Union Street, Aberdeen

Union Street, Aberdeen

Union Street is a major street and shopping thoroughfare in Aberdeen, Scotland.

It was built, along with the adjoining King Street, in the beginning of the 19th Century under plans suggested by Charles Abercrombie to provide an impressive entrance way into the city, and nearly bankrupted the city when it was built [ [1] ] . Union Street in particular was intended to provide an impressive approach into the city from the south (and west); previously the route had been somewhat circuitous.

The street is approximately one mile long and a feat of engineering skill involving the partial levelling of St. Catherine's Hill and the building of arches to carry the street over Putachieside.

The Denburn Valley was crossed by Union Street by Union Bridge (constructed 1801–05), which has a single span arch of 130 feet (40 metres).

Markets

The street is sometimes closed for the Saturday International Market, and on Sundays in December (in the run up to Christmas) when it holds a fair. At this time elaborate Christmas lights are displayed on gantries above and across the street.

Shops

Some of the large shops on, or accessed directly from Union Street include Marks and Spencer, H&M, Topshop, HMV, Waterstones and Debenhams. Shopping centres include the Bon Accord-St Nicholas Centre and The Mall Trinity. In addition there are bars and a number of night-clubs on the street, plus a former cinema building, and a grand façade fronting the churchyard of the Kirk of St. Nicholas.

Pedestrianisation

As of 2008, Union Street is expected to be pedestrianised from Union Terrace Gardens to the Castlegate.

References

# [http://www.aberdeenarchitects.org/WilliamKelly.htm Union Bridge and Union Street's construction]


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