As 2022 has been designated Scotland's Year of Stories, we thought that we would share with you some 'stories' of Annan. This is one of a series of blogs of our ambles around the streets of Annan, looking for unusual sights, old shop signage, benchmarks etc.
🥾 Inns, pubs and taverns - drinking establishments in Annan.
- 3-4 km (approx 2m)
- 1-2 hours (approx)
- NOT a circular route.
- Click/tap on a photo to enlarge it and give you the pictures as a slideshow.
- Please take care near roads.
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Background map downloaded from OS OpenData under 0pen Government License |
Ale was a native British drink long before the arrival of the Roman Empire although they did introduce tabernae, which later became known as taverns. The British brew of ale was originally made without hops. Ale brewed with hops was gradually introduced in the 14th and 15th centuries and was known as beer. Alehouses were ordinary dwellings where home-brewed ale and beer were served, although lodging for travellers was sometimes offered. Inns however were purpose-built for travellers, with bedrooms and stabling. Taverns sold wine which was more expensive than ale or beer, so the patrons were richer people who could afford it.The coaching inn was a vital part of the country's inland transport infrastructure until the development of the railway, providing a resting point for people and horses. The inn served the needs of travellers, for food, drink and a rest. The attached stables, staffed by hostlers, cared for the horses, including changing a tired team for a fresh one. Coaching inns were used by private travellers in their own coaches, and the public riding stagecoaches between one town and another. The passengers on these stagecoaches consisted of
two groups, the more affluent who could afford to travel inside the coach, and
the others who would be left on the outside. The ‘insiders’ would receive the
warmest greetings and be welcomed into the innkeepers private parlour while
those on the outside would only get to sit in the bar. Many establishments of that time would be split
into several rooms and bars to cater for differing classes of customer.
In
1552, an Act was passed that required a licence in order to run a inn/pub/tavern
and in 1577 it was estimated that there were about 17,000 alehouses, 2,000 inns
and 400 taverns throughout England and Wales.
The
term public house first appeared in the late 17th century, and was
used to differentiate private houses from those which were open to the public
as 'alehouses', taverns and inns. The term hotel was rare in Britain before 1800.
In 1840 it was estimated that around Annan there were about 40 drinking houses,
variously called Inns, Taverns, Hotels etc. Some of them we can find no record
of, some we know where they used to be, and some amazingly are still there! Let us take you on a pub walk - but don't expect to find many places where you can actually get a drink!
We begin at the Brittania Inn, which was on Port Street, just past Cotton Lodge.
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| 1859 Map: National Library of Scotland photos © 2022 P Russell |
Further up Port Street on the same side of the street are Jubilee Gardens - a nice space with seats and picnic tables and access to the river walk. This is where one of the several breweries Anan used to have was situated.
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| Annan online |
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| Map: National Library of Scotland |
Almost opposite the entrance to the gardens was The Royal Oak.
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| © 2022 P Russell |
At the top of Port Street - the old Port Street before a new extension was added - was the Steam Packet Inn.
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| 1859 Map: National Library of Scotland, photo © 2022 P Russell |
Have you heard of the Bridge Inn, the Coach & Horses, the
George Inn, the Spurr Inn, the Anchor Inn, the Union Hotel, the Grapes, the
Ship Inn, the Plough Inn, the Queen’s Head, the Drove Inn, or the Turk’s Head? These are names of drinking establishments around Annan in the 19th century.
Pigot’s trade directory of 1837 mentions the Kings Arms, the Grapes, the Bush, the Coach and Horses, the Buck, the Plough the Queen’s Head, the Drove and the Scotch Arms on the High Street, The Ship and the Steam Packet Inn on Port Street, the Turks head and the Globe at Fish Cross, and the Annandale Arms in Thomas Street.
Pigot’s trade directory of 1837 mentions the Kings Arms, the Grapes, the Bush, the Coach and Horses, the Buck, the Plough the Queen’s Head, the Drove and the Scotch Arms on the High Street, The Ship and the Steam Packet Inn on Port Street, the Turks head and the Globe at Fish Cross, and the Annandale Arms in Thomas Street.
Reaching the High Street we see one of the oldest inns in Annan. The Blue Bell Inn dates from around 1770 and was originally a coaching inn,
acting as staging post for coaches running between Dumfries, Carlisle and Langholm. Hans Christian Anderson is said to have stayed here. Under the State Management scheme the Blue Bell was refitted and has not fundamentally changed an awful lot since then.
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| © 2022 V&P Russell |
On the opposite side of the High Street to the Blue Bell is the Police Station - which used to be the Bush Inn.
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| 1895 plans for alterations held by Annan Museum |
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| Jug from Bush Inn on display in Annan Museum |
Continuing along the High Street we come to the Queensberry Arms, another establishment that has been in Annan for many years, and was a staging post for Edinburgh and London coaches. You can just see the archway in this photo that led to the rear of the building.
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| Thanks to the Queensberry Hotel for this photo |
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| © 2021 V&P Russell |
You can see from these photos it hasn't changed much over the years!
Back across the road and Hay's Close (next to TOFS) was the site of the Old King's Arms.
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| 1859 Map: National Library of Scotland photo © 2022 P Russell |
Just further along the High Street is Fairfield Place where the Crown and Thistle occupied the whole of the left hand side from the High Street to the North Burn - according to a report in the Annandale Observer from 1858.
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| 1859 Map: National Library of Scotland |
Continuing along the street we come to the Corner House Hotel, built in 1899, this was originally Maclean's Temperance Hotel. Valuation Rolls tell us there were other temperance hotels in Annan - Lorimer's and Stewart's in Bank Street, 36 High Street and the Firth Hotel.
