Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1878 > Part 1

DUMPRIES-SHIRE.
SLATER'S
ANNAN,
BRIDEKIRIi, CUMMERTREES, AND DORNOCE.
Annan, the capital of the district of Annandale and of its parish,
is an ancient royal burgh, 79 miles s. of Edinburgh, 87 s.e. of
Glasgow, 43 N.E. of Kirkcudbright, 27 s. of Moffat, Iti s.e. of Dum-
fries, and 6 from Ecclefechau, situated on the east or left bank oi
the river Anuan, rather more than a mile above its influx into the
Sohvay Firth, and upon the Glasgow and South Western and
Caledonian railways, for which lines there are stations. The name
is derived from that of the river, whose appellation is traced to
the Celtic word An, signifying simply water. It is a town of con-
siderable anticLuity, and is one of the most ancient burghs in
Scotland. Annan was a Roman station, and the Veromim of the
geography of Ravenna. It seems to have been held oy the Britons
after thu'departure of the Romans thl they were subdued by the
Saxons of tlie Northumbrian kingdom, when it came to the Scotch.
It aiterwards became a principal port, and was granted, with the
territory of Annandale and ihe port of Lochmaben, to the ancestors
of Robert Bruce, by some of whom a castle was erected, which was
once occupied as a church, but afterwards went to ruins, and the
original waUnow forms part of the gaol and town hall. Upon the
death of David II., in 1371, this castle, Lochmaben, and the lordship
of Annandale, came to Thomas Randolph, Earl of Murray, and
weut with his sister Agnes to the Dunhars, Earls of March, after
their forfeiture it went to the Douglasses, who lost it by similar
conduct ; and then, having come to Alexander, Duke of Albany, he,
for rebellion against his brother. King James III., and plundering
the fair of Lochmaben, in 1484, also forfeited it. Since that period
it continued in the hands of the king, and became the great key
of the western border. By the accession of the Bruce family to
the throne it became a royal bui-gh. The existing charter was
gi-anted by James VI. of Scotland, and is dated July 10th, 1612;
it confirms previous charters, and particularly recites one con-
ferred by James V., dated 1st of March, 1538, which stated that
Annan had with other towns been burned and destroyed by sieges
and the inroads of the English, particularly in 1398, when they
entered AiuiLmdale and burned the town with its church. The
burgh is governed by a provost, three bailies, and fifteen coun-
cidors, a treasurer, a dean of guild, and a town clerk. It unites
with Dumiiies, Sanquhar, Lochmaben, and Khkcudbright in
returning one member to parliament. The port or harbour of
Annan is free, and vessels of 350 tons can come within half a mile
of the town, but vessels of much larger burthen can enter the river
at its confluence with
from the town ; at ^
Vessels generally make the passage between Auuan and Liverpool
within twelve hours, that is, in one tide only, from harbour to
harbour; and a vessel makes two journeys to and from weekly.
The convenience afforded by the rapidity of communication with
of trade are those of tanning, bacon cui-ing, and weaving and
cotton spinning; also a large hone grinding mill, owned by Messrs.
T. & Q. Tweedie, these works give employment to a number of
hands ; and there is a distillery a short distance from the town,
up the river. Branches of the Commercial Bank of Scotland, the
British Linen Company, and the Bank of Scotland are settled
here; there is also a Bank for Savings. Limestone and freestone
are abundant in many parts of the parish, which has been
long famed for the superior quality of the potatoes cultivated
within it. Annan of late years has been much improved by new
streets and building?, and there is at present (1877) in course of
erection a very handsome town hall, built on the site of the old
town hall. High street, at a cost of upwards of £3,UiJ0. The old
bridge, consisting of five arches, was removed some years since,
and a neat and substantial bridge erected on its site, towards
which a grant of ^3,000 was obtained from government, and the
remainder supplied by the county. On the west are the town
hall and market place, and at the east end of the town is a hue
church, built of stone, with a tower and spire, A Free cliurch,
United Presbyterian, Episcopal, Independent, and Roman Catholic
chapels are the other places of worship. Parochial and industrial
and several private schools are well conducted, but the principal
educational establishment is a classical academy; the building,
a very handsome one, was erected in 1820; in it are taught most
of the elegant and all the useful branches of education, and the
preceptors consist of a rector and teachers in the several branches.
Annan is proud of being the birthplace of the Rev. Edward Irving,
founder of that section of Christians called Irvingites.
The market is held on Friday, at which, during the season, large
quantities of pork are sold. There are fairs on the first Friday in
May, the first Friday in August, and the tnird Friday in October.
The acreage of Ihe parish is about 12,048. The population of the
parish in 1871 was 5,240. the town containing 3,177 of that number.
Bride-Kiek js a modern village, 3 miles N. of Annan, situated on
the west bank of the Annan river. The proprietor was the late
Mrs. General Dirom, through whose interest it was erected into a
quoad sacra parish in May, 1836, and the same lady built the church
in 1S35. The remains of Bride-Kirk are in this parish. Population
in 1871, 340.
CuMiiERTBEEs is a village and parish about 4 miles from Annan,
,, ,, , -.^ ^ i. i-i.i.7 *i „ -1 and 13 from Dumfries. It is a station on the Glasgow and South-
the feolway, distant little more than a mile |yj.gtern Railway. The church is a neat, plain Imilding. The
^hiyl't':t.t'\Z''^t^^ .^l}^^}'^^^^^^ business of the viUage is of Uttle importance, being chiefly sup-
ported by the surrounding farmers. The population in 1S71 waa
1,116.
