Sunday, 10 December 2023

Number 11 - 21

Alex Blaylock tells us that when the new access to Port Street and Carlyle's Place was constructed in 1994 shops at Numbers 11, 13, 17 & 19 had to be demolished. 

An early photo of the Academy at Bridge End shows some of the shops that were demolished.

1985 RoM

Number 13

1905 Shortridge & Sons Dyers

1920 M&M Beattie, Baker/flour dealer

1926 Hannah Kirkpatrick confectioner (and No 11 Teashop)

1935 John Mason Tailor, draper (also No 11)

1965 Ruinous


1911 Annandale Observer



Number 17

1902 John McKimmie, Ironmonger

1908 W D Mitchell, Chemist

1914 A Hogg, Chemist

1920 John Wood & Son

1922 John Henderson, Fruiterer

1934 M Cole, Fruiterer

1937 Empty

1938 Rapid Dry Cleaners

1942 Misses Reid & Scott, Ladies & children outfitter

1947-1965 A Baird shop, office


17 1902 D Watt Directory

1911 Annandale Observer


1935 RoM

Number 19 & 21 became one shop when bought by JG McQueen

1902 J G McQueen Drapery, Art, Furnishings

1934 Empty

1937 Misses Reid & Scott, Ladies & Children wear

1942 War Dept

1945 Empty

1947 A Baird & Sons, with Nos.17 & 19 listed as Showroom from 1949

This was demolished to make a petrol station 

Then in the 1990s this was demolished to make the 'New' Port Street road.


1920's QofB







Tuesday, 23 November 2021

Number 69

Please note that all dates are approximate.

If you have any further information, documents, photos or memories about this shop  let us know in the comments section at the bottom or on Annan The History Town Group Facebook page. 
If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.

  
© V. Russell

67,69 & 71 is a Category B Listed Building. Category B means it is of regional importance. The listing says it is a 3 storey, corner shop with attic .... weak corner turret with leaded bell-cast roof originally raised on columns with tiny cupola over ... modern ground floor ... 4 bays to Bank St., 5 to High St.,

Regent House was built about 1900 by local builder George McIldowie, who is well known for other buildings in Annan.

1900 John Murray, Bookseller/stationer

1909 H Clark, Bookseller/stationer

1987 RoM

1912 W Laurie, Bookseller/stationer

1920's Queen of the Border Annandale Observer

Thanks to V. Phillips

1925 A. S. Anderson

1925 RoM

1938 Library

1944 Council

1970 South Scotland Electricity Board
This company existed between 1955 and 1991, then becoming Scottish Power
Note: they occupied Numbers 69 & 71 and from then on it has been one shop.

1991 Scottish Power

2002 empty

2006 Ladbrokes




Number 71

                                          Please note that all dates are approximate.

If you have any further information, documents, photos or memories about this shop  let us know in the comments section at the bottom or on Annan The History Town Group Facebook page. 
If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.

2021 © V. Russell

67,69 & 71 is a Category B Listed Building. Category B means it is of regional importance. The listing says it is a 3 storey, corner shop with attic .... weak corner turret with leaded bell-cast roof originally raised on columns with tiny cupola over ... modern ground floor ... 4 bays to Bank St., 5 to High St.,

Regent House was built about 1900 by local builder George McIldowie, who is well known for other buildings in Annan.

There is a rumour that this was Scotland's first Departmental Store - a fact disputed because Jenners of Edinburgh was opened this same year. We have yet to find the exact dates of opening for each store !!

1902 George Thomson & Co Ltd

1902 D Watt Directory

1904 D Watt Directory

1908 W&J Armstrong, Outfitter until 1935.

1908 Annandale Observer

Memories: W&F Armstrong made this shop into the 'Harrods' of Annan: the Emporium of Fashion, General, Household and Fancy Drapery, Milliners & Costumiers, House Furnishers and Undertakers. It became the most stylish establishment in the town.

1925 RoM
  
Thanks to V. Phillips

1937 County Council

Memories: "The architect of this building would have been surprised to find his cupola used as the site of Annan's Air Raid siren."

1970 South of Scotland Electricity Board
This company existed between 1955 and 1991, then becoming Scottish Power
Note: they occupied Numbers 69 & 71 and from then on it has been one shop.

1991 Scottish Power

2002 empty

2006 Ladbrokes


Number 59

Please note that all dates are approximate.

If you have any further information, documents, photos or memories about this shop  let us know in the comments section at the bottom or on Annan The History Town Group Facebook page. 
If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.  

2020 © V. Russell

1902 David Johnstone, Flesher

1904 D Watt Directory

1919 David & James Johnstone, Flesher

1984 RoM showing a early photo of the shop

1935 RoM

1947 Andrew Cowan, Grocer/confectioner/fruiterer

1949 RoM

1960 Violet Cowan, Sweets

1970 A&I White, Greengrocer

1979 Under reconstruction

1980 Job Centre

1994 Sue Ryder, Charity shop

2021 empty












Number 7

Please note all dates are approximate. 

If you have any further information, documents, photos or memories about this shop  let us know in the comments section at the bottom or on Annan The History Town Group Facebook page. 
If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.   

