CLAN & FAMILY CARRUTHERS: The Firth (Reivers) Hotel: An Exciting New Chapter for the Society.

After 18 years of hard work, the Society sets down roots in Annandale.

Michael Carruthers and his family are finally moving to Scotland, to Annan in Dumfriesshire to be precise. It is here that we are to have a new international headquarters address under Michael’s auspices. Annan, as well as being a town in our ancient ancestral homelands, is steeped in history. It was made a ‘Royal’ Burgh of Barony by the Bruces in the 13th century, a family and place which is interwoven with our own family’s past.

Michael, who took over the Convenor’s role on my retirement in August last year and who organised the 2024 Gathering, has never ceased in his efforts to promote this family. He works tirelessly for us and has represented our name, both in our homelands of Dumfriesshire as well as networking in other parts of Scotland. His heavy involvement is reflected in the personal invitation to Edinburgh, our country’s capital, where he was invited to march in the city’s inaugural Tartan Parade in 2024 along with his family. He has since managed to organise a place in the 2025 parade under the name of Clan Carruthers, a great achievement and honour for us all.

As long as I have known Michael, the plan has always been for him and his family to relocate to Dumfriesshire as he says, ‘its going back home to my roots‘. As such, as of October 24th, 2025, he has become the proud owner of the Firth Hotel in Scotts Street, Annan. He plans to use it, not only as his primary residence, but also as our Society Headquarters and a heritage and hospitality centre. This proud historic building will see a name change, to complement its function and the history of the region. It will be renamed – ‘The Reivers’. The last name change was 85 years ago when it changed from the Parsonage to the Firth.

As is his want, Michael has already made many friends in the area, and we are certain that both he and his family will be great assets to the community and fit in well. The old adage of hand and glove springs to mind.

The Firth Hotel, its history and Carruthers

The Convenor, Michael Carruthers, carrying the Clan flag at the Chief’s Inauguration, Annan 2024.

The premises itself sits in its own grounds and according to the Annan History Facebook page, the building is around 200 years old. It was originally the old parsonage of St Johns Church, consecrated in 1843. Interestingly it was built just over 30 years after the passing of John Carruthers, 12th of Holmains, 8th Baron and through his demise and the unwillingness of anyone to take on the mantle, the start of the dormancy of our chiefship, which lasted 210 years. This ended with the confirmation of our current Chief, Peter Carruthers of Holmains, 4 x great grandson of John, in 2019 and his inauguration and proclamation in 2014, again in Annan. It was Michael, resplendent in Carruthers tartan, who proudly carried the Clan and Family banner on that day and led the Chief in. The Chief’s personal banner was carried by his son and heir Asher (Holmains the Younger).

Having been assigned the street number ’41’ in line with the other houses in Annan after the publication of the Valuation Rolls in the 1890s, it housed quite a few ministers of the church. From 1892 – 1906, Rev Frank Coleby lived there, and during his time the house was officially described and registered as the ‘PARSONAGE‘. This trend occurred up until 1930 when the Rev William John Harold Allin was listed as being domiciled there, however it seems he was the last of the churchmen to be in residence.

During, the Second World War, in 1940 the house becomes listed as the ‘Firth Hotel‘ for the first time, while the rectory moved to St John’s Road, near the church itself.

The Firth Hotel, its current name, was originally set up by Archibald Bridger who ironically at the time was running the Temperance Hotel (Corner House) in Annan. Because of State Management Regulations after the 1913 Temperance Act, sales of alcohol were very restricted. Therefore, the Firth Hotel originally limited the sale of alcohol to residents or non-resident if one was having a meal. This situation was not unusual in Scotland and in fact in Kilmacolm in Inverclyde a public house did not get licenced until 1998. This occurred only when an old waiting room at the train station was converted into ‘The Pullman’ tavern, now ‘Carriages‘.  The licensing restriction of alcohol at the Firth Hotel itself was not lifted until 1975, only 50 years ago.

Having had the opportunity to view the building at Michael’s invitation, although it needs a wee bit of TLC, I can say that it is truly a grand structure which, once the work has been completed by Michael and his family, it will be truly excellent for the purposes previously described. The building has a meeting room, large kitchen, a bar, 9 bedrooms and carparking in its grounds. Personally, I cannot wait to see the finished item and hopefully with Michael’s personal arms once granted, flying proudly over the newly restored ancient building.

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All good things come to those who wait they say, but in our case a lot of hard work and effort has gone in to achieve what we have managed to achieve over these last 18 years. However, we couldn’t have done it by ourselves, and we cannot begin to describe our appreciation for all those who have helped make it happen, both at home and abroad. Promptus et Fidelis, says it all. Thank you!

Finally, and with a great deal of pleasure, we offer our best wishes to Michael, Sue and Karen and hope they have a long and happy life in their new home. At this moment, my personal motto springs to mind: Non Sto Solus (I do not stand alone) and neither I’m sure, will they.

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