2-979-650 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Granite Quarries at Rubislaw, near Aberdeen, [Scotland], 1857. 'The pavement of London, extending through more than 5000 streets, and exceeding 2000 miles in length, is one of our metropolitan marvels; and we rarely see a street area broken up for repair without being reminded how vast are the operations by which the materials are brought from comparative solitudes to be strewed over the busiest haunt of man...One of the vast natural depots is the granite quarries at Rubislaw (pronounced Robsley), within a mile of Aberdeen, which is mostly built of it, and is hence called "the Granite City"...The area already worked is several acres in extent; and from these quarries is procured the grey granite, called Aberdeen granite...Rubislaw quarry is wrought by Messrs. John Gibb and Son, civil engineers, who are engaged in the pavement trade...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857.