IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Broad Street, ABERDEEN, AB10 1AF

The A-listed (see: http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2200:15:0::::BUILDING:20096 ) 80 metre tower as seen from Queen Street.

Viewed from inside the quadrangle.

The ornate granite tower is within the quadrangle of Marischal College. The college is scheduled to become Aberdeen's new Town House, replacing the monstrous St Nicholas House across the road on Broad Street (behind camera).

Inside the courtyard. Friends, parents and other relatives queuing to watch the Aberdeen University graduation ceremony.

The Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and also acts as the chairman of the University Court. Traditionally in the run-up to the election of a new Rector by students, those supporting the different candidates would take part in a 'rectorial battle'. In 1975 the battle took place in the quadrangle of Marischal College, between supporters of the actor Iain Cuthbertson [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5714489] (who was subsequently elected Rector for three years) and a student at the university (I seem to recall he was called 'Ben'). The aim of the battle was to get the opposition's flag from its position about ten feet up on the wall of the quadrangle. It was definitely a good idea to wear old clothes for the battle - 'ammunition' included water, soot and flour bombs and even offal (including cow's lungs from the local abattoir). Those were the days!

This one-way street connects Gallowgate and West North Street (the A96 inner ring road).

...at the corner of Gallowgate and Littlejohn Street.

The Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and also acts as the chairman of the University Court. Traditionally in the run-up to the election of a new Rector by students, those supporting the different candidates would take part in a 'rectorial battle' [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5714475]. In 1975 the battle took place in the quadrangle of Marischal College, between supporters of the actor Iain Cuthbertson and a student at the university (I seem to recall he was called 'Ben'). The aim of the battle was to get the opposition's flag from its position about ten feet up on the wall of the quadrangle. 'Ben' supporters were triumphant in the battle, but Iain Cuthbertson was subsequently elected Rector for the next three years.

Marischal College (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marischal_College ), abandoned by the University of Aberdeen, has undergone a massive (ca. £65 million) refurbishment to become the new main office complex for Aberdeen City Council. The external granite has been cleaned and restored to its pristine condition of 100 years' ago. A magnificent (if rather conservative) civic statue of Robert the Bruce (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_Bruce ) has been placed outside the main entrance. Robert granted Aberdeen its (Scottish!) Royal Burgh status in 1319 and established the Common Good fund of Aberdeen (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Good_Fund ) which continues to support civic and charitable activities in the City.