Number 39

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.

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2021 © V. Russell

Before 1900 we believe this was the Post Office. George Pool had been the Postmaster in 61-63 High Street from about 1858 but when he retired in 1894 Matthew Lorimer took over. The business expanded and moved to number 39 in 1895. The last postmaster here was Patrick McGiverin, from Newton Stewart, who lived in the apartment above and he became the first postmaster in the purpose built building on Bank Street when it was built by Hugh Ker in 1898.

1901 J & M Wilson, Bakers & Confectioners

1923 T A Francis & Sons

This site has been the home of Francis the Bakers since the 1923. Adverts from RoM magazines show that the company was established in 1913 (in Edinburgh) but valuation rolls show J&M Wilson as tenants in No 39 and the bakehouse in Poplar Court (seen left of the shop) in 1917.

The Wilson Family apparently had a flour mill at Brydekirk and a few shops/tearooms in Annan.

Valuation Rolls before 1890 do not list specific numbers which is annoying.

According to an article in 1990 RoM magazine Tom Francis set up his business before he moved to Annan in 1923.

Memories: Tom Francis transformed the bakery into the most important bakery in the town. He developed the tea room (one of 7/8 in the town!) and built up a wholesale trade supplying many of the other tea shops in and around the town. He eventually had shops in Dumfries and Carlisle but also ran a regular daily country run supplying farms and villages over a wide area.

Memories: The restaurant was upstairs - regular diners would have their 'usual' table and a 3 course meal, cost 10/- (50p)

T.A. Francis' shop shows up in the background of these photos from various RoM magazines