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Former fire station, depicted on the OS 2nd edition map, converted into student housing in 2001. It was designed by architect A.H.L. Mackinnon and opened on 31 May 1899 at a total cost of £12,000. The station was manned by eleven permanent officers and ten auxiliary officers, plus a firemaster and assistant or deputy firemaster The report by the Aberdeen Journal in 1899 highlights its features and described the building in detail. However, the conversion of the building to student flats altered the inside of the building considerably. At its opening in 1899, the building was three storeys and made of Kemnay granite, 52 feet high to the top of the balustrade. At the base there were five wide arched openings, four of which were used. They opened directly into the engine room and afforded ample space for the exit of engines. The semicircular openings had moulded jambs with key blocks. Across the building, above the openings, is the inscription 'Aberdeen Central Fire Brigade Station'. At the front of the building was a range of pilasters separating the five pedimented two light windows and above these is a cornice with blocks projecting about 2 feet outward, surmounted by a balustrade. In the centre was a pediment containing the city's arms carved in granite. The building was entered by one of the arched gateways and this led to the engine room, measuring 52 feet x 35 and 17 feet high. The room was lined with white enamelled brick and the walls were 5 feet in height. The doors were opened by pulling a cord and then folded to the inside. At the back of the doors there were poles, which were 6 or 7 feet above the first floor, which they penetrated through trap doors opened by simple pressure of the foot. Poles were used for firemen to slide down. Behind the engine room was a 6- stalled stable, arranged so horses could face the engine room and be taken out quickly. The flooring was of pitch pine in parquet blocks. The doors were the same as those of the engine room and opened outwards. A small harness room was constructed opening to the stables. There were spacious lofts for hay and straw above the stables, and in addition to one large workshop, there were 2 smaller places to be used for mending hose pipes. To the left of the engine room was an apartment known as the duty room, which was occupied by members of the brigade. Adjoining the duty room was the main staircase leading to the upper floor, stone lined with glazed brick from top to bottom. To the rear there was a boiler house, heating chamber and accommodation for washing. Next to the duty room was the fire master's office as well as his residence and the second 2 storeys of the building was the assistant fire master's accommodation. On the floor above the engine room was the recreation room, 46 feet x 17 feet, and on the same floor a mess room and a dormitory for six single firemen with a bath, lavatory and other accommodation. On the 3rd floor there was accommodation for married firemen, each having three rooms and a bathroom, washing house accommodation being provided outside. There were concrete balconies behind this level that were used drying clothes and at the top of the building there was a drying loft. At the east corner of the main block of houses was a square tower 100 feet high-its purpose was to dry the hose pipes. The tower was also used for exercising the firemen. Behind the main block was a drill yard, an irregular piece of paved land 90x 70 feet, and at the back were four extra houses for married firemen. Each cottage had three rooms and bathroom and there were wash houses and cellars in the basement. To the north of the drill yard were weights and measures offices and further beyond was a small yard bounded by stores and workshops use by the lighting department. King Street was the city's main fire station until February 1967 when it was replaced by the new headquarters on North Anderson Drive. The King Street Station was retained as a sub-station only. In 1997, a new fire station was opened on Mounthooly, replacing the old King Street Station, which up until the time of closure, was the oldest working station in the UK. The reason for moving the station was that there was no place to put new engines in the building without stopping traffic on King Street. The former Fire Station has now been converted into flats for 272 students, although most of the flats were new blocks to the rear. The five distinctive arched doorways facing King St. have been glazed and the original pitch-pine ceiling has been restored. The buildings that were at the rear north east and south sides were demolished in 2001 to make room for student accommodation.
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Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Aberdeen City
HER -
NJ90NW0346 - KING STREET FIRE STATION