Crossroads and Characters

50. THE CLUE OF THE YEWS.

The Union Bank which stood at Perth Road and Upper Granco St. looked purpose built and it was. The bank's previous quarters were on the Lower Granco in what is still called The Old Bank House. The new bank built in 1883 was well located, close to a main road, the grounds landscaped with yews and other trees, and it suited the Bank of Scotland when that organization absorbed the Union Bank. It was Dunning's sole bank until it was closed in the early 1960's. Now it has been converted to handsome flats. But why did a purpose-built bank have a row of yew trees, usually associated with churchyards? It's puzzling, yet there is no other physical evidence to go on. However, an early map and history explain the mystery. From 1803 to the 1850's the Relief Church, a dissenting congregation, had a chapel here. The clue of the yews.