Stirling Through the Decades

Once a decade, the population of Scotland is counted, collecting information about every single person who lives here. It provides a snapshot of the nation, and has done since the first modern census in 1801. So with the help of The Smith’s amazing photography collection, we’re taking a look back at Stirling through the decades to celebrate census day 2022.

1890s

c.1890s: Barnton Street looking north from the bottom of Friar Street, and Maxwell Place going off downhill to the right. The new buildings forming the East side of Barnton Street are complete suggesting this photo is after 1875. Murray Place is still cobbled. Viewfield Church is visible in the background. Princes Street can be seen rising from Barton Street on the left in middle distance. A small dog in the foreground. R&J Smiths Tobacconist is visible in the centre. Photo by Sargeant McKenzie.

1900s

Black and white image of a cobbled street lined with brick buildings. groups of men stand around in suits and flat caps. There is a vintage car in the far background — Image courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

c.1903: View of Upper Craigs and Port Street, showing the Custom House bar, with men standing outside it, and on a pavement opposite. Motor cars and horse drawn carts on the road.

1910s

black and white image of a cobbled street lined with tall stone buildings, a man walks with 6 sheep down the centre of the street. — Image courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

c.1910: Postcard showing the junction of King Street and Port Street, c.1900 with a shepherd and his sheep on the way to the market at Wallace Street. Valentines & Sons, Ltd.

1920s

Black and white image of a white washed building with the words Castle Garage, men in suits stand next to vintage cars — Image courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

c.1920s: Front view of Castle Garage, one of the first garages to service cars in Stirling.

1930s

Black and white image of a butchers shop. 4 people stand in the doorway, two men in butchers jackets, a women and a man in a suit. JAS CULLENS on the sign above the shop. — Image courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

c.1930s: Cullens butchers standing at doorway of the shop in Port Street during Charity week for Stirling Royal Infirmary. This image is part of our traditional shop front series, you can explore more of this collection here.

1940s

Black and white image of a road lined with tenements, vintage cars parked on the road, people walk on the pavement. — Image courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

1940s: Postcard of Port Street from the south with a number of buses on the left, a 1930’s style car and a horse and cart. Valentines & Sons, Ltd

1950s

Black and white image of a row of stone houses, a vintage car parked in the foreground. — Image courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

c.1953: Photographs of junction of Cowane Street and Wallace Street, with Rob Roy Bar and Traffic Lights.

Black and white image, two canons in the foregroud, looking down on the town. Rows of tenements and business buildings, curch spires and industrial structures. — Image courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

1960s

c.1960s: View over Stirling from The Gowan Hill with the Two cannons in the foreground with Wallace Street in front, Sillars Ford Garage, Polmaise Bing in distance, and Stirling Town centre. Photo by Arthur MacPherson.

FOLLOW US