Shops in Dunfermline have been praised highly in a new Historic Scotland book launched by culture minister Fiona Hyslop.
Scotland’s Shops celebrates the history of Scotland’s retail architecture from medieval markets to the post-war period.
Written by Dr Lindsay Lennie and funded through a three-year research fellowship with Historic Scotland, the book explores, for the first time, how shops across Scotland evolved.
Dunfermline’s shops feature in one of seven survey case studies.
“The book highlights the high number of two-storey shops surviving in the town, with photos and archive images of some of the best examples.
Thomas Johnston butchers in the High Street, Gunn & Galbraith Optometrists in Queen Anne Street and neighbouring shops Timpson and Co-op Chemists in Douglas Street all feature.
The former gas showroom in Canmore Street, now the Faith Mission bookshop, is also singled out as a typical example of a stylish 1930s specialist showroom-complemented in Dunfermline by the former electricity showroom in East Port (now the Morgan Law Partnership).
Ms Hyslop said, “Traditional shops and shop fronts form the heart of many high streets across Scotland and play an important part in our history.Significance”Many long established family businesses and new owners who have inherited a shop with original tiling, shelving or a cast iron frontage are proud of the significance of these shops and want to ensure their survival for future generations to appreciate.”
She added, “Our shops form the economic and social building blocks of our town centres-they are woven into the social fabric of our towns and communities.
“Their architecture and conservation are of great importance in order to retain town centres that are individual, appealing and meaningful.”
Lorraine Bell, Dunfermline conservation area regeneration scheme officer with Fife Council, said, “It’s great to see some of Dunfermline’s finest historic shops recognised in this national publication.”
Scotland’s Shops is £15 and can be bought at www.historic-scotland.gov.uk.
Photo used under Creatire Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Craig Murray.