Aedie's House Site

Where Aberdeen’s Past Lingers

Standing on The Green in Aberdeen, the site of Aedie’s House is a quiet, unassuming patch of ground that once held a substantial 16th‑century townhouse. Built around 1604 by Andrew Ædie, a maltman and burgess of the city, this house stood for over three centuries on the north side of The Green, near the corner of what was once Aedie’s Wynd (later Aedie’s Brae). Though the building itself was demolished in 1914, its footprint and story remain embedded in the city’s fabric, visible in old maps, street names, and surviving carved stonework that once adorned its dormer windows.

A Family at the Heart of Old Aberdeen

The Ædie family were prominent figures in early modern Aberdeen, with Andrew Ædie and his descendants playing roles in the city’s civic and commercial life. The house served as both a family home and a symbol of status, reflecting the wealth and standing of its owners. One surviving carved stone from the house bears the initials AE and CG, standing for Andrew Ædie and his wife Christian Guthrie, a tangible link to the people who once lived here. Over time, the house became known as Aedie’s Lodging, a name that persisted in local memory long after the structure was gone.

From Medieval Green to Modern City

The Green itself is one of Aberdeen’s oldest urban spaces, originally lying just outside the medieval town walls and later becoming a key part of the expanding city. Aedie’s House stood in this historic zone, close to St Nicholas’ Church and the old Bow Bridge over the Denburn. Its location speaks to the transition from a small burgh to a bustling 19th‑century port city, with Union Street’s later construction reshaping the surrounding streetscape. Today, the site is part of a busy urban environment, yet it quietly preserves the memory of Aberdeen’s early modern domestic and civic architecture.

Stories Etched in Stone and Memory

Beyond the Ædie family, the area around The Green is steeped in local lore. Nearby, a building once known as Aedie’s House (or Aedie’s Lodging) was reputed to have been used in the 18th century as a holding place for children kidnapped for the transatlantic slave trade, including the famous Peter Williamson. While this refers to a different, later building, the association underscores how the name and memory of Aedie’s House became intertwined with Aberdeen’s complex social history. The site today invites visitors to reflect on the layers of stories—personal, civic, and sometimes troubling—that lie beneath the modern streets.

Visiting the Site Today

What remains of Aedie’s House is a marked location on The Green, not a standing building, so the experience is one of historical imagination rather than grand architecture. Visitors can stand on the spot, read any nearby information, and trace the old street patterns that once framed the house. It’s a place best appreciated with a sense of Aberdeen’s history, perhaps combined with a walk through the surrounding historic core, past St Nicholas’ Church and along the old routes that once led to the Bow Bridge and the Dee. The site is easily accessible and fits naturally into a broader exploration of Aberdeen’s past.