Jacob’s 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.
It was recognised in 1911 by Aberdeen’s Streets and Roads Committee that Jacob’s Ladder was in a “state of disrepair.” 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 £50. However, this project did not go ahead and the Evening Express reported in 1915 that “The 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.” 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.
The Aberdeen Daily Journal of 23rd June 1921 published an article headlined as “Jacob’s Ladder. New Stairway at Woodside Completed.”
“Within a stone-throw of the junction of Great Northern Road and Deer Road, Woodside, there has just been completed a much-needed public improvement, which is already giving considerable satisfaction in the district. A new spacious and handsome stairway now leads from the higher level of Woodside to that of the picturesque white bridge which spans the Don at this point, and is so well known as Grandholm Bridge. The long, straight, steep, and narrow stair known as “Jacob’s Ladder,” which the new structure replaces, has been a landmark for generations. “Jacob’s Ladder,” however, was quite inadequate for the traffic, and the need for an improved and wider stair has long been clamant. This can be readily understood when it is mentioned that between 1200 and 1500 workers alone make use of it daily in passing to and from their work at Grandholm Mills.
Jacob’s Ladder 2022
The new stairway, which is built of reinforced concrete, consists of three flights of steps of easy rise, and is both handsome in appearance and substantial in build. It is twice the width of the old structure, and, as already indicated, will be of great advantage to the whole district. Without doubt the new stairway is one of the most important improvements effected in Woodside since its amalgamation with the city. The cost of the erection of the stair has been considerably over £1,000, and has been rendered possible by the generosity and public spirit of Messrs J. and J. Crombie, Ltd., of Grandholm Mills, who contributed largely the scheme. Much credit is due to the Streets and Roads Committee of the Town Council, as also to the burgh surveyor’s department, not only for the excellence of the work, but also for the speedy completion of such a much-needed and important public improvement.”
A photo of the new steps accompanied this article and we also feature a photo of Grandhome Bridge, with Jacob’s Ladder in the background, which is credited to The Silver City Vault.
Author: Alan Johnstone.