New Aberdeen

Aberdeen or New Aberdeen was established by the time of King David I (1124-1153). St Nicholas Kirk, or the Mither Kirk, is thought to originate from before 1157, and was one of the largest medieval burgh kirks in Scotland.

Alexander II established a Merchant Guild in 1222 which through successive enactments was created a powerful organisation whose influence was to shape the life and fabric of Aberdeen.

Slezer’s View of New Aberdeen 1693. Reproduced by permission of the Trustees of the National Library of Scotland

Aberdeen developed around Castle Hill, St Katherine’s Hill and Gallowgate Hill. Castlegate was a commercial area from an early period.

Alexander I (1107-24) cited Aberdeen as one of 3 trading centres north of the Forth. By the end of the medieval period Aberdeen was one of the wealthiest burghs in Scotland.

Marischal College

Education played an important role in the life of New Aberdeen. Marischal College was founded in 1593. Both King’s College in Old Aberdeen and Marischal College put Aberdeen on the European map as an educational centre.