06/07/2026
A Brief History of Lowe Donald & Company Ltd
1821 Walter Thorburn buys premises on Peebles High Street and begins his career as a woollen merchant.
1860 With the tweed and woollen cloth departments expanding, Walter Thorburn sells his High Street premises and goes into partnership with this son Walter and moves to new warehouse next to the Green Tree Hotel. The company is now known as Thorburn & Company.
1870 Walter Thorburn’s (jr) son William Thorburn becomes managing director. Under his energetic management, the firm expands rapidly. Walter Thorburn (jr) retires from the firm to concentrate on his weaving business.
1872 Head sales person John Lowe and warehouse manager Thomas Anderson are brought into the partnership. The firm is now known as Thorburn, Lowe and Anderson.
1878 Leading sales person William Donald becomes a partner. The firm becomes Lowe, Donald & Company. William Thorburn remains as managing director.
1881 The firm starts exporting overseas.
1897 Lowe, Donald & Company open their magnificent purpose-built warehouse in Peebles, ideally located next to the main railway line.
1903 Lowe, Donald & Company is now incorporated as a limited company.
1903-1964 The company is now exporting to almost every country in the trading world. Between the two wars, the company focusses on expanding their operations in Buenos Aires, Budapest, France and Belgium.
1964 Lowe Donald & Company Ltd is acquired by Holland & Lewis (Holdings) Ltd; which included Holland & Sherry, Gagnière and Moffat Bros.HS
