Woodside, Aberdeen

Woodside is part of the city of Aberdeen. It came into existence as a quoad sacra parish within the parish of Old Machar in 1834, under an act of The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland of 31 May 1834 (IX. Sess. 10, 31 May 1834. – Declaration Enactment as to Chapels of Ease), and was named for the principal residence of the area, Woodside House.

Within this parish which was bounded to the north by the River Don there were three villages, Woodside, Tanfield and Cotton (also known as Nether Cottown). Its population in 1841 was 4,893 living in 440 houses. By 1868 it had become a police burgh and the community was being described as a village in its own right (distinct from the quoad sacra parish of which it was the largest part), and a suburb of Aberdeen. It was part of the Aberdeen Burgh Parliamentary constituency.

By 1881, it had developed into a community of 5,452 (the population of quoad sacra parish population growing to 5,928). It had its own separate post office, a railway station, paper works, a free library, a public school, and a number of churches of various denominations. Ten years later, in 1891 it, (along with Old Aberdeen and Torry) was formally incorporated into the city of Aberdeen.

Woodside Primary School

Woodside Primary School is a nursery and primary school run by Aberdeen City Council that takes children from the ages of 3 to 11. It currently has around 360 primary (P1-7) pupils and 80 nursery pupil

It was originally built as replacement for a much smaller school which had been built in 1834. It consists of a main granite building, originally built in 1890 and expanded in 1902, and a separate smaller building and garden for the nursery aged pupils. It is located in Woodside at the corner of Clifton Road with Smithfield Road, opposite the Aberdeen March Stones numbered 51 and 52. The current head teacher is Mrs. Alison Cook.

File:SchoolBuilding.JPG, Woodside Primary School
File:Dux Board.JPG, Woodside Primary School Dux Board
File:Woodside School 1890 date.jpg, The first part of the school was built in 1890
File:Woodside School 1902 date.jpg, The school was extended in 1902

Woodside Library

Designed by the architect Arthur Clyne, the library was built in 1882.

It used to be called Anderson library after Sir John Anderson, who was born and raised in Woodside. It is a large granite building styled like a church.

File:Library2.JPG, Woodside Library on Clifton Road
File:Library_Date_(Medium).JPG, Date on the library building

Stewart Park

Stewart Park lies between Smithfield Road and Hilton Road. It is a large park with tennis courts, a play area, golf putting, playing fields, whale bones and a fountain.

File:SP Fountain.JPG, Stewart Park Fountain
File:Whale Bones.JPG, Stewart Park Whale Bones
File:StewartPark.JPG, Stewart Park Playing Fields

March Stones

There are 67 "March Stones" around Aberdeen. King Robert I ("Robert the Bruce") gave the people of Aberdeen the land around the city in thanks for helping him in 1313. This land was known as the Freedom Lands of Aberdeen, and the March Stones mark the boundary.

The March Stones start with Alpha and end with Omega. The route around them is approximately 26 miles long. Woodside March Stones are numbered 50, 51 and 52. March Stone 50 is located close to Station House Media Unit, and Stones 51 and 52 near Woodside School.

File:Boundary Stone 50, Aberdeen.jpg, alt=an aberdeen boundary stone, March Stone 50 on Don Terrace
File:March stone 51.JPG, March Stone 51 on Clifton Road
File:March stone 52.JPG, March Stone 52 on Smithfield Road

The Church

There used to be three churches in Woodside, the North and South Churches and the Congregational Church which was on Great Northern Road. The North Church is now a block of flats. Choirs, drama groups, dances, musical nights and concerts were held there.

Woodside Parish Church, the Church of Scotland parish church for the area, is located in the middle of Church Street. It is to close at (or around) Easter 2023 (9th April 2023) with the church and halls being put on the open market for sale. The congregation will most likely agree to a union (merger) with the neighbouring High Hilton Parish Church on Hilton Drive. The new formal name for the united congregation, effectively a new church, will be "Aberdeen:Hillside Parish Church of Scotland" and it is likely to be known as "Aberdeen:Hillside Parish Church".

There is a Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church, on Don Street, just behind the Tesco Express on Great Northern Road.

Woodside Railway Station

In 1858, A station was opened in Woodside on the drained bed of the old Woodside Canal, six miles from Aberdeen Joint Station. It was built to encourage people to move from Aberdeen city centre, enabling them to travel to work. The suburban service ended in 1937 with the closure of all its stations, though the now derelict platform can still be seen by trains passing by on the line, which remains open.

Gallery

File:WoodsideFlats.JPG, Woodside North Church, now flats
File:Woodside Church.JPG, Woodside Parish Church

In Woodside Parish Church today are youth clubs, the Boy's Brigade, Girl Guides and indoor bowling.Woodside Church
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References

External links

Station House Media Unit

Woodside Parish Church

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Areas of Aberdeen
Burghs