One cannot appreciate our history without the facts surrounding it. The evidence is the core of our past and shines light on the actuality of who and what we are. During our research, we came across this piece on the town of Annan, from over 100 years ago.
Annan itself sits on the River Annan, from which it is named and in fact as is the area of Annandale itself from where the family of Carruthers originate. It is former Royal Burgh, which historically is part of Dumfriesshire and in fact the ‘Mote of Annan’ was the original home of the family de Brus/Bruce during their tenure as Lords of Annandale
Annan with the Mote of Annan on the right (from wiki)
Each year on the first Saturday in July, Annan celebrates the Royal Charter and the boundaries of the Royal Burgh are confirmed when a mounted cavalcade undertakes the Riding of the Marches. Entertainment includes a procession, sports, field displays and massed pipe bands and is well worth the visit as our UK Commissioner can confirm.
So back to our research, according to ‘Slaters Royal National Commercial Dictionary of Scotland 1882-1915’ the following is an account of the town and Royal Burgh in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
ANNAN 1886-1915
ANNAN, the capital or the district of Annandale and of its parish, is an ancient royal burgh, 79 miles south of Edinburgh, 87 south-east of Glasgow, 43 north east of Kirkcudbright, 27 south of Moffat, 16 south east of Dumfries, and 6 from Ecclefochan, situated on the east or left bank of the river Annan, rather more than a mile above its influx into the Solway Firth, and upon the Glasgow and South- Western and Caledonian railways, for which lines there are stations.
The name is derivedfrom that of the river, whose appellation is traced to the Celtic word An, signifying simply water. It is a town of considerable antiquity, and is one of the most ancient burghs in Scotland. Annan was a Roman station, and the Veromum of the geography of Ravenna. It seems to have been held by the Britons after the departure of the Romans till they were subdued by the Saxons of the Northumbrian kingdom. It afterwards became a principal port, and was granted, along with the territory of Annandale and the 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 ruin, and the original wall formed part of the gaol and the old 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 went with his sister Agnes to the Dunbars, 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 to the western border. By the accession of the Bruce family to the throne it became a royal burgh. The existing charter was granted by James VI. of Scotland, and is dated July 10th, 1612; it confirms previous charters, and particularly recites one conferred 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 iu 1298, when they entered Annandale and burned the town with its churches.
A postcard of Annan High Street in the 1800’s
The burgh is governed by a provost, three bailies, and fifteen councillors, a treasurer, a dean of guild, and town clerk. It unites with Dumfries, Sanquhar, Lochmaben, and Kirkcudbright in returning one member to Parliament. The port or harbour of Annan is free, and vessels of 250 tons can come within half a mile of the town, but vessels of much larger burthen can enter the river at its confluence with the Solway, distant little more than a mile from the town ; at this place are wooden wharves or jetties. It is in contemplation to make a dock at the waterfoot, and also to give the railway companies power to extend their lines to the dock when finished. If these improvements are carried out it will add greatly to tho importance of the surrounding district, but more particularly to the port of Annan. Vessels generally make the passage between Annan and Liverpool within 12 hours, that is, in one tide only, from harbour to harbour. The convenience afforded by the rapidity of communication with Liverpool has greatly increased the trade, and a considerable quantity of bacon, grain, live stock, and other commodities are conveyed to and from the Liverpool market. Among the other branches of trade are those of tanning and bacon curing, also a large bone grinding mill, owned by Messrs. T. & G. Tweedie; these works give employment to a number of hand; there is also a distillery a short distance from the town, up the river.
In 1879 a working men’s reading and recreation room and temperance coffee palace was opened by tho Marchioness of Queensberry, who was also the promoter. Branches of tho Commercial Bank of Scotland, Limited, the British Linen Company, and the Bank of Scotland, are settled here ; thero 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. Palmer’s Nurseries, now of world-wide repute, are situated just outside the town, and cover more than 120 acres, Annan of late years has been much improved by new streets and buildings, and now possesses a very handsome town hall, built on the site of the old one in the High street, at a cost of upwards of £4,000.
The old bridge, consisting of five arches, was removed in 1826, 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 fine church, built of stone, with a tower and spire.
A Free church, United Presbyterian, Episcopal, Independent, and Roman Catholic chapels are the other places of worship. The Board schools, and several private ones, are well conducted ; but the principal educational establishment is a classical academy. The building, a very handsome one, was erected in 1820; in it is taught most of the elegant and all the useful branches of education, and the preceptors consist of classical and other masters, 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, and Hugh Clapperton, the African traveller.
The town is now plentifully supplied with water. The reservoir, in which the water for the use of the town is stored is situated on the farm of Purdomstown, in the parish of Middlebie, situated about 71/^2 miles from Annan. It has a capacity for holding 27 million (27,000,000) gallons. The filter bed and supply tank is behind Landheads toll bar, 2 miles from the town, and is able to pass 150,000 gallons per day. The ceremony of opening the waterworks was performed by Lady Augusta Noel, wife of Ernest Noel, Esq. M.P. for the Dumfries district of burghs, on July 21st, 1881. The total cost was about £12,000. Messrs. Brebuer & Fleming of Edinburgh, were the contractors.
An excellent newspaper, the Annandale Observer, is published every Friday, of which Messrs. William Cuthbertson & Son, High Street, are the proprietors. The market is also held on Friday, at which, during the season, large quantities of pork are sold. There are also two cattle marts, at which, perhaps, more cattle are sold than at any market in Dumfriesshire. There are fairs on the first Friday in May, the first Friday in August, and the third Friday in October. The acreage of the parish is 10,915 acres square. The population of the parish, in 188I was 5,516, with the town containing 3,366 of that number. The POST OFFICE, High Street, Annan, was run by Matthew Lorimer as Post Master. Letters arrive from all parts and foreign at 7 a.m. and 4. 30 p.m.,and from England, Ireland, and South of Scotland at 7.50 p.m.; and are despatched to Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, South of Scotland, North of England, and North of Ireland at 11.55 a.m.; to Dumfries and North of Scotland at 3.-15 p.m. ; and to England, North-East and
West of Scotland, Ireland, and foreign at 6.50 p.m. ; and to all parts and foreign at 10 p.m. On Sundays letters arrive from allparts at 7.20 a.m., and are despatched thereto at 10 p.m. The post office acta as a Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank.
Listed in under GENTRY, CLERGY AND PRIVATE RESIDENTS of the town are:
Carruthers, Mrs. Jane, Hopeton Place, Annan and Carruthers, Mr. John, 8 Charles St, Annan.
It is interesting to note that only two Carruthers are mentioned as residents, this did not mean there were not others, just that these two were deemed financially well enough off to be included under Gentry, Clergy and Private Residents. In those days it was not unusual for many families and for many generations to live out their lives in the close vicinity from where they were born. The daughters, marrying and with name changes, were more likely to move from the home locale, however in many such cases, not too far.
Good read again thank you clan
Interesting article!
This winter I’m taking a trip to Annan and staying in an ancestral cottage (now a holiday let) that my paternal Gt-Gt Grandfather John Carruthers (wood forester) and family resided in the mid 19th century. He later went on to be an Innkeeper at the Buck Inn, High Street.
Such a privilege to be able to walk in family footsteps and be so close to my Carruthers ancestry!