{"id":682,"date":"2024-12-10T09:52:03","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T09:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/connectedaberdeen.org\/woodside\/?p=682"},"modified":"2024-12-10T09:53:23","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T09:53:23","slug":"the-reconstruction-of-jacobs-ladder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/connectedaberdeen.org\/woodside\/2024\/12\/10\/the-reconstruction-of-jacobs-ladder\/","title":{"rendered":"The Reconstruction of Jacob\u2019s Ladder"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Jacob\u2019s Ladder was a steep set of steps leading from street level down to the bank of the River Don at Woodside, giving mill employees a short cut to a bridge on their way to and from work. It is now closed to the public and largely overgrown, but remains as a reminder of over 200 years of textile mills at Grandholm.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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It was recognised in 1911 by Aberdeen\u2019s Streets and Roads Committee that Jacob\u2019s Ladder was in a \u201cstate of disrepair.\u201d A report to the Town Council said that an agreement had been reached with the land owner to have new steps erected, which was approved at a cost of \u00a350. However, this project did not go ahead and the Evening Express <\/em>reported in 1915 that \u201cThe cement channel which used to carry water down the steep decline is choked at various places, and during the recent wet weather the rain has overflowed on to the pavement and roadway, making pedestrian traffic there very unpleasant.\u201d Finally, in 1920, Messrs J. and J. Crombie undertook to pay a substantial proportion of the reconstruction cost and by mid-1921 the work had been completed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Aberdeen Daily Journal of 23rd<\/sup> June 1921 published an article headlined as \u201cJacob\u2019s Ladder. New Stairway at Woodside Completed.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cWithin a stone-throw of the junction of Great\u00a0Northern Road and Deer Road, Woodside,\u00a0there has just been completed\u00a0a much-needed public improvement, which\u00a0is already giving considerable satisfaction\u00a0in the district. A new spacious and handsome\u00a0stairway now leads from the higher level\u00a0of Woodside to that of the picturesque white\u00a0bridge which spans the Don at this point, and\u00a0is so well known as Grandholm Bridge. The\u00a0long, straight, steep, and narrow stair known as\u00a0“Jacob’s Ladder,” which the new structure\u00a0replaces, has been a landmark for generations.\u00a0\u201cJacob’s Ladder,” however, was quite inadequate\u00a0for the traffic, and the need for an improved\u00a0and wider stair has long been clamant. This can be readily understood when it is mentioned\u00a0that between 1200 and 1500 workers\u00a0alone make use of it daily in passing to and\u00a0from their work at Grandholm Mills.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Jacob’s Ladder 2022<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The new stairway, which is built of reinforced\u00a0concrete, consists of three flights of\u00a0steps of easy rise, and is both handsome in\u00a0appearance and substantial in build. It is twice\u00a0the width of the old structure, and, as already\u00a0indicated, will be of great advantage to the\u00a0whole district. Without doubt the new stairway\u00a0is one of the most important improvements\u00a0effected in Woodside since its amalgamation\u00a0with the city. The cost of the erection of the\u00a0stair has been considerably over \u00a31,000, and\u00a0has been rendered possible by the generosity\u00a0and public spirit of Messrs J. and J.\u00a0Crombie, Ltd., of Grandholm Mills, who contributed\u00a0largely the scheme. Much credit\u00a0is due to the Streets and Roads Committee of\u00a0the Town Council, as also to the burgh surveyor’s\u00a0department, not only for the excellence\u00a0of the work, but also for the speedy completion\u00a0of such a much-needed and important public improvement.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A photo of the new steps accompanied this article and we also feature a photo of Grandhome Bridge, with Jacob\u2019s Ladder in the background, which is credited to The Silver City Vault.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Author: Alan Johnstone<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jacob\u2019s Ladder was a steep set of steps leading from street level down to the bank<\/p>\n