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Encyclopaedia of the North East

P - Pittodrie to puirshoos

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A large ornate printed capital letter P in a square decorated with dots and foliage, with farming equipment, cups, a clock and badges.

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Pittodrie n 
Ancient North East placename, esp stadium of Aberdeen Football Club, [prob Pictish from pett meaning 'share' or 'manor'] 

Charlie Nicholas was the toast of the Red Army after delivering the goal the Aberdeen fans had patiently been waiting for.
Green Final 24/9/1988 

Beaker. A small earthen ware pot. The base is about half the size of the opening and the body flares out in the middle before contracting again. Decorated with incised bands of horizontal lines and a band of vertical and zig zag lines near the rim.

Beaker from Pittodrie, Oyne, Aberdeenshire (2700-1700BC).

ABDUA:19709

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potato n  
Originally the sweet potato, now the South American plant Solanum tuberosum grown in temperate areas for its tuberous root. 

The potato or tattie is a relative newcomer to the North East. It was only cultivated from the 17th century and then only as an ornamental plant in the gardens of the rich. In the mid 18th century it was recognised as a good food source and well suited to the North East climate (its original home was in the Andes). Now it is thought of as a native plant, being used in traditional recipes like Stovies.

Dibbler. A wooden bar about half a metre long with three fat pegs projecting from it. Projecting from the other side are two rods attached to a bar with handles.

Wooden dibbler for sowing potatoes (19th cent.)

ABDUA:18841

Graip. A large wooden fork about a metre long with three thick prongs.

Wooden graip used to dig up potatoes (19th cent.)

ABDUA:17841

Creeper. A large iron fork with three flat prongs about a foot long.

Iron creeper for gathering potatoes (early 19th cent.).

ABDUA:18819

Potato masher. A round wooden block with a long handle.

Potato masher, Darnabo, Fyvie (20th cent.)

ABDUA:15665

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puirshoos la18- n 
A poor house, a house established at public expense for sheltering the poor, a workhouse. 

It has been said that the poor shall never cease out of the land, for at all times and in all places there will be aged and infirm men and women, widows and deserted wives, with children depending on them for support; and the question that is always asked is, How shall help be afforded to effect the greatest amount of relief at the least possible expense?
William Watson 1877 Pauperism, Vagrancy, Crime & Industrial Education in Aberdeenshire 1840 - 1875.

Cups. Two simple cups made of horn, with silver rims inscribed MITCHELLS HOSPITAL OLD ABERDEEN 1801 No1 and No2.

Cups from Mitchell's Hospital for issuing liquid to the inmates (early 19th cent.)

ABDUA:17609

Badge. A square plate of metal, about half a foot wide, with the words BAD CHARACTER OLD MILL in cracked black lettering. The reverse says DESERTER. There are two rings at the top through which runs a chain.

'Bad Character' / 'Deserter' plaque worn as a punishment by inmates of the Old Mill Workhouse (mid 19th cent.)

ABDUA:18702

Clock. A large clock with a white clockface with black roman numerals, brass hands and the inscription Heming London. The clock has a dark wooden body, painted onto which is a coat of arms and the inscription Mitchell's Hospital, Old Aberdeen MDCCCIII.

Clock from Mitchell's Hospital, a refuge for the 'deserving poor', Aberdeen (1803).

ABDUA:17630

Beggar's badges. Five badges, clockwise from top left: A circular grey metal badge inscribed Fraserburgh Poor, an oval grey badge inscribed Old Machar S. District N. 13, an oval copper badge inscribed Dunnottar 8, a similar badge inscribed Fetteresso 16, a circular grey badge inscribed P. Nigg. D.C. MINR. No. 1773.

Beggar's badges (licenses to beg), Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire (1750 - 1850).

Clockwise from top left: ABDUA:18708, 18709, 18705, 18704, 13665

P - Pittodrie to puirshoos