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Site of a chapel (also known as St Katherine's Chapel), founded 1242, but which had been removed by 1661. Very little is known for certain about this chapel. It was situated upon St Catherine's Hill; although whether the hill derived its name from the chapel or vice versa is not known. It has been said that the chapel was founded in the 13th century by the Constable of Aberdeen (though there is no evidence to support suggestions that it was associated with a convent founded by the Constable in Shiprow dedicated to St. Catherine of Sienna). Parson Gordon wrote in 1661 that St Catherine's Hill 'took its name long since from a chappell which stood upon the top of it, which was dedicated to St Katherine, builded by the then constable of Aberdeen, anno 1242. The founder's name is forgotten, and the chappell itself long agoe rased to the grund'. This also seems to have been the tradition amongst the chaplains of the chapel. In 1542 it was noted that the 'chapell was foundit and biggytt iijc syne be the constabill of Abirdene for the tyme, for decoratioune in honour of Sanct Katheryne'. The only other information which pertains to the chapel relates to a dispute in 1542. The chapel was reached by way of a 'vennel' or passage way leading from Shiprow up the side of St Catherine's Hill and located between the properties of John Chalmer on the north and Thomas Scherar on the south. The problem arose as Chalmer had built onto the vennel, effectively blocking off access. On 7 March 1542 the council ordered him to stop building on the passageway, a dispute that appears to have continued for some years. On 1 July 1558 Mr John Reid, the next chaplain of the chapel again raised the issue of the vennel. He again proved that it was in the possession of the chapel and that it should be 5 foot wide so that two men might easily pass each other and that a horse with a load might have access. The case ended with the provost and baillies issuing a warning to Chalmer to keep the passage clear. This is the last that is heard about the chapel: it seems fair to conclude that it probably went out of use at the time of the reformation, and the chapel had been demolished some time before 1661.
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Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Aberdeen City
HER -
NJ90NW0057 - ST CATHERINE'S CHAPEL