Welcome to Annan

The Royal Burgh of Annan is located on the River Annan, on the north shore of the Solway Firth in Scotland, in the county of Dumfriesshire, approximately 335 miles north-west of London and 20 miles east of Dumfries.

The town has a population of around 10,000. Administratively it is within the local government district of Dumfries and Galloway which covers an area of approximately 6,426 sq kms.

Lying just 12 miles from the border with England it has had a turbulent past, which the numerous fortified tower houses testify to. Today it is an agricultural and industrial town with its former busy harbour still used by local fishing boats. There are many fine sandstone buildings, made of locally quarried stone, and some notable historic sites in the vicinity, including the cave where Robert the Bruce is said to have taken refuge from the English in 1306.

There has been settlement here since Roman times and Roman remains can still be seen in the area. Later, 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 town received its charter from King James V in 1538.

Historically the town used waterpower to develop local grain milling and cotton spinning industries. In the 19th century shipbuilding in the port of Annan expanded greatly, after trade links were developed with Canada and the USA, but today there is no trace of this and only a few fishing boats are based here. The town has an engineering works and a nuclear power station and many people are employed in two large food-processing factories. Other industries include the manufacture of cotton and rope, distilling, tanning, nursery-gardening and salmon-fishing.