Gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1

42
ANNAN.
by J. J. Hope Johnstone of Annandale, Cap-
tain Johnstone of Sackville Street, Dublin,
Stewart Souter Johnstone, George Greig John-
stone, and John Henry Goodinge, Esqrs. The
name of Johnstone prevails in Annandale.
ANNAN, a parish lying on the north shore
of the Solway firth, intersected by the river
Annan, bounded on the east by Kirk- Patrick-
Fleming, on the west by Cummertrees, and on
the north by Hoddam and Middlebie. The
surface is generally flat, and consists both of
rich well-cultivated land and heathy ground.
ANNAN, a royal burgh, the capital of the
district of Annandale, and of the parish, is com-
modiously situated on the east bank of the
river Annan, rather more than a mile above
i*s influx into the Solway Firth. It is dis-
tant 79 miles from Edinburgh, 89 from Glas-
gow, 16 from Dumfries, 43 from Kirkcud-
bright, and 27 from Moffat. The river here
forms a natural harbour, to which the town
owes its rise. The name of Annan is de-
rived from the river, whose name is traced to
the Celtic radical An, signifying simply water.
Annan is a town of considerable antiquity,
though it never was of any particular impor-
tance in national history. The Bruces, who
were lords of Annandale, built a castle at this
place for the protection of the town and port,
and this fort was kept as a border strength till
the union df the crowns. It is understood
that some of the coins of Alexander II. were
struck at Annan. From its vicinity to the
English borders, this town suffered much dur-
ing the border wars ; being frequently plunder-
ed and sometimes burnt. In 1298 the Eng-
lish made an inroad into Annandale and burnt
the town of Annan with its church. This
was only the commencement of a series of
injuries which Annan suffered during the wars
of the succession. In the subsequent hostilities
with England, and in the vexatious forage of
the English borderers, this town was frequently
plundered. The union of the crowns put an
end to those injuries ; yet Annan was then in
a state of great poverty. A grant of James
VI. to this town, 1609, states that it had been
" so miserably impoverished," that the com-
munity were unable to build a church; and
therefore he granted to the town and parish
the old castle of Annan to serve for a church,
and they were empowered either to repair the
castle for that purpose, or to pull it down, and
use the materials for building a new church,
when they should find themselves able to per-
form these operations. It seems that the in-
habitants had been necessitated to apply for a
grant of this nature, on account of the former
parish church and its steeple being batter-
ed down by the English, for having often been
places of defence to the people. In the course
of the civil wars of Charles I., this unfortunate
town suffered additional evils, after which pe-
riod it was left in peace to recover and forget
its injuries. Since the middle of last century
it has been going on steadily in improvement,
and nearly all trace of its ancient warlike con-
dition is obliterated. The town is now well
built, and consists of several good streets and
buildings. At the east end is a fine new
church and spire ; and on the west at the
market place stands the town-house. In
Edmond Street is an Academy or classical
seminary, which is well attended. Some
years since the old bridge across the river was
removed, and a very handsome new one has
been erected on its site, at the expense of the
government and the county. A small mari-
time trade is carried on by vessels of fifty tons
burden, which can approach a quay, half a mile
from the bridge, and by others of a larger size,
which come within a mile of the town. The
exports are bacon, hams, and corn. Branches
of the Commercial and British Linen Bank-
ing Companies are established here, and a cot-
ton manufactory is now settled. A good
market is held every Thursday, and several
fairs take place annually. The town has a
subscription library, and several benevolent
and religious societies. Annan was a royal
burgh as early as the accession of Bruce, in
1306 ; but its privileges were not defined until
James V., in March 1538-9, granted a char-
ter to the bailies, burgesses and community of
the burgh of Annan, the freedom of a burgh
in fee and perpetuity, with all its possessions
and property. The burgh obtained from
James VI. in July 1612, a charter, which
states that the old grants to it had been burnt
in time of war by enemies ; and thereupon he
incorporated the town of Annan, as a royal
burgh, with the usual powers and privileges.
According to the form which was thus esta-
blished, the burgh is governed by a provost,
three bailies, a treasurer, a dean of guild, and
thirteen councillors. Its revenue is upwards
of L.300 annually. The burgh joins with
Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Lochmaben,and San-