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.
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| 2020 © V Russell |
The building is a Category B Listed Building. Category B means it is of regional importance.
Listed in 1971 it says mid 18th century, 3 storey hotel.... columned porch added to original central doorway in mid 19th century ... sash windows with 4 pane glazing.
The listing records that Prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards French Emperor, rested here on his way to the Eglinton tournament (a re-enactment of a medieval joust and revel) held in Ayrshire in 1839!
As well as the hotel being a Listed Building there is also a dovecote and a summer house listed. The dovecote, listed in 1971 (Category B - of regional importance) is reported as 17th/18th century freestanding dovecote ... doorway heightened with 1690 marriage lintel ...door on N wall ... flight holes to 2 levels above ... stone nesting boxes at upper level.
Listed in 1988 (Category C - of local importance) was the summerhouse ... a small gothic summerhouse at SW corner of hotel garden... polygonal on plan ...tudor-arched openings... built against boundary wall.
Note: See modern photos of these later.
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| 1892(?) Carpet sale in Market Square opposite the Queensberry. Using the shops as a guide this must have been taken before 1900. Memories: The pavement here was where farmworkers gathered on hiring days (first Friday in May & third Friday in Oct) to be engaged for the next 6 months by framers & their wives. They were engaged to start work on the 28th May/November as dairymen, herdsmen, ploughmen, general workers, or maids. |
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| 1940's Facebook 'Old Pictures' |
Like most of the surviving drinking establishments on Annan High Street, the Queensberry Arms Hotel was a changing post for Edinburgh and London coaches. Here there would be large stables for the change of horses, refreshments and possibly an overnight stop over for the travellers.
The archway on the left would have been the covered way into the rear of the building. In old photos the archway advertises the Posting Establishment or Garage which changed over the years.
Old Adverts
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| 1902 D Watt Guide Advert for Hotel |
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| 1902 D Watt Guide Advert for Coach hirer working from the yard |
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| 1904 D Watt Guide |
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| 1908 advert for staff for the hotel Annandale Observer |
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| 1911 Annandale Observer Alex MacLean is now running the Posting Establishments both here and at the Commercial Hotel |
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| 1920s Queen of the Border Guide Advert for the garage using the Queensberry yard in connection with the Hotel and the Central Hotel |
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| 1920s Queen of the Border Guide Note the telephone number |
Memories: In the 1950's the manageress, called Miss Johnstone, had a bulldog called Bonzo who did not like boys. He chased 2 boys round from the Queensberry to their homes.
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| 1962 RoM Around this time the advert in the RoM magazine was always very similar but this year the telephone number changed and there was a slight change to the hotel name losing the 'Arms' !! |
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| 1970s Queen of the Border Guide It is now part of the Tennent Caledonian group of hotels |
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| 1974 RoM The price wasn't mentioned in subsequent years There is a big change to the phone number |
Memories: In the 1970's it was the scene of a major fire, when unfortunately one of the staff died.
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| 1979 RoM Facilities are improving year on year Now part of the Osprey Hotels Group |
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| 1987 RoM |
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| 1992 RoM |
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| 2016 RoM |
2021 Dovecote
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| 2021 © V. Russell |
Still in use!
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| 2021 © V. Russell |
Rather hidden summerhouse!
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