Aberdeen, Chanonry, St Machar's Cathedral. General view of watch-house from South.
AB 2401
Description Aberdeen, Chanonry, St Machar's Cathedral. General view of watch-house from South.
Date 15/5/1969
Catalogue Number AB 2401
Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images
Copies SC 536305
Scope and Content Watch-house, St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen St Machar's Cathedral is probably the fourth church on this site and mostly dates to the 15th century. It was damaged during the Reformation and ransacked by Cromwell's troops for stone to fortify Castlehill in 1650. The steeple collapsed in 1688. At the end of the 18th century, due to the growth in medical education, there was a demand for fresh corpses for study. To prevent the activities of body-snatchers, 'watch societies' guarded the grave-yards from watch-houses or watch-towers. Old Aberdeen, originally 'Kirkton of Aberdon', grew up around St Machar's Cathedral, built for the Bishopric established in 1125-30. It was eventually absorbed by the royal burgh, 'New Aberdeen', centred on the harbour at the mouth of the River Dee. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.
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