Fife, Scotland. Pop. in 1821, 1,489.
Aberford, a town in the W. riding of York- shire, 9 m. N. of Ferrybridge, on the direct road to Durham; it has a market on Wed. and 4 fairs annually. Pop. of the parish 900, of the town 579.
Aberffrow, a village pleasantly situate near the coast of Caernarvon bay, on the isle of Anglesea 9 m. W. of Llangefni, on the direct road from Bangor to Holyhead; it had formerly a palace, at which 11 Princes of Wales are said to have resided. It has 4 fairs annually, 7th March, Wed. after Trinity, 23rd Oct. and 11th Dec. Pop. in 1821, 1,204.
Abergavenny, a town of Monmouthshire, situ- ate at the confluence of the river Gavenny with the Usk, over the latter is a fine bridge of 15 |