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Thurso’s Swanson Street helped cater to the changing needs of the town





Thurso’s Heritage by a Thirsa Loon

A peaceful Swanson Street, featuring a few well-known shops, with the houses of Durness Street visible in the beyond, plus part of an advert for the Bay Café.
A peaceful Swanson Street, featuring a few well-known shops, with the houses of Durness Street visible in the beyond, plus part of an advert for the Bay Café.

Continuing from last month’s exploration of Market Street, I will delve into the people and properties of Swanson Street.

Like Market Street, Swanson Street is one of Thurso’s historic thoroughfares, stretching from High Street to the bottom of Durness Street. Unlike both Market Street and Cowgate, which changed names over the years, Swanson Street, as far as I know, has always been known as such.

Over the years, the short street has been a bustling hub of diverse businesses. In the mid-19th century, it featured notable shops such as James Banks, a boot and shoemaker, and James MacBeath, a flesher (butcher).

William MacDonald & Co operated as linen and wool drapers, doubling as a grocer within the same establishment, and the Thurso Industrial Co-operative Society first opened from the street on Christmas Day 1866.

Fast forward to the early 20th century, Swanson Street housed other thriving businesses. Among them were James Noble, a plumber; William Sutherland, a tailor and clothier; and Miss Swanson, a hairdresser I’ve previously mentioned.

George Gunn and Son, another tailor and clothier, also had their shop here, as did Isabel Mackay, a spirit dealer at 21 Swanson Street. Jessie Mowat, known for her bakery and confectionery, added a sweet touch to the street.

John Shearer & Co was one of the businesses in the street where you could buy the latest “fashionable goods”, including “Black Dress Goods in French, Persian and Russell Cords” along with over 100 stays (bras for today’s ladies) to choose from in scarlet, white, fawn, brown and drab! For their other half, they had a selection of clothes and tweeds for men’s wear.

In recent times, and within living memory, Swanson Street continued to thrive with establishments like the Bay Café and Khushie Mohammed’s drapery, spanning numbers 13, 15 and 17. Residents enjoyed a fry up from Stephen’s Fish and Chips and Brasses Fish and Chips, and just last year, I & N Brass supplied the locals with confectionery and ice cream.

A longstanding institution at number 1 was Mackay’s Butchers, a business spanning three generations. They took over the premises from D & G Paterson, who had operated as grocers, ship chandlers, and cycle agents. Their neighbour was Murdo Sutherland, and D Manson ran his tailors from the upstairs premises. These businesses catered to the growing needs of Thurso’s population.

Having covered a few shops, I’ll mention some of the residents. Living in Swanson Street, Alexander Dunnet, a grain merchant, lived opposite his former premises on High Street, which many years later became Woolworths.

In his early days, he took an interest in miniature rifle shooting and won many prizes. Later, he was a bowling club member and a skilled player taking part in inter-town and inter-county matches.

Another resident was David Miller, who worked as a moulder at Millbank Foundry with James MacKidd. He had emigrated to Canada in 1910 and remained until the outbreak of the First World War. He volunteered for services but was refused by the Army owing to a defect in one of his thumbs.

Still wanting to do his bit for the war effort, he took up munition work and returned to Canada after the war. He returned to Thurso some years later and was employed with William Hutcheson at the Foundry until his health declined.

• To get in touch, contact thursoheritage1@gmail.com


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