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Holburn Culvert (Outfall)

River Dee, N Esplanade W, Aberdeen City.

Culvert complex (19th Century).

Stone-lined vaulted tunnel system carrying the Ferryhill Burn and waters from its Hol Burn (& West Burn of Rubislaw) tributary, discharging into the River Dee below Palmerston Pl. The Hol Burn sinks underground at Rubislaw.

Much of the complex dates back to 1870. It is reportedly inaccessible (too small) at inflow points upstream. Passage approx. 7 ft tall for the final 1.7 km, upstream of which the height is approx. 4 ft. It is tidal in its lower reaches.

Alternative Names: Hole Burn, Hol Burn, Ferryhill Burn

Notes: Route of burns shown on old OS maps (see refs).

"The Holburn or Burn of the Howe has 2-Headwaters, the North, which is the greater, coming from Hazelhead through Walker Dam & the South from Craigiebuckler...

The North Branch, an artificial Mill-lead, goes to the Upper & Lower Justice Mills. At the end of Stanley Street it enters on Albyn Lane, which it follows to Holburn Street. Near the end of the Lane may be seen a Sluice on the Mill-lead. Below Holburn Bridge the Mill-water rejoins the Parent Stream, which thereafter passes under the Hardgate at a Bridge called the New Bridge, Erected in 1775 when the Hardgate was Improved & Widened. Above New Bridge a Branch of the Burn was diverted to the right along Willowbank & Rosebank to Drive Ferryhill Mill, originally a Meal Mill & afterwards a Flour Mill...

In recent times the Ground at the Mouth of the Ferryhill Burn has been raised to a higher level than the Tide reaches, and it was greatly extended by Diverting the River to a New Channel. The Burn passes under Wellington Road, the Railway, & Palmerston Road, and crossing the Northern Esplanade West enters the Dee at the end of Palmerston Place, below Wellington Bridge." [Doric Columns]

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"The Hole Burn is the combined flow of the two Rubislaw Burn Inlets. Its 3800m, but I only traversed the lower 1700m cos its all tiny upstream. The oldest sections are from 1870." [28 Days Later]

Hydrographic Feeds: Hol Burn

Hydrographic Resurgences: River Dee