| Description | The Rent Roll is a valuation of property held within the City of Aberdeen. Introduced by the City's Police Commissioners, its purpose was to enable a tax to be levied for "the better paving, lighting, cleansing and otherwise improving the streets etc; and for the removal and prevention of obstructions and annoyances" [35 GEO.III cap LXXVI]. Commissioners, elected from among the ranks of the Baillies, Guildry and Incorporated Trades, were charged with drawing up a Rent Roll of properties estimated at or above 25 shillings of yearly rent; where assistance in the valuation procedure was required, a jury could be summoned upon application to the Sheriff or his Substitute. In the first year of assessment, this was interpreted as including all tenancies of property whose aggregated estimated rent was 25 shillings, even though those below the threshold and those on parochial relief were not liable to pay the rate. Thereafter additional Commissioners were elected from among those whose annual rental was estimated at £10 or above by (male) occupiers or possessors of property valued at £5 or above.
The names of both the proprietors and the occupants of the properties are listed, along with details of their occupation, place of origin (when not resident principally in Aberdeen), and very often whether the property concerned is rented for residential or business purposes. The annual rental value of the premises is noted followed by the assessment made. CA/9/3/1/1-26 are arranged by quarter: Even, Green, Crooked, Footdee, with a separate section for the Fleshmarket area. CA/9/3/1/27-28 are arranged by Ward and Street.
One of the earliest descriptions of the quarters is given in J. A. Ross's "Municipal Affairs in Aberdeen, 1889", page 115:
"The Crooked Quarter runs from the top of the north side of Netherkirkgate taking in St. Nicholas Street and all the other parts of the Town west of the Gallowgate and Broad Street, including the west side of these streets, bounded on the south by the Green Quarter."
"The Even Quarter commences at the east end of Park Street and runs along the west side of that street, the north side of Justice Street and Castle Street, the east side of Broad Street, Gallowgate, and Mounthooly, including all the intermediate streets."
"The Footdee Quarter boundary commences at the east end of Park Street and runs along the east side of Park Street, the south side of Justice Street, Castle Street, the west side of Broad Street to Netherkirkgate, along Netherkirkgate to St Catherine's Wynd, crossing Union Street to Shiprow, along the east side of Shiprow to Market Street, thence along Market Street and the Quays to the New Pier."
"The Green Quarter boundary runs along the west side of Shiprow, Union Street on both sides westwards from Shiprow and St Catherine's Wynd, south side of Netherkirkgate, Correction Wynd, Back Wynd to Gaelic Lane, along the south side of Gaelic Lane to Belmont Street and Union Street, Union Terrace to the Chapel there, thence to Diamond Street, Golden Square, Huntly Street, Summer Street to Little Chapel Street, taking in the south side of Little Chapel Street, Chapel Street to Union Street, Thistle Street to Victoria Street West, and bounded on the south by the Inner Marches."
The first volume has been indexed, and the index entries are included in the online catalogue. |