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 |
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'.
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| Facebook 'Old Pictures' |
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| 1904 D Watt Directory |
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| 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 ...
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1970's advert in Annandale Observer
Mystery: Who was responsible for the spelling error? |
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| 1978 RoM |
... but soon reverted to The Commercial sometimes sharing advertising space with the Blue Bell
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| 1986 RoM |
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| 1991 RoM |
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