A book with the simple but undeniably accurate title of Old Edinburgh Taverns by the author Marie W Stuart is a rare find. It should be said however at the outset, that any book first published in 1952 scarcely qualifies for a review but this one as it contains a wealth of information about everyday life in Scotland’s capital city from the late 1500’s to late 1800’s is one that will put modern day social habits of Auld Reekie into a very useful historical context.
The Publisher
Published by the esteemed firm of Robert Hale Limited, publishers their website tells us since 1936 and based today in the heart of London’s Clarkenwell district, the reader will uncover a wealth of information and stories expertly told with a minimum of comment befitting perhaps the age it was written in. The firm is still releasing a wide variety of books from Crime Novels and Westerns, to Practical Reference and Regional Interest and this release would at first seem to fit well into the latter category.
The Contents and Their Impact
Old Edinburgh Taverns is so much more than a guide to places serving strong drink in a large town on the edge of Europe. It contains stories and facts, wound round the people and the places they frequented and the impact this had on the whole of life in Edinburgh at the time. The chapter headings give the casual reader an inkling of what’s in store.
- I Entertainment for Travellers
- II Tavern Life
- III In and Around Parliament Close
- IV Within the City
- V The “ Luckies.”
- VI The Stablers’ Inns
- VII Outside the City
- VIII The Coffee Houses
- IX Public Houses of Interest.
And each of the Chapters feature aspects of the importance of public gathering places like pubs, inns and coffee houses to both residents and travellers alike. The small and often claustrophobic spaces that were largely individually owned and controlled and run provided hospitality for the legal system near the courts, a place to conduct business for merchants, room for the development of inspired thought, a place to discuss poetry, writings, architecture, medical advancement, and exploration of the world and beyond that fostered Scotland’s important contribution to the Age of Enlightenment and the very development of Scotland’s capital itself as an important contributor to that movement.
Students of Social History would do well to study the impact of ‘Drink,’ in this setting and the impact it had on the Scottish Psyche, both to the ‘thinking’ classes and those more involved in the everyday running of the capital. All social life is here.
Illustrations and Setting
Giving the reader a vivid picture of life in a major European city that was to find itself described as “The Athens of the North”, in such a way prevalent to the time of writing, this book published today would certainly describe it all differently. This may be the key in part to some of its appeal. Illustrated by the use of prints and the occasional portrait, many from the resources of Edinburgh Public Library, all lend to the atmosphere created by the tales and descriptions of characters and events contained within the now slightly faded old book binding style and layout from the 1950’s, printed by the Edinburgh printers J and J Gray. Illustrations include images of :
- Both John Dowie himself and
- John Dowie’s Tavern.
- Parliament Close.
- The Rainbow Tavern, North Bridge.
- The Black Bull Hotel, Leith Street.
- The Golf Tavern, Bruntsfield Links.
The last image in the above list of the Golf Tavern note, is “by kind permission of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh.”
Stories and Research.
The Author acknowledges the help of the Misses Balfour and Wardle, two good Scottish surnames, from Edinburgh Public Library in the first few pages so it can be assumed Marie W Stuart has done her research and a look through the titled packed 192 pages bears this out. There are stories of golfers and gamblers, travellers trying to find lodgings in a ragged land, tales of coffee and political unrest, clubs and societies with extremely unusual rules, famous poets and long forgotten city worthies. Marie W Stuart has brought them all to life.
Sadly this book now appear to be out of print, but find a copy and discover Old Edinburgh as it comes to life in all its drinking, sometimes drunken, but undeniably social glory.
Dan McCurdy - Dan McCurdy is a freelance writer producer creative and lecturer. Dan is one of the UK's most experienced radio writers and producers. ...
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