Some parts of Aberdeen have changed beyond recognition as the city has sprawled in recent decades. But it’s only really from above you can truly appreciate how the city has evolved. Aberdeen in the 1960s was a postwar city quickly enveloping surrounding farmland to cope with increasing populations. In the 1950s, new housing estates sprung up in Mastrick and Northfield, and the 1960s brought the ambitious Tillydrone development. But this was Aberdeen before oil, when change was at a more gentle pace. While newbuilds like the College of Commerce and the Gallowgate appeared on the skyline, a lot of the city’s built heritage remained.
In some of these aerial photographs, you can see the old prefabs – relics of Aberdeen’s postwar housing stock which lasted far beyond their intended lifetimes. Other photos show open spaces long since built over, lost streets, and some lost buildings. This was Aberdeen before shopping malls, but on the brink of change, as can be seen in the aerial photo of Broad Street when St Nicholas House was being erected. There’s something fascinating about Aberdeen from above: the regimented granite villas of the West End; pockets of industry dispersed throughout the city, then the circular planned housing at Torry. Perhaps you’ll spot your own house?
One interesting view is the 1968 aerial shot of Broad Street when Marischal College was still a university building. On the right, St Nicholas House was still under construction. You can see the Georgian buildings of Broad Street and Queen Street here before they were demolished in the 1970s. It’s fascinating to see the city in a state of transition, with old landmarks making way for new developments.
Another captivating image is the 1968 view of Mastrick looking west. The Lang Stracht Hotel at the bottom left with the Lang Stracht running to the top of the photograph. Mastrick Industrial Estate is in the centre before the Aberdeen Journals building was built. Summerhill Academy can be glimpsed at the top left. It’s a snapshot of a time before modern structures took over the landscape.
These aerial photographs provide a unique perspective on Aberdeen’s history and evolution. They capture a city on the cusp of change, with old buildings coexisting with new developments. Looking at these images, one can’t help but appreciate how far the Granite City has come and reflect on the passage of time. The transformation of Aberdeen over the years is both remarkable and intriguing, and these aerial views offer a glimpse into the past that is both nostalgic and enlightening.
