The
Mill Brae - a familiar sight to Paper Mill workers
Anyone who is returning to Culter after many years, perhaps to visit long lost relatives, will be aware of the changes visited on the village.
The most obvious being the disappearance of the “Mill Lum” which for many years dominated the skyline of Culter. For many, both the 200 foot high chimney stack and the, now silenced, Mill Hooter were the sight and sound of Culter.
Both the Paper Mill and the Lum were demolished in 1981. The area is now a residential housing complex. Missing ,too, are the shops of Culter. The Northern Co-operative, or Coopie. Culter could boast of having a separate Grocer, Baker, Draper, Baker and Shoe shop all offering the locals a dividend, or "Divvie", on their purchases. Ask anyone, ( over a "certain age") what their family’s Coopie number was.....
The local school, once Craigton Public School, has just passed its Centenary. The school catering for the education of Culter “bairns” is now Culter Primary School. This is for pupils from the age of 5 –11 years. Education for Senior pupils was transferred to Cults Academy with the building of a new school there in 1966.
Small local shops have disappeared or been subject to modernisation- past residents will recall:
- Rockland Stores at the bottom of Malcolm Road;
- Manson’s on North Deeside Road;
- Massie’s , Grocery and Newsagent
- Aitken’s of Culter, Garage
- Forbes the Grocer
- Florence’s on School Road;
- Ken Ritchie’s , newsagent
- MacAdam’s Store (Caddies) at Cornyhaugh Road.
- Tam the Shoemaker, Soutar Davidson in The Bush
Many local residents have contributed to "Culter Remembered" a series of autobiographical accounts of their lives and Culter in the past. These are available at St Peter's Heritage Centre.
"THE CULTER SHOPS"
A poem by Allan Pennie, Chairman, St Peter's Heritage Trust
Allan trying out his new Rocking Chair at the recent "Roup" at Heritage Hall
As always, the night life of Culter is catered for in its drinking haunts, The Richmond Arms, The Ploughman - and now the converted Clydesdale Bank building, The Old Bank Bar. Be sure of a warm welcome at all of them from the locals.