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| Old Annan by Rhona Wilson |
In the United Kingdom, drinking restrictions were tightened considerably following the advent of the First World War. The Defence of the Realm Act (1914) along with introducing rationing and censorship of the press, restricted pubs' opening hours to 12 noon–2:30 pm and 6:30 pm–9:30 pm. Opening for the full licensed hours was compulsory, and closing time was equally firmly enforced by the police.
The State Management Scheme was introduced in certain areas during WW1, continued
through WW2 and went on until 1973. The government were concerned about the
increase in the consumption of alcohol and anti-social behaviour in areas where
work for the war effort was concentrated. Absences due to sickness and the
likelihood of accidents was of great concern so the state intervened. Drinking
establishments were taken over, drink prices were fixed and the only beer
permitted was that made by a local government-owned brewery. Under 18’s
couldn’t buy alcohol and no spirits were served on a Saturday. They also
advocated providing new social activities – such as at Gracie’s Banking in Annan, where
there was a quoiting rink, bowling green, putting green, billiard rooms and the
very popular Kinema.
After buying the Corner House Alexander Irving was instrumental in bringing State Management to an end in the mid seventies.
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| RoM 1973 |
Looking across the street you can see The Anglers, which is another of the present day pubs - but it was where the State Control Office and Off Licence was during State Management.
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| © 2021 V&P Russell |
Just before the Corner House there is a narrow entrance to Wilkins Wynd - which was where the Black Bull was found.
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| 1859 Map: National Library of Scotland |
Just further along the High Street at Number 73 is where there was a cafe/wine bar (The Mariner's?) in the cellar. Later, and until 2012, it was known as the Vaults.
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| Image capture : Mar 2009 © 2022 Google |
Crossing into Lady Street, Galloway Carpets are now where the Crown Inn used to be.
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| 1859 Map: National Library of Scotland photo © 2022 P Russell |
The Shed, Annan's Inn Place just opposite here is a very popular pub today, sponsoring sports, (including Annan Athletic FC) and showing a range of sports on their many screens.
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| Shed Facebook page |
Continuing along Lady Street, past the cinema, we see from maps of Annan that there used to be three pubs in this area.
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| Map: National Library of Scotland |
This one is a mystery but the other two were the Annandale Arms and the Victoria Inn.
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| 1859 Map: National Library of Scotland |
The Annandale Arms was near the corner of what is now called Nursery Place and the Victoria Inn was at the junction of English Street with Wellington Street.
We head off along English Street and turn onto Butts Street to get back to the High Street.
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| © 2021 V&P Russell |
The Commercial Hotel, along with the Blue Bell, the Buck and the Queensberry Arms, is one of the oldest inns in Annan still in existence. Close to the town's markets it was very popular with farmers but was also a Posting Establishment, working from the yard behind the pub. For a short time (1977 - 1985) it was named the Royal Scot but soon changed back - but now the Commercial Inn.
See if you can see find the sign on the wall that we have been told marks a water main and valve.
There is also a sign on the side wall of the Commercial (by Farm Foods) that tells us that it was established in 1769.
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| © 2022 P Russell |
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| © 2022 P Russell |
Continuing along the High Street into Church Street and then Scotts Street we come to the Firth Hotel. The Firth Hotel used to be St John's Parsonage until it was bought in 1940 by Archibald Bridger (who used to own the Corner House Hotel until he sold it to Alexander Irving) Because of State Management, it was a temperance hotel.
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| © 2022 P Russell |
Returning to the Commercial Hotel and Fish Cross we find the site of the Globe Hotel. Colin James is here now.
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| Thanks to V Phillips for this photo |
Further along the High Street where Graham's Barbers is now, the Red Lion used to be.
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| 1859 map: National Library of Scotland |
A newspaper report tells us that a pub licence was applied for in connection with the Caledonian Inn (Rene's now) - but was refused. Too many pubs in Annan perhaps??
The Robert Burns Tavern was where Home Sweet Home is and the New Inn was where LJ Residential is now.
The Albert Hotel has long been demolished but stood in the space next to the Observer offices on the opposite side of the street. During the time of State Management Gracie's Banking was accessed through this same space and offered a beer hall.
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| Thanks to Nicholson's at 33 High Street for this photo |
Turning left into Downie's Wynd we come to the site of the Vine Inn - opposite St Andrew's church.
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| Map: National Library of Scotland photo © P Russell |
We can return to the High Street from here but if you continue along Downie's Wynd into Station Road you eventually reach, the now derelict, Central Hotel - a very busy establishment in its heyday.
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| Thanks to the Devil's Porridge Museum |
Continuing on towards the Station the former ticket office has been repurposed as the Station House.
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| © 2022 P Russell |
If you stayed on Downie's Wynd and didn't take the detour towards the station, return again to the High Street and on the opposite side of the street is The Buck Hotel.
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| © 2021 V&P Russell |
It began as a Posting Establishment, dating from 1700, but was demolished and rebuilt in 1903.
Over the years it has been known by a variety of names - New Buck, Auberge, Back to the Buck but today is once again known as the Buck Inn.
Have you ever looked up at the frontage of the Buck and noticed the sun dial on the wall?
This concludes our amble around the inns, pubs and taverns of Annan and we are sure that any of the establishments still in existence would be ideal for refreshments!
If you have any further information, documents, photos or memories about anything in this blog - or can correct any mistakes - please let us know in the comments section at the bottom or on Annan The History Town Group Facebook page.
