Basic Site Details

Name: King's College
Town, district or village: Old Aberdeen
City or county: Aberdeen
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: B Listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Cost of simplified scheme which was executed: £13,773.

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Church  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 224, High StreetYesSacrist's House
Item 2 of 2High StreetYesNew Building

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 141825 Journal referenceRebuilding of front and other alterations
Item 2 of 141855  Two alternative schemes: Neo-Jacobean and Oxford Gothic (not built)
Item 3 of 141855  First plans for new library drawn up
Item 4 of 141859  Tudor gothic scheme (not built)
Item 5 of 1418591863 Simplified scheme built
Item 6 of 1418681870ConstructionLibrary built
Item 7 of 1418811884 Library extended
Item 8 of 141888 Restoration(?)Walls & gateways
Item 9 of 141894  Additions
Item 10 of 141896  East window on north side, restoration of tracery for Robertson Smith Memorial Window
Item 11 of 1419111912 New building
Item 12 of 141943  Bookstack
Item 13 of 141952  Wing connecting Library to Elphinstone Hall
Item 14 of 1419881991Alteration/conversionAlterations and additions to form visitor centre and cenference centre

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 23John SmithArchitect 1825 Rebuilding of front and other alterations
Item 2 of 23H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)Architectural practiceB1855 Two alternative schemes: Neo-Jacobean and Oxford Gothic (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) - not built
Item 3 of 23Robert MathesonArchitectB1855 Two alternative schemes: Neo-Jacobean and Oxford Gothic (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) - not built
Item 4 of 23H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)Architectural practiceC1859 Tudor gothic scheme (with `Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
Item 5 of 23Robert MathesonArchitectC1859 Tudor gothic scheme (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
Item 6 of 23H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)Architectural practiceD18591863Simplified scheme built (with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
Item 7 of 23Robert MathesonArchitectD18591863Simplified scheme built (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
Item 8 of 23H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)Architectural practiceE18681870Library (with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
Item 9 of 23Robert MathesonArchitectE18681870Library (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
Item 10 of 23H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)Architectural practiceF18811884Library extended (with Robertson as archtect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
Item 11 of 23Walter Wood RobertsonArchitectF18811884Library extended - as archtect for Scotland in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh)
Item 12 of 23Duncan & IronsideArchitectural practiceS1888 Walls and gateways
Item 13 of 23Thomas DuncanArchitectS1888 Walls and Gateways
Item 14 of 23Alexander Marshall MackenzieArchitectG1894 Addition
Item 15 of 23Alexander Marshall MackenzieArchitectH1896 East window on north side, restoration of tracery for Robertson Smith Memorial Window
Item 16 of 23Matthews & MackenzieArchitectural practiceH1896 East window on north side, restoration of tracery for Robertson Smith Memorial Window
Item 17 of 23A Marshall Mackenzie & SonArchitectural practiceI19111912New building
Item 18 of 23Alexander George Robertson MackenzieArchitectI19111912New building
Item 19 of 23Alexander Marshall MackenzieArchitectI19111912New building and gateway to new wing
Item 20 of 23Alexander James CruickshankArchitect 1943 Bookstack
Item 21 of 23George Angus MitchellArchitectJ1952 Wing connecting Library to Elphinstone Hall
Item 22 of 23George Bennett Mitchell & SonArchitectural practiceJ1952 Wing connecting Library to Elphinstone Hall
Item 23 of 23Edward TaylorArchitectS19881991Alterations and additions to old library form visitor centre and cenference centre - won Regebneration Award

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1King's College Centre Ltd Client for 1990s award

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

Child Structures

This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):
 Building NameNotes
Item 1 of 6King's College, Botany Department 
Item 2 of 6King's College, Elphinstone HallBuilt with stone salvaged from the demolition of Castle Newe. Original scheme by A Marshall Mackenzie, but when asked by Ian G Lindsay about the executed scheme, AGR Mackenzie replied that he 'could not say he was unconnected with it'.

The illustration is from a perspective prepared by Mr T Raffles Davison of a design prepared by Messrs A Marshall Mackenzie and Son, now shown in the exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. The hall is intended for examination as well as general purposes. The site adjoins the old chapel with the 15th century architecture of which it harmonises, and it is connected with the college by an arched cloister. It is built of Aberdeenshire freestone and is covered with Cumberland slates. The roof is of open timber of the hammer-beam type and the walls are panelled in oak. The buildings consist of a hall160 feet by 40 feet, having side rooms or classrooms, with kitchen and cloakrooms and in the basement there is accommodation for the students’ miniature rifle range. The cost is £30,000. [Builder 26 April 1929 p764]
Item 3 of 6King's College, Examination HallNot progressed. See also Elphinstone Hall
Item 4 of 6King's College, Malcolm Bulloch Bookcase 
Item 5 of 6Library Buildings, University of Aberdeen (King's College) 
Item 6 of 6University of Aberdeen, King's College Sports Pavilion 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Grant, David The Office of Works and the Renovation of the Scottish Universities, 1808-89   
Item 2 of 2RSA1911   414

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Aberdeen Evening Express7 December 1964  Obituary of George Angus Mitchell
Item 2 of 5Aberdeen Journal9 November 1825   
Item 3 of 5Aberdeen Journal27 August 1862   
Item 4 of 5Aberdeen Press and Journal8 December 1964  Obituary of George Angus Mitchell
Item 5 of 5Architect22 June 1888  Supplement

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 8Aberdeen University LibraryEdilis Committee Minutes 2 September 1896: AUL U 622
Item 2 of 8Courtesy of Edward TaylorInformation sent via email to Yvonne Hillyard Sent April 2011
Item 3 of 8Historic ScotlandListed Buildings Register20092 
Item 4 of 8Historic ScotlandListed Buildings Register20093New building of 1911-1912
Item 5 of 8Historic ScotlandListed Buildings Register20094Gateway to new wing
Item 6 of 8King's College Library, AberdeenPlans Plans dated 1855 (neo-Jacobean scheme); September 1855 (Oxford gothic scheme); May 1859 (Tudor gothic scheme); 1859 (scheme as built); 1855 First plans dated for library dated; 1868 Library plans dated
Item 7 of 8Marischal College LibraryPlans Plans for 1914 addtions and 1943 bookstack
Item 8 of 8Viewfield House, Old Perth Rd, Inverness (1990)A Marshall Mackenzie & Marr Office List (held by John G Marr in 1960)