2021 © V. Russell

The building including Numbers 5, 7 & 9 is a Category A Listed Building. Category A means it is of national importance. 
The listing says 'Mid 18th century, large classical 3 storey house with basement. Alterations in late 19th century enlarging ground & first floor openings... Main central doorway approached by steps with iron railings, ... recessed panelled door with fanlight... sash windows with 12 pane glazing...'
Statement of special interest: Purchased by burgh council in 1790's and became the burgh academy... converted to dwelling house by one time Provost, James Little. 

1902 William Johnston, insurance agent/solicitor 

1904 D Watt Directory

1935 Wm J Cruickshank, Interim Borough Chamberlain

1939 empty

1964 June Kormylo, hairdresser 

1966 Claudette McGibbon, hair artist

1967 RoM

1975 Helen Woodman, hairdresser

1978 Helen Johnstone, hairdresser

1981 Hair Care, Carol Reid

1981 RoM

2007 empty

2011 Flowerstalk, florist 

From old 'Signs for U' website

2013 History Box

Annan Online

2016 Hoggett Creative, graphic design company

2017 empty






Monday, 22 November 2021

Number 25

Please note all dates are approximate. 

If you have any further information, documents, photos or memories about this shop  let us know in the comments section at the bottom or on Annan The History Town Group Facebook page. 
If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.  

© V. Russell

1900 Mrs Charlotte Irving, baker & confectioner

1902 D Watt Directory

1904 Alex Baird had been a tenant farmer when he became the agent for Ransomes, Sims & Jeffrey, of Ipswich, selling agricultural machinery. He then opened a blacksmiths shop in Dumfries and the ironmongers shop at 25, High Street, Annan, where A Baird & Sons was a well-known business for many years.
In 1900 he had been the agent for Ford Motor Cars but after WW1 adopted the Austin Agency.
The adverts for A Baird & Sons were always different - showing their huge range of products, large and small.

Memories: There were  four ironmongers in the town at this time who all kept a huge range of household, builder & farm ironmongery - nails, screws, bolts, hinges, locks, pans, pails, baths, fencing, barbed wire, netting, kitchen & garden tools, soap, candles, paraffin, fire lighters, gas mantles etc. However each shop had their own specialities – Bairds were into farm machinery, from petrol engines to turnip cutters.

adverts from various RoM

adverts from various RoM

All 4 sons were part of the business alongside many skilled employees.
In 1944 he sold out the assets of the company to Stenhouse Insurance Company and in 1979 William Bain & Co of Coatbridge acquired the shareholding of the company.
In 1988 they celebrated 100 years as a trading company.

Thanks to Lee Donaldson on FB 'Old Annan'

Annan Museum plans for alterations

Annan Museum plans for alterations

Annan Museum plans for alterations

Memories: "The office and TV showroom were upstairs.
Remember the dog in the window with the gramophone, beside the sign 'His Masters Voice?"



Memories: A Baird & Son began as ironmongers but by the 1920's had a large well-equipped garage entered through Pool's Court until they made a new entrance/exit into Greencroft Wynd. They were the premier garage in the town. It was fascinating to browse among all their cars, where you could find anything from an Alvis to a Wyllis-Knight (I can't recall anything beginning with an x, y or z!)

1997 Carrs Agriculture
Carrs established its position as an agricultural supplier with the amalgamation of several small businesses to form Carrs Farm Foods. In 1990 this became Carrs Agriculture. Carrs Billington Agriculture came about with the joint venture between Carrs Agriculture and Edward Billington & Son Ltd. They expanded into one of the leading suppliers of agricultural products to farmers in the UK.

2004 RoM

2000 Shop is empty, but Carrs Billington are still trading in the yard at the back.

In 2017  Cunninghame Housing Association acquired the building that fronts onto the High Street (including Number 23) and the land behind. They aimed to provide 27 new properties, including new buildings and a refurbishment of the existing building. They began work in 2018 and completed in 2020. 
It was really nice to see that they kept the tiled entrance and that the road through the site was named Baird's Wynd.

© V. Russell

© V. Russell

© V. Russell



Number 57

Please note all dates are approximate. 

If you have any further information, documents, photos or memories about this shop  let us know in the comments section at the bottom or on Annan The History Town Group Facebook page. 
If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow. 


1900 J&E McJerrow & Co. grocer

1902 D Watt Directory

1904 Watt Directory

1908 Annandale Observer

1911 Annandale Observer

1911 Annandale Observer

Memories: "My grandfather was manager at McJerrow & Co  from 1914 to ...  As like a lot of men he was called up to fight in 1916 after the disaster of the Somme. He did survive the war but whether he went back to the same job I don't know." 

1918 David Forteath, grocer. 

1923 Andrew Cowan & George Noon, grocer.

1934 Andrew Cowan, grocer.

1958 Grierson & Graham (Annan) Ltd., Household, furniture etc.
Memories: "They were under the management of Mr. Herries & Jimmy McDonald for several years until their retirement."

RoM 1958

Thanks to Linda Hermann for this photo

RoM 1967


1970's Queen of the Border (Annandale Observer)


RoM 1973

1979 Victoria Wine 
A company owned by Allied Domecq that sold spirits, wine etc

2000 Haddows
First Quench Retailing was a result of a merger of Threshers and Victoria Wine in 1998. The Scottish brand was known as Haddows.


2011 ATV John Smith, Electricals

RoM 2012

2014 Empty

2017 Marios Takeaway, Fast food outlet.