Thurso's Heritage: History of Durness Street is chock full of fascinating tales
It’s surprising what information we can discover about a row of houses, whether social or historical, writes a Thirsa Loon.
So, following on from the last article where I looked at Rotterdam Street, I thought I would turn my attention to Durness Street, another one of the oldest roads.
Many houses in the town had thatched roofs. An entry in a diary from 1836 mentions the properties are “still thatched with straw and simmons (straw rope). There is a whole street of such dwellings in Boorragstoon, and not many years ago all this part of Thurso was composed of old thatched houses with a peat stack at the end of each.”
On the seaward side of the street ran a broad road called the Links of Ormlie. It was destroyed during storms, which raged from the end of 1807 and into early 1808.
Opposite where Durness Street joins Olrig Street stood the Gillock, West or Scrabster Toll. And, towards the middle of Durness Street, there was the Original Secession church and manse. Though the Seceders had worshipped in Thurso from around 1766, it was around 1775 when their church was built. By the turn of the 19th century, a new extension resulted in litigation “lasting two generations.” The church eventually became the workshop of Swanson & Co, coachbuilders and was later demolished for housing.
Today we know the area as residential, but in times past, it had a variety of businesses. In the first half of the 19th century, Charles Gordon multi-tasked as a draper selling linen and woollen goods, groceries, and haberdashery items such as buttons, cords, and eyelets. He was not the only one selling clothes in the street, as William Levach sold a similar line. Two coopers, Murdoch Gunn and James Sutherland were busy making and repairing barrels, and Alexander Ryrie, a vintner, sold his imported supplies of wine.
Later, more businesses would set up in the street, such as Peter Angus, a millwright; James Banks, a boot and shoemaker; and Alexander Begg, a leather merchant.
Around the same time, Alexander Brims sold a variety of sundries. He, or a relation of the same name, owned the William IV inn, which also stood on Durness Street. Speaking of alcohol, William Campbell sold spirits and groceries; Hugh Cowan made clocks and watches, and John McKay had his blacksmiths.
There are also a couple of people of note living/working from Booragtoon. David Smith, a builder and architect, worked on properties such as the West Free Church, stables for Aimster Farm, Thurso Castle, the Drill Hall, and 25-35 Traill Street. And also his son, Dr John Grant Smith. His memorial fountain stood on High Street until moved by the Town Council to the Esplanade.
It’s worth mentioning John Swanson, a brewer. He had moved to the street from Geise Distillery after an accident where his arm was torn off in the machinery of the malt mill. His youngest son, Chief Inspector Donald Swanson, would become the top detective in the country and the lead detective in the Jack the Ripper case.
In 1874, Barbara MacDonald likely wished she had never set foot on Durness Street. She stole from a house there a piece of cotton cloth. Though she pleaded guilty, the court considered her previous convictions and sentenced her to six months’ imprisonment.
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