Number 108

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. 

2025 © P Russell

1900 Bond & Thompson 
Memories: "Bond & Thompson had a wide range of drapery both personal and household and were also milliners, employing girls to actually make hats. No lady in the early years of the 20th century would be seen outdoors without a hat! Carpets and linoleum were also stocked.

They also had an arrangement with their Glasgow Wholesale Warehouses that if you ordered with them before 9am, they would phone it through to Glasgow and it would arrive in Annan station by the 8pm train. It would be packed in special boxes that a message boy would collect, and if necessary,  deliver the same day!"

As B&T said in their advert - they had an immense variety of goods of the best quality, for sale at the lowest cash prices.

1902 D Watt Directory

1908 Annandale Observer

1911 saw one of the partners - Daniel Bond - retire. 

1911 Edinburgh Gazette

1911 Annandale Observer

However George Thompson continued the business under the original name.

1911 Annandale Observer

 Bond & Thompson had their own dressmaking department to provide locals with the 'latest and correct fashions'

1911 Annandale Observer

RoM 1935

RoM 1938 procession Annandale Observer

1950 John Brown Facebook 'Old Annan' 

1961 J.B. Rae, grocer 

Memories: Mr Rae or 'Wiggy Rae' as he was known by many (although not to his face) moved from 115 and made his new shop quite a speciality concern. It had been previously known as a good shop in the town but now got an even better reputation! Rae's had items that many people hadn't even heard of and if he didn't have it he would get it for you. He was also open until 10pm when others closed at 5pm. 

1984 Brian's of Annan, gifts

RoM 1991

RoM 1994

1995 In Focus supplement Annandale Observer

RoM 1995

2005 Semi-Chem., chemist.
In 1859 12 men met with the intention of forming a co-operative society known as St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Association of Edinburgh. In 1981 it merged with the Dalziel Society of Motherwell to become Scotmid (Scottish Midlands Co-operative Society). Scotmid acquired Semi-Chem in 1995.

Semi-chem website

2019 Bargain B's

Bargain B's is an off-licence and convenience food store chain found all over the UK - first franchised in 1988.

yell.com

2020 Empty

2021 Little Angels Boutique & Gifts For All (& Billy's Pet Shop)

2021 © P&V Pussell

2023 Empty

2024 December Domino's

Number 128 Commercial Hotel

                                                 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 Commercial is a long established building on the High Street. Alex McLean was the Postmaster for both the Commercial and the Queensberry Inns in the early 1900's. It was a changing post for stage coaches and had stables for the change of horses, refreshments and possibly overnight stops for  travellers. Entrance to the stable yard used to be smaller and right next to the Commercial seen in the picture below but as coaches became cars and cars became wider the entrance was moved. In certain weather conditions you can still see lettering on the lintel above the 'new' window. We think it says 'STABLING'.

Facebook 'Old Pictures'

1904 D Watt Directory

1911 Annandale Observer

  

State management took over drinking establishments (including pubs and hotels) in 1916 because it was deemed there was too much alcohol consumption in certain areas of the country. This meant drink prices were set by the state, 'chasers' were banned, the only beer available was that made by the local government brewery, under 18's were barred from buying alcohol, spirits on Sundays were banned, no-one was allowed to buy a 'round' and surroundings were spartan in the pubs, discouraging people from staying there too long.

State Management did not end until 1974!

The Commercial finally reopened under the name Royal Scot ...

1970's advert in Annandale Observer
Mystery: Who was responsible for the spelling error?

1978 RoM

... but soon reverted to The Commercial sometimes sharing advertising space with the Blue Bell

1986 RoM

    

1991 RoM

2000 RoM

2002 RoM

2007 R0M

Bridgend Number 1 - 3

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

Confusion reigns over this site. There is a shop, house, warehouse, workshop and gardens that are sometimes grouped together but sometimes owned by separate people. It doesn't help when Bridgend is also applied to the even numbers 2 to 8. The small shop front to the left is 2 Port Street which only adds to any confusion.

As a Category B Listed Building it is described as 1 - 3 High Street and as having 3 Bays to Port Street with shop at ground level. Main entrance is on the North gable end which has 3 windows at 1st floor. Basement to rear. Category B means it is of regional importance.

Annan museum has artifacts for a Bryce Kerr, Saddler Bridgend Annan but census details tell us that he lived at 4 Battery Street but had shops in the 1890s at 17 and 44 High Street.

Annan Museum

1970 Queen of the Border showed this old shopfront from an earlier time.

Mystery: Any of these names or shops could be under the wrong number because very often they just said 'Bridgend'. In valuation Rolls it states that No 3 is the house and No 1 is the shop but in 1955 H Schoolar was in No3 according to Valuation Rolls but Betty Baird was there according to her ROM magazine advert. Was it split into 2 separate shops? Does anyone know??

Number 3                                                                Number 1

1902 G Cole, Gen Merchant                                   1906 John Thomson

1924 D & T, Hill grocer                                         1917  John Wood, Dairykeeper

1954 Betty Baird, Florist                                        1926  Gavin Wilson, Dairykeeper

1965 Radio Doctor & VIP Boutique                      1942 War Dept - offices

Mystery: 1978 H Ballantyne?                               1949 D Turnbull, fish & poultry

Mystery:1980 B Baker?                                        1951 S Snowdon, Fish & Fruit 

1985 Mr Glaister, Cycles                                        1955 H Schoolar, Fish & Poultry

1989 Adams, shooting supplies

1994  Hann & Co

2021 Hann & Co inc Hunters, Estate Agent

Memories:

"I remember a record shop. It was called Middle of the Road and I was a regular customer there."

"It was a bike shop in the 80s. I remember 'Huffy'  BMX bikes at this shop. You went in the door in the middle and there were bikes on either side with a passage between them towards the back of the shop"

Adverts

1902 D Watt guide

1908 Annandale Observer

1911 Annandale Observer

1935 ROM

1949 ROM

1951 ROM

1954 ROM

1967 ROM

1970s Queen of the Border guide

1972 ROM

Radio Doctor and VIP Boutique later moved to No 82 High Street

1987 ROM

2005 ROM

2021 Annandale Observer

2021 Hann & Co inc Hunter's Estate Agent

Founded in 1992 Hunter's are one of the largest independent networks of sales and lettings in the UK.

Number 5

                                                  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. 
This photo from 2020 shows those features.

© V. Russell 1921

Old Photo of the Academy

Zooming to the shop on the right you can just make out R A E over the door
and Fruiterer? & Florist over the window.
Memories: This was known to locals as Jenny Rae's corner.

1903 Misses Rae, nurserymen, seedsmen

1923 Isaac Wood

1925 Gavin Wilson, Dairyman

1927 Thomas Sime, Dairyman                       

1939 WH Robertson, Dairyman                   

1949 John J. Little & Son, Dairyman

1980 uninhabitable

1981 Margaret Kirkpatrick, ladies & children's wear

1989 empty

2015 Creatomatic

2020 Farries, Kirk, McVean accountants

Adverts

1951 ROM

1956 ROM

1957 ROM

1966 ROM 
note also at Hospital Rd

Memory: We are told that some buildings along Hospital Road which were built around 1966, have deeds which specify they cannot keep pigs and cannot sell milk.

Old milk bottles on show at Annan Museum showing J Little & Sons

1981 ROM