THE photographs in this week’s trip down West Fife’s Memory Lane look at some of the bakers that have operated down the years in Dunfermline.

The first photo is of the horse and cart of one of Dunfermline's oldest-established businesses, Stephens, who were founded in 1873.

Kay Fairweather recalls the service: “I remember the horse and cart selling Stephens goodies both in Rolland Street and John Street in Dunfermline. My dad served his time with them, became a confectioner and was with them until 1954.”

Not everyone appreciated the attempts to let people know when the cart was in their street as Margaret Elliot recalls: “I remember Jimmie Davie roaring like a bull in Chapel Street and my grandma getting on to him for waking the bairn!”

The next picture is of Stephens' shop in St Margaret Street around 1952 with manageress Mrs Easson pictured on the left.

Local historian Sue Mowat gives a fascinating insight into some of the bakers who plied their trade in the 19th century: “Households in Victorian Dunfermline daily enjoyed a luxury which is now all too rare – freshly-baked bread. According to the 1861 town directory, there were seven bakers in the High Street, 11 in other town centre streets and six in the outlying areas. Advertisements in the local press mention that as well as bread loaves and rolls, some bakers also made currant loaves, seed, plum, Madeira cake and plain and fancy shortbread. On December 21, 1861, Mrs Shaw, whose shop was in the High Street three doors west of Guildhall Street, announced that she had added ‘Pastry in all its branches’ to her repertoire and would provide pastries for Christmas and New Year parties ‘to any extent’. George Philp at the east end of the High Street sold ‘A variety of fancy bread and biscuits and warm rolls every morning’. David Wylie, in Guildhall Street, supplied ‘Hot pies and lemonade at any hour during the day’, and James Muir in Baldridgeburn ‘served families in the country free of delivery charges’. Thomas Milne’s offer of ‘Oven accommodation given to families’ reminds us that domestic ovens were not common at a time when the majority of people lived in just one or two rooms.”

The next image is of the staff of Jas Bruce Bakers, who had their premises in the High Street opposite where Poundstretchers is today, lined up outside their shop on a Gala Day in the 1950s when most shops closed while the annual parade of schoolchildren made its way down through the town to Pittencrieff Park.

The final photograph is of Dunfermline City Bakery that had its premises where 'Mountain Warehouse' is today on Dunfermline High Street next door to Greggs bakery, which Loren Laird remembers: “My uncle Malcolm was a baker at the City Bakery. Me and my now husband went after the dancing and got rolls and cakes to take home. Braw to get a heat before going home. He also made my wedding cake. After the bakery shut he went to Giaccomos.”

More photographs like these can be seen in Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries as well as at facebook.com/olddunfermline.

With thanks to Frank Connelly.