Allan’s bakery was a feature of Dunfermline High Street from the 1880’s to the 1960’s. In another of our series on Dunfermline’s Industrial and Commercial past, George Beattie writes, in “Andrew Allan, Baker”, a short, illustrated history of the firm.
Dunfermline’s Post Office
By George Robertson In 1886, Alexander Stewart published his book “Reminiscences of Dunfermline – Sixty Years Ago”, which contains a selection of fifty-six stories concerning people and events in Dunfermline. In his Prefatory Note to the book, Stewart remarks “no town in Britain excelled Dunfermline fifty or sixty years ago for the number of intelligent, thrifty, shrewd, good-living people, many of whom were quaint in their ways, and out of the common run”. This viewpoint might well be challenged as an exaggeration but there is no doubt Stewart captured the flavour of Dunfermline and it’s people at the time in question. From a local history point of view, the book is useful since Stewart describes in some detail events taking place in the town and the behaviour of its townspeople. It is my intention to retell some of these stories and I begin with Stewart’s description of the early history of – Dunfermline Post-Office “Between fifty and sixty years ago the Post-Office was a very primitive establishment. Letters were carried to and from Dunfermline in large canvas wallets slung on horseback, and the post-boy carried a long tin horn to herald the approach and departure of the Royal Mail. For some years Mr Andrew Angus, printer, was postmaster, and after he died in 1833 he was succeeded by his daughter Catherine, who had been his assistant. The Post-Office was then in Kirkgate, and it was a place of small dimensions. Miss Angus was postmistress till 1851, when…
The Poor School
The Life and Times of the Poor School of Dunfermline by Dr Jean Barclay The Charity or Free School was established in Dunfermline in 1797 by the Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor with the backing of the Town Council and soon became known as the ‘Poor School’. This account of the Poor School is set against the background of religion and of education in Dunfermline at the time. In the 18th century there was an ‘awakening’ in religion and several evangelical organisations were founded in Scotland to improve religious knowledge and moral behaviour, particularly among the poor. Three of these would become involved with the Poor School. Firstly, in Edinburgh in 1709 the Society in Scotland for Promoting Christian Knowledge was founded as the `younger sister` of the Society for the Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK), which was launched in 1698 by Anglicans in London. The aim of the SSPCK was to establish schools, above all in the `uncivilised` Highlands and Islands, to `Teach to Read, especially the Holy Scriptures and other good and pious Books; As also to Teach Writing, Arithmetick, and such like Degrees of Knowledge`. Catholic missionaries had already established a foothold in the north and the SSPCK hoped to `settle the religious situation, foster a sense of belonging to the Presbyterian Church and provide a bulwark against Jacobitism`. The SSPCK was accepted by the Church of Scotland which in April 1723 ordered a collection…
Stevensons – Auctioneers and Removals
This is the next article in George Beattie’s series on Dunfermline’s Industrial and Commercial past. William Stevenson, worked at several trades before starting this successful firm, which was based for many years in Bruce Street. As always in George’s articles, this one contains some fascinating photographs of Dunfermline’s more recent past. William Stevenson & Sons, House Furnishers, Auctioneers & Removal Experts by George Beattie William Stevenson was born in 1856 at Martyr’s Place, Dunfermline, the son of a local linen warper. On leaving school he served an apprenticeship as a power loom mechanic in one of the Dunfermline Linen Factories. In the 1881 census William, then a 24 year old power loom mechanic, and his wife Mary, are residing at South Inglis Street, Dunfermline. He moved to Alloa where he set up in business as fruiterer, a venture he remained in for a number of years until he returned to Dunfermline around 1900 where he set up as an auctioneer (Note 1). It is thought that Mr Stevenson perhaps began this career whilst still in Alloa. In the 1901 census William and his family are back in Dunfermline, residing at 32 Hill Street, with his occupation given as auctioneer/fruiterer. In the 1910/11 Dunfermline Trade Directory, William’s auctioneering business address is 30 Bruce Street. A Stevenson Auction advert of 1910 indicates that at that time his auction sales were conducted in the Drill Hall, Bruce Street and that…
George Robertson FSA, Keeper of Dunfermline Abbey and Palace
By George Robertson. Captain George Robertson, Dunfermline Volunteer Rifle Corps. (DCL & G collection) Perhaps, before going further, it should be said there is no family relationship between the subject of this article and the author. My interest in George Robertson, (FSA Scot), began some years ago when, during research into other people, places and events pertaining to Dunfermline, his name appeared on a regular basis. Naturally, due to the names being the same, the question arose, who was this other George Robertson? George was born during 1835 in Dunfermline, the second eldest in a family of six children born to Robert Robertson and his wife Susan Spittal. Robert was a draper, with shop premises at numbers 2 and 6 Bridge Street, Dunfermline. (1) Details of George’s early life are few and we have to rely on official documents to gain some idea of this. The 1841 census for Dunfermline shows him living with his parents and two brothers in Bridge Street, Dunfermline, with father described as a draper. The 1851 census then shows the family have moved and are living in the village of Limekilns and George, now fifteen years old, has three brothers and two sisters. His father is again described as a draper, employing 15 men. George and his older brother Peter are also shown to be drapers, no doubt working for their father. At the time of the 1861 census we find the family have again moved this time to North Queensferry, where George and his younger brother…