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Encyclopaedia of the North East

A: Arrow to astronomy

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A large, blue letter capital A from a manuscript with astronomical and meteorological equipment and arrows.

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arrow n
A straight, pointed missile, made to be shot: any arrow-shaped mark or object. 

arrow-head n 
The head or pointed part of an arrow.
Archery has long been practised in the North East. Originally a means of hunting or warfare, it was also a sport. Today archery is a minority pastime, replaced by the rifle, and more popularly the pool table and the dartboard.

Flint arrowheads. Left to right: a grey barbed triangular arrowhead with a shaft, a large red leaf shaped arrowhead, a dark grey barbed triangular arrowhead missing one barb.

Flint arrowheads from Aberdeenshire.

left: From Oldmedrum (2500-600BC). ABDUA:17130

middle: From Fyvie (4000-2500BC). ABDUA:17223

right: From Bennachie (3000-1000BC). ABDUA:17126 

Arrowhead. A small orange, leaf shaped flint arrowhead with part of a wooden shaft. The arrowhead is fitted into a slit on the tip of the shaft.

Flint arrowhead from Blackhillock, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire (4000-2000BC).

ABDUA:18027

Arrowhead. An iron arrowhead with part of a wooden shaft. The arrowhead has a socket which fits over the shaft.

Iron arrowhead from Coull Castle, Aberdeenshire (13th cent).

ABDUA:14405

Arrowhead. A small flint arrowhead lodged in a piece of wood.

Flint arrowhead stuck in tree from Howe of Cromar, Aberdeenshire (4000-2000BC).

ABDUA:17610

Silver arrow. Arrow, about a foot long, in silver with a ring at the end. The fins of the arrow have an engraved crown and coat of arms on them.

Silver arrow engraved with coat of arms of the Earls Marischal and 'L WK vicit anno 1769'. Competed for by a Fraternity of Bowmen in Aberdeen.

ABDUA:18636

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astronomy n 
The science of the heavenly bodies.

Despite the woefully inadequate weather conditions, Aberdeen has had two observatories. The Castle Hill observatory operated in the 1780s. It was owned by Marischal College and used to teach astronomy and navigation. Later, King's College established the Cromwell Tower Observatory in the 1860s which was used for astronomy and became part of the first national network of meteorological observation stations. Renowned astronomer David Gill started his career at this observatory.

Equatorial telescope. A brass telescope mounted on a set of large, ornate brass wheels with finely graduated scales on them.

Equatorial telescope made by Jeremiah Sisson and modified by Jesse Ramsden, used in the Castle Hill Observatory (18th cent).

ABDNP:200001a

Telescope. Brass telescope, about half a meter long, covered with dark wood veneer. It has an ornate brass stand with curved legs.

Gregorian reflector telescope (18th cent).

ABDUA:18597

Solar pyrheliometer. A large instrument made of steel, brass and wood. Three small fan shaped steel plates which can be rotated are positioned over a long brass cylinder which extends from a squat wooden cylinder, suspended in a ring mount allowing the apparatus to be rotated in multiple directions.

Solar pyreheliometer for measuring the power in solar radiation, used on top of Cromwell Tower at King's College in the 1920s.

ABDNP:201404a

Barometer. A tall, cylindrical barometer painted black with rings for suspending it.

Ship's barometer made in Aberdeen (late 19th cent).

ABDUA:15847

Barometer. Large barometer, about a metre tall, with a glass tube containing mercury. The wooden frame is elaborately carved at the top in a triangular shape with scrolls on the sides and a rose at the top. The body is covered with paper which has the instructions printed on and is decorated with gothic arches and trefoils.

Barometer made in Aberdeen (mid 19th cent).

ABDUA:15846

Thermometer. Small wooden frame, brass plate indicating Fahrenheit and Celsius, glass cylinder with red fluid.

Thermometer (20th cent).

ABDUA:63084

A: Arrow to astronomy