History of Annan Academy

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Visitors to the Academy will notice that, while most of the school buildings are modern, there is a part which dates back further. The old building incorporating the bell-tower, dates back over a century to 1895. This is a constant reminder of the school's history and its origins.

The present school resulted from an amalgamation of Annan Academy and the Greenknowe Public School in 1921. The original Academy was a fee-charging, burgh controlled school whereas the Public School was controlled by the Dumfries Education Authority. This newly amalgamated school was situated on the site of the current school and many traces of it can still be seen today, including the honours boards in the school library which display the names of many duxes and sports champions from both of the original schools.

The Public School’s history can be traced back to the 17th century when the law stipulated that each parish had to provide a school and a schoolmaster. Eventually, in 1840, the Public School was moved to a new building in Greenknowe, which was then replaced in 1895 by a much larger building. This is what is now known as the old school which houses the library and is still in use today.

The original Annan Academy at Port Street.

The Second Annan Academy building

The more illustrious, fee-charging Annan Academy was originally founded in 1802 and was first situated on the corner of Port street and High street in the Bridge House building. It was in this building that local writer Thomas Carlyle was educated as a boy.  
The town council built a new home for the Academy in 1820 in Ednam street. This building was extended in the 1890’s and was still used by the school for certain classes as late as the 1970’s. The building is still there although now it is used for local council offices.

In the 1960’s, a new series of buildings were erected beside the old Greenknowe school on St. John’s road, creating the Annan Academy which we know today.