Baker St described as it was circa 1840? Baker Street has not changed so much as other parts of the town. The shops of Messrs Boswell and fJicol (?) occupy the stance of still another public-house, with crow-stepped gable to the street. At the restaurant below Bank Street (re-built by Mr Thomas Peacock) there was another old house with crow-stepped gable, and Allan Anderson, hatter (who built the tower at Craig- mill lately occupied by Deuovan Adam, artist), had his business premises here. The Stirling Arms Inn was the old Cross Guns, kept by a Mrs Kay, and afterwards by Misses Pollock. Mrs Hoggans furniture warerooms are on the site of an old brewery and public-house, the White Horse, at one time occupied by Mr Kidston. Next door was Towers public-house, and there was an outside stair standing partly across the pave- ment. John Forbes booksellers shop was in the same building. He was for some time a Town Councillor, but being a Unitarian, he was somewhat looked down upon. His shop was the depot for squibs, crackers, and all manner of fire works, and it would startle the people nowadays if they were shown some of the valentines which were exhibited in his window. He was also agent for all kinds of light literature, and among the first in Stirling to sell lucifer matches, which were sold at 8d per box. A very unique house stood where Mr Eason has his grocery pre- mises, near the head of Baker Street. The windows one large and the other small were level with the street, and on descend- ing four or five steps you reached the floor of the last of the many vouts or vaults which were in Stirling in the olden time, and there found Granny Hill, poulterer, in all her glory. She was a very short, stout person, but had a long and bitter tongue ; and besides poultry, she provided periwinkles for the bairns. Frequently the late^ Archibald Campbell, or the Royal, as he was called, stopped for a talk, or to transact business with Mrs Hill, and on fine days her chair was placed at the head of the steps, where she sat plucking and dressing her fowls. The Bishops Close (98 Baker Street), was so called from William Bruce, smith, who had his smithy and dwelling-house there, having been known by the name of The Bishop. He was a most respectable, God-fearing man, who was in the habit of addressing a particular body of people in the Trades Hall on Sabbaths, and it is said that after service food was provided for the worshippers.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 03:05:51 +0000
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