DonNocK is a small village and parish about 2 miles from Annan,
Liverpool has greatly increased the trade, and a considerable and a station on the Glasgow and South- Western Railway. The
quantity of bacon, grain, live stock, and other commodities are cou- business here is chiefly agricultural. The poiiulation in 1871
veyed to and from the Liverpool market. Among the other branches was 826.
POST OE°2PSCB5 High street, Annan, Benjamin Nicholson Pool, Post Master. — Letters arrive from Carlisle, London, and the
South, and from Dumfries, Edinburgh, and the North, at seven morning, and from Dumfries, Carlisle, London, and the South at half-
past seven evening; and are despatched to Carlisle, Edinburgh, and the North at ten minutes before twelve morning, and to Carlisle,
London, and the South, and Dumfries, Edinburgh, aud the North at seven and ten night.
Money Order and Telcyraph OJice and Savings Bank.
Post Qtaee, Bridekirk, William Wilsons, Posi ilfasfer.— Letters arrive from Annan at eight morning, and are despatched thereto
at half-past four afternoon.
The nearest Money Order Offi.cc is at Annan.
Post Office* CujiHERTEEES, Janet Froods, Post il/w(?(;ss.— Letters arrive from Annan at twenty-five minutes past seven morn-
ing, and are despatched thereto at half-past four afternoon.
The nearest Money Order Offl.ce is at Annan,
Post; Office, Dornoce, Mary Agnes Jardine, Post ilf ('stress. —Letters arrive froja Annan at fifteen minutes before eight morning
and are despatched thereto at half-past four afternoon.
The nearest Money Order Office is at Annan,
GENTRY & CLERGY.
Aitchison Misa Helen, Church st
Anderson Rev. John, Dornock
Batty William, Esq. (provost), Ednam et
Beattie I\lr. David, Ednam st
Brown Mrs. Janet, Wellington st
Carruthers Mrs. Jane, Hopeton place
Clappertoii Sirs. Janet, Sootts st
Clappcrton Robert, Esq. Lady st
Crichton Rev. Jas. Alexaiader, The Manse
Dalgleish Miss J. E. 3 Cumberland terrace
Dalglcish Mrs. Margaret, Bruce st
Davidson Mrs. — , Solway place
Davidson David. Esq. Solway place
Davidson Mr. John, Beech grove
Dickson tbo Misses Margaret & Isabella,
Scotch st
Dirom Admiral James, R.N. Newpark
Dirom 3Iajor Thomas Alexander P. Clench-
head and Mount Anuan
Debbie Wilham, Esq. Green Croft House
Downie Alexander, Esq. Bridge place
Elliot Miss Ellen, Poplar Cottage
Ensor William, Esq. Heathfield
Gailey Rev. James, Church st
Gardiner Rev. George, Wester hiU
Gillespie Thomas, Esq. Beckfoot
Gourlie Rev. John H. Bridekirk
Halbcrt Mr. John Potts, Ashby Grange
Hamilton James, Esq. High st
Hamilton Robert, Esq. High st
Hodgson Mrs. Janet, 8 Cumberland terrace
Hudson Mrs. Captain John, Port st
574
Irving Mr. Jonathan, Sandhills
Irving Robert, Esq. British Linen Co.'s Bank*
Bank st
Irving Robert, Esq. Plumdon
Jackson John, Esq. of Shaw hill & Solway bank
i Johnston Mr. William, Shaw hill *
: Johnstone Mrs. Slary, Wellington st
I Johnstone Rev. William, Cummertrees
Ker Mr. Hugh, St. John's place
I Kerr Mrs. — , Bonshaw Tower
I Little James, Esq. m.d. Maryfleld, Annan
Little Mrs. Jessie, Cumberland terrace
M'Eean Mr. Robert B. The Moat
M'Intosh William, Esq. Frithbie
Rl'Jerrow David, Esq. Bray House
Mofl"at Jas. Esq. Kirtle Bridge, Ecclefechan
; Moffat James, jun. Esq, Bank of Scotland,
: High st
Nelson Philip, Esq. m.d. Solway Cottage
I Nicholson Mr. Benjamin, Port st
■ Nicholson Mrs.;Elizahetb, Hill side
Nicholson Mr. John, Long meadow
Patterson Mr. D. J. Watch Hall
Pool Mrs. Marion, Topping Hall
Radclifi'o Mrs. Elizabeth, 9 Cumberland ter
Rome Mrs. ]\Iargnret, Ednam st
Rutherford Mrs. Ann, Violet Bank
' Rutherford John, Esq. Summerliill
I Saunders James, Esq. Seaforth
' Skelton James Scott, Esq. GreenbanU
I Steel George, Esq. Newiugton Lodge
\ Steel Mr. James, Scotts st
I Thorburn Thomas, Esq. Kinmount
1-1
Tweedie Gilbert, Esq. Port st
Tweedie Thomas, Esq. j.p. Bridge place
Williamson Mr. Thomas, Church st
Young Rev. Ebenezer. Port st
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.
Academy, Ednam st — Theodore Crosby*
classical master; William Dtmcan, mathe-
matical master; William N. Robertson,
junior master
Bell & Park (boarding & day). Bank st
Female Industrial School, Solway st—
Maria Brown, mistress
Infant School, Dornock — Ellen Wishart,
mistress
M'Master M. & E. (ladies'), Bank st
Parochial Schools:—
Bridekirk — Janet Mofl'at, mistress
Cummertrees — John Johnstone, master
Dornock — John Dunlop, master
Greenlmowe — Alexander C. Morrison,
master
AGENTS. ■
Cunningham John (for Cassell's cojBfeea and
Horniraan's teas), High st
Cuthbertson William & Son (for the Inman
Line of Steam Packets), High st