The former royal burgh of Annan (Gaelic: Anainn) is a well-built town, red sandstone being the material mainly used. Among its public buildings is Annan Academy of which the writer Thomas Carlyle was a pupil, a Georgian building now known as "Bridge House". The Town Hall, built in Victorian style in 1878, uses the local sandstone. Annan also features a Historic Resources Centre. In Port Street, some of the windows remain blocked up to avoid paying the window tax.

 

Geography and administration

Annan River road bridge

Annan stands on the River Annan nearly 2 miles from its mouth, 15 miles from Dumfries, in the region of Dumfries and Galloway on the Solway Firth in the south of Scotland. Eastriggs is about 3 miles to the east and Gretna is about 8 miles to the east.

Annan Bridge, a stone bridge of three arches, built between 1824 and 1827, carries road traffic over the River Annan. It was designed by Robert Stevenson and built by John Lowry. There is also a railway bridge and a nearby pedestrian bridge over the River Annan, and the town is served by Annan railway station.

 

History

Annan served as a maritime town whose shipbuilding yards built many clippers and other boats. A cairn on the jetty commemorates Robert Burns, who worked as an exciseman here in the 1790s. Although the port is now mainly dry, a few stranded boats remain.

Annan is a burgh of considerable antiquity. Roman remains exist in the neighbourhood, and Annan Castle formed the original home of the 'de Brus' family, later known as the "Bruces", lords of Annandale, which most famously produced Robert the Bruce. The Baliols and the Douglases were also more or less closely associated with Annan. During the period of the Border lawlessness the inhabitants suffered repeatedly at the hands of moss-troopers and through the feuds of rival families, in addition to the losses caused by the English and Scots wars.

Edward Irving was a native of the town; there is a statue of him in the grounds of Annan Old Parish Church. The statue was relocated from outside the town hall in the 1960s. Another famous Scottish preacher, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, was ordained by the Annan Presbytery. Annan is also the birthplace of politician Jim Wallace, MSP for Orkney and actress Ashley Jensen best known for her roles in Extras and Ugly Betty.

Annan Academy has a history that goes back to the 17th century; its current buildings include modern 1960s built buildings and older buildings on St John's Road.

Distillery

There are plans to re-open the distillery in Annan which last produced a Lowland Malt 90 years ago although this is still in early stages. [3]

 

Churches

Annan is served by several churches of different denominations, including:

There is also a local interchurch group, known as Annandale Churches Together. [3]

 

Landmarks

Just outside the town, the Chapelcross nuclear power station has now shut down and is decommissioning. The four cooling towers were demolished in 2007.

Nearby, John Maxwell, 4th Lord Herries, built Hoddom Castle (circa 1552 - 1565).

High Street

Chapelcross power station (now partially demolished)

Annan Academy (old buildings)

War memorial, High Street