Major Fires in Aberdeen
The New Market at Aberdeen was totally destroyed by fire on April 29, 1882. The fire broke out in the vicinity of a basket store and in a few minutes, the whole storey was in a blaze. Although there were 100’s of persons in the building at this time, they were mostly got out safely in 10 minutes. The firemen managed to get the mastery over the flames in about 2 hours, but it was not till the morning the fire was extinguished. The total loss will amount, according to the latest accounts, to £100,000. The buildings were the largest and most magnificent of. It’s 
kind in Scotland, and stand between Market-Street and the Green. They were built in something like cathedral style square in front to Market Street, and semicircular to the Green, and were opened in 1812. The property belonged to a joint-stock company, and cost about £40,000. The great hall, or nave, was over 300ft long and 100ft broad, by 50ft high, and had galleries, basement, and sunk floors, with vaults beneath, used as bonded stores. The galleries were occupied by shops and stalls for the sale of fancy and light goods. Although several persons were reported missing in the course of the night, and it was feared they had perished, the actual casualties are not likely to be numerous. At dawn the following morning the firemen came upon the frightfully-charred body of a man one of the galleries. The remains were identified as those of a porter who was assisting at a stall when the fire broke out. No other bodies have yet been discovered. Several firemen were injured.
There were disastrous fires at the East Church, New Market, Milne’s Woodyard (Blackies Quay), Palace Theatre, etc., etc. To my mind, however, the grandest conflagration I ever saw, from a spectacular point of view solely was that at Miller’s Chemical Works, one night in the early 1850‘s, during the provostship of the late Sir Thomas Blaikie. An alarm got out that the Bannermill was on fire. It turned out, however, to be the chemical works. From the inflammable nature of the materials burning, great dense clouds of smoke rose in the air, and every now and again the flames rose up through the smoke. Great fears were entertained that the gasometers dose at hand would explode, and the Lord Provost himself and a number of the Magistrates and Councillors worked at the fire boss the whole night. For a week some of the liquid could not be handled.
Fit a’ Sicht!
In 1874 a fire destroyed the East Church of St Nicholas and the old central tower with its lead-clad timber spire and its fine peal of 9 Bells, 1 of which, Laurence or “Lawrie”, was 4 ft (1.2 m) in diameter at the mouth, 3.5 ft (1.1 m) high and very thick. The Church was rebuilt and a massive granite tower erected over the intervening aisles, a new peal of 36 bells, cast in the Netherlands being installed to commemorate Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887. These were replaced in 1950 with a Carillion of 48 bells, the largest in the UK.
Peoples Palace Hotel 1896
Flames Break Oat During the Progress of an Evening Performance.
Three Dead Bodies Taken From the Ruins of the Building.
30th Sept. 1896.— During the progress of the performance at the People’s Palace Theatre this evening fire broke out and the audience was thrown into a panic and made a rush for the exits. A number of those present were severely burned, and many were crushed in the wild endeavours of the frantic crowd to reach the streets. It is said that at least 40 persons were injured, 4 fatally, while a number of others who are known to have been in the theatre when the fire started are reported to be missing. The building was completely gutted by the flames. Three bodies have been found in the ruins of the theatre and fears were entertained that the search will result in the discovery of others.
Distillery Fire
There have been several Distilleries in Aberdeen including the North of Scotland Distillery in Union Glen that was destroyed by fire in 1904. Over 88,000 gallons of whisky, valued at 1/6d per gallon, was lost and total damage was estimated at £108,000. The distillery near the Hardgate belonged to Daluaine-Talisker Distilleries Ltd. and burned for over 12 hours. It is believed that a workman accidentally started the fire whilst trying to repair a barrel. Soon a blazing stream of spirit poured from the bonded warehouse down to the Ferry Hill Burn and the City sewage system. The scene was described as a perfect inferno with the spirituous flames almost free of smoke, belching forth with ever increasing fury. Leaping from the ground ‘as from a huge Christmas pudding … the flames swirled and twisted with lightning like rapidity into the most extraordinary forms imaginable’.
Palace Hotel 159 Union Street and 9 Bridge Street after the fire in 1941 that sealed its fate looking from the Bank premises diagonally opposite and down Bridge Street. The hotel was built in 1874 for Messrs Pratt and Keith, milliners, who occupied the street level area. It operated as one of a chain of LNER hotels. Its upper stories were destroyed by fire on 31 October 1941 with loss of life, and the building was entirely demolished after the war. It was claimed as damaged beyond repair by the fire during which 6 staff lost their lives (5 Chambermaids). It may be that post war austerity had a hand in the decision and or the dated aspects of the interior yet the magnificent granite facade was intact. The fire started in the Grill Room which was to the right of the Main Entrance (see below). Final demolition took place in 1950 for the C&A Modes Building – now a Travelodge. The Palace Hotel had been a North of Scotland Railway Hotel from 1891 and was taken over by the LNER in 1923. Other Ground floor Tenants were A M Mackie and James Lorimer & Son, French, and English boot and shoe saloon. Palace Buildings.
Doric Columns 