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Crumbling historic city boundary wall given new lease of life

A historic Aberdeen wall that once formed an integral part of the old city boundaries has been given a new lease of life in a major restoration project.

The ancient structure is located near Jack’s Brae, off Northfield Place, on the line of the old inner marches, the boundary of the crofts that once ringed the medieval Royal Burgh of Aberdeen.

It became dangerously unstable and started to spilt and lean after enduring two harsh winters. There was also a risk of it collapsing into the back gardens of properties at nearby Mackie Place.

Aberdeen City Heritage Trust, a charity established to care for the city’s historic built environment, stepped in when it became clear the wall needed urgent attention.

The Trust contributed £8,000 of the £55,000 required to make the structure safe. The rest of the money was provided by the City Council and the owners of a property in Mackie Place, who share responsibility for the wall.

Construction firm Chap carried out the work with professional input from David Chouman, a local architect who specialises in conservation projects. The wall has now been made structurally sound, while retaining the characteristics of the original.

Douglas Campbell, Project Officer for Aberdeen City Heritage Trust, said: “The Trust was delighted to support this vital project. We can rarely assist with the repair of walls but this one has the added interest of being both listed and at a significant historic location in the city. We are pleased that the wall will continue to bear testament to the ancient inner city boundary of Aberdeen into the future.”

Councillor Jennifer Stewart, a Director of the Aberdeen City Heritage Trust, said: “The historical significance of this wall cannot be understated. Aberdeen is a city rich in archaeology and architecture and it is essential that we maintain structures such as these to provide a glimpse into our past. The finished article is of an extremely high standard and the work commissioned by the City Heritage Trust ensures that this chapter in Aberdeen’s history continues to stand the test of time.”

Mr Chouman said he worked closely with Chap during the restoration. He added: “It was important for me that we did not just tear down the old wall and put up something that was completely unrecognisable. That meant taking some parts down brick-by-brick, numbering the bricks then rebuilding from there. We salvaged what we could but it was inevitable that some parts had completely perished.”

The exact date the wall was built is not known but a boundary in that location is shown on a map from a survey taken in 1789. The former boundaries of Aberdeen comprised the inner marches and outer marches. The outer marches defined a much larger area to the inner marches and were known as the freedom lands.

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