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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Robert Caldwell was in a shop on this spot at the end of the 19th century, and remained there until at least 1965.
Memories: "Robert Caldwell moved here between 1886 and 1889 with his wife and 10 of his children from his business in Kilmarnock. He soon changed the building from 2 storey to 3. He ran the business until he died in 1915. It was then run by his son, also Robert, until he died in 1945 when his son, another Robert Caldwell (known as Bert) took over until it eventually closed."
Memories: "Robert Caldwell moved here between 1886 and 1889 with his wife and 10 of his children from his business in Kilmarnock. He soon changed the building from 2 storey to 3. He ran the business until he died in 1915. It was then run by his son, also Robert, until he died in 1945 when his son, another Robert Caldwell (known as Bert) took over until it eventually closed."
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| Thanks to Ronald Taylor for this photo Note Annan Savings Bank at number 50 They were there between 1891 and 1919 so this photo must have been taken between those dates |
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| 1902 D Watt Directory |
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| 1908 Annandale Observer |
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 – Caldwells was the only real ironmonger, carrying a big
stock of round, bar, strap and sheet iron, supplying local blacksmiths’ needs.
As well as being an ironmonger, he was also an agent for Allan Steamers. The Allan Shipping Line was started in 1819 in Saltcoats, Ayrshire and traded and transported between Scotland and Montreal.
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| 1911 Annandale Observer |
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| 1911 Annandale Observer |
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| Thanks again to Ronald Taylor |
Note that Caldwell's address was always Market Place, Annan. The family also owned property at 6 Bruce Street with house, warehouse, workshop and stables which would have linked to the back of the shop. Number 48 on Valuation Rolls is recorded as a house.
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| Late 1960's 'Queen of the Border' Annandale Observer showing the unveiling of the war memorial on 4th Dec 1921 by General Sir Francis Davies, Commanding the Forces in Scotland. |
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| Many thanks to Diana Martin and family for allowing us to use this photo |
Memories: "I always remember the strong smell of paraffin (for which he was the main distributor) wafting out of the place."
Memories: "I'm sure I remember going into Caldwells as a child in the 1950's and being fascinated by the rows of crockery laid out on the bare wooden floorboards."
Later, Market Place was the main bus stop in town and the garage at Number 54 had a swing out petrol pump!
That would have been handy for Caldwell's van! Colin Phillips put up this photo of the van on 'Old Annan' on Facebook.
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| Thanks Colin |
1975 Police Station
The shop, along with Number 44, made way for the new Police Station, (44-46) which was opened by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1975. When the Police Station then moved over the road (2005/2006) the building was taken over by DGHP.
2008 DGHP, Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership is the second largest social landlord in Scotland and has more than 10,000 affordable homes across Dumfries & Galloway.
2022 Wheatley Homes South took over DGHP as property managers.
