Annan High Street - changes in shops down the years: August 2021

Saturday, 21 August 2021

Number 46

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 by email : annan.memories@outlook.com.

We have a Facebook page 'Memories of Annan Past & Present'.

If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.

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."

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

1902 D Watt Directory

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.

1911 Annandale Observer

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wednesday, 4 August 2021

Number 123/123A

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 by email : annan.memories@outlook.com.

We have a Facebook page 'Memories of Annan Past & Present'.

If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.

2025 © P Russell

1902 James Forteith/ W. Baird, Flesher

1908 James Forteith, Grocer

1908 Annandale Observer

1910 J McClelland, Hairdresser

1925 John Scott & Sons, Bakers

1931 Wm J. Grieve, Cycle agent

1935 JT Middleton, Hairdresser

1939 Misses McKinna & Rogan, Ladies Hairdressing Salon

1942 J McClelland, Hairdresser

1965 Joseph Maxwell & Son Ltd, Grocer & general merchant
(Now in Numbers 121,123 & 125)

1970 empty

Mystery: 1978 Mrs Lupton

Mystery: 1979 A Miller

Mystery: 1980 A McEwen

Mystery: 1984 R&J Grieve

1986 S&J Adams, Fruit shop

1988 RoM

Mystery: 1991 Mr Brown

Mystery: 1993 C Quinn

1993 Border Images, Photographer John Beattie
Mystery: 1993 advert says 123A, but by 1995 says just 123.

1993 RoM

1995 RoM

2001 RoM

Mystery: 2007 Studio, Samantha Kelly

2014 empty

2016 The Solar lounge

2019 Silverback Barber

2021 © V. Russell

2022 empty

2025 M + K Barber

123A

2019 Solar Lounge

2022 empty

Number 82a The Buck Inn

Please note that 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 by email : annan.memories@outlook.com.

We have a Facebook page 'Memories of Annan Past & Present'.

If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.

2021 © V. Russell

The Buck is a Category C Listed Building. Category C means it is of local importance. The listing, made in 1988 says dated 1903 .. inn decorated with renaissance ornament ...2 storey ... 3 bays at ground floor .. round-arched near central doorway ... shop at left, public house with timber front to right...pilastered cross windows above, paired at first floor with pedimented heads and scrolled supports.

Rebuilt on site of original Buck Inn said to date from 1700, and where Prince Charles Edward Stewart stayed in 1745.

pre 1900 Annan Museum

1900 Buck Hotel

At this time in The Buck Hotel courtyard (known as Buck Inn Court) there was mention of stables, houses, offices, ballroom & billiard room.

1902 Watt Directory

1903 The Buck was demolished and a new hotel built. RoM 2003 records the plans for the new building...

2003 RoM article

Thanks to V. Phillips

Note: The Buck in old times (? when) was known as The King's Arms

1904 Watt Directory

1911 Annandale Observer

Thanks to The Buck for this photo of an old receipt

1922 A garage and workshop is now mentioned as being in the Buck Inn Yard.

1930's Facebook: Old Pictures

1976 RoM

1978 RoM

1983 RoM

1993 Auberge

1994 RoM

2006 RoM

2016 Back to the Buck

2020 The Buck Inn

Number 88

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 by email : annan.memories@outlook.com.

We have a Facebook page 'Memories of Annan Past & Present'.

If you click/tap on a photo it will enlarge that photo and give you the pictures as a slideshow.

1900 J Maxwell, grocer

The ROM magazines tells us they were a speciality grocer - Smoked and Pale hams, Palethorpe's sausages, Creamery butter, Foreign and English fruit and a local whisky called 'Royal & Ancient' to name but a few.