The photographs in this week’s trip down West Fife’s Memory Lane look at some of the bakers and grocers shops that have operated down through the years in Dunfermline.
The first photograph is of the staff of Stephens shop in Guildhall Street in the 1990s.
Stephens are one of the oldest businesses in Dunfermline and are celebrating the 150th anniversary this year of their foundation in 1873.
The photograph brings back memories for Wilma Chapman: “I remember those days! I recognise all those faces behind the counter. I used to go through the back to the cafe on a Saturday with my mum which was our regular thing, either there or Giacomos. Both were always so busy that sometimes we had to queue to wait for a seat in both places.”
Helen Ward also remembers some famous visitors from her time working with Stephens: “I generally worked in the café and I loved it! I was just telling my sister in law that back in the day the Dunfermline players used to come in for breakfast. It was great!”
Local historian Sue Mowat gives a fascinating insight into some of the bakers who plied their trade in the 19th century: “Households in Victorian Dunfermline daily enjoyed a luxury which is now all too rare – freshly-baked bread.
"According to the 1861 town directory there were seven bakers in the High Street, 11 in other town centre streets and six in the outlying areas.
"Advertisements in the local press mention that as well as bread loaves and rolls, some bakers also made currant loaves, Madeira cake and plain and fancy shortbread.
"On December 21, 1861, Mrs Shaw, whose shop was in the High Street three doors west of Guildhall Street, announced that she had added ‘pastry in all its branches’ to her repertoire and would provide pastries for Christmas and New Year parties ‘to any extent’.
David Wylie, in Guildhall Street, supplied ‘hot pies and lemonade at any hour during the day’, and James Muir in Baldridgeburn ‘served families in the country free of delivery charges’.
There were lots of local corner shops before the growth of supermarkets and our next photograph shows one that once stood on the corner of the New Row and Priory Lane called Ian Christie’s.
The next photograph is of the staff of McLelland's grocers shop taken around 1955.
Before they relocated to the High Street in Dunfermline their shop used to be in Maygate near Abbot House.
The final photograph is of Dunfermline City Bakery that had its premises where 'Mountain Warehouse' is today on Dunfermline High Street, next door to Greggs bakery
Loren Laird remembers: “My uncle Malcolm was a baker at the City Bakery. Me and my now husband went after the dancing and got rolls and cakes to take home. Braw to get a heat before going home. He also made my wedding cake. After the bakery shut he went to Giacomos.”
More photographs like these can be seen in Dunfermline Carnegie Library.
With thanks to Frank Connelly
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