Aberdeen(The Granite Cite) - A City Guide
Introduction
Aberdeen (The Granite City) is Scotland's third largest city.
Aberdeen is the chief commercial centre and seaport in the
north-east of Scotland. It boasts the title of Oil Capital of
Europe thanks to the plentiful supply of crude oil in the North
Sea, and stands on a bay of the North Sea, between the mouths of
the rivers Don and Dee.
History
Aberdeen grew up as two separate burghs - Old Aberdeen at the
mouth of the Don and New Aberdeen, a fishing and trading
settlement where the Denburn entered the Dee estuary. The
earliest charter was granted by King William the Lion about
1179, confirming the corporate rights granted by David I. The
city received other royal charters later. In 1319, the Great
Charter of Robert the Bruce transformed Aberdeen into a property
owning and financially independent community. The city was
burned by Edward III of England in 1336, but was soon rebuilt
and extended, and called New Aberdeen. For many centuries the
city was subject to attacks by the neighbouring lords, and was
strongly fortified, but the gates were all removed by 1770. In
the 18th century a new Town Hall was built, elegantly furnished
with a marble fireplace from Holland and a set of fine crystal
chandeliers and sconces. The 19th century was a time of
considerable expansion. By 1901 the population was 153,000 and
the city covered more than 6,000 acres (24 km