Kirriemuir Square 1862 - 1896
On page Local History
This photo depicts Kirriemuir Square, or High Street, between 1862 and 1896. The Town House building underwent various alterations and additions in that period. The staircase in the clock tower led to the Courtroom of the Bailies who were the keepers of the law at the time(hence Bellies Brae name.) At the top of it was a sturdy iron yett (gate) for security purposes.The right hand side was the jail for local bad lads and lassies. Not very secure, as the minimal bars on the little oval window allowed the public to pass through food and drink-alcohol?
surely not to prisoners!
The curved structure outside was a urinal built for 'public convenience!'
The wagon was nicknamed 'The Pigger' because it travelled the country selling all kinds of household hardware, from pots and pans, to crockery, including stone hot water bottles, which were known as 'pigs in the bed. It is parked outside W. B.Mills, newsagent, bookseller, musical instrument seller and publisher of the 'Kirriemuir Observer' from 1869. Above is the drapery of Peebles and Milne.
The building in the mouth of Bank Street was the property of Jamieson's who were ironmongers. Tenants included J. H. Edwards, advertising his 'Grand Term Sale of Boots, Shoes & Slippers' and, at one time, the first maker of Italian ice-cream in Kirriemuir. The building was eventually demolished to make way for motor vehicles but was used as an air raid shelter in WWII.
Horse dung is visible on the cobbles at the forefront.This presented local councils with many problems over the years. It was collected and heaped into dung middens.When councillors could not agree on what to do with it,quips such as "I leave the matter in your hands" were common!