Dear listers, We have a problem defining where an ancestor worked. He worked in several big "hotels" in Oban in the 1880s. Australian rellies assume that's a pub. American rellies assume it's a place to stay overnight. Cosidering that the man in question worked in a Temperance hotel, and was married in the Temperance hotel in Perth, I don't think that a watering hole is the right assumption. But what WAS the difference in Scotland in the nineteenth century? What are the nuances of the term? Can anyone give us a clue? Sheila in Missouri

Sheila asked : > We have a problem defining where an ancestor worked. He worked in several > big "hotels" in Oban in the 1880s. Australian rellies assume that's a pub. > American rellies assume it's a place to stay overnight. Cosidering that > the man in question worked in a Temperance hotel, and was married in the > Temperance hotel in Perth, I don't think that a watering hole is the right > assumption. But what WAS the difference in Scotland in the nineteenth > century? What are the nuances of the term? Can anyone give us a clue? Oban contained/contains several large hotels - well, it is the gate-way to the Isles - and a fair sprinkling of Temperence Hotels - none these days - although several B&Bs/Guest Houses don't 'have the drink' :( In the 1880's the pecking order would be Boarding House, Temperence Hotel, Hotel, Large Hotel. These days it's B&B (Bed & Breakfast), Guest House, Small Independant Hotel, Large Company run Hotel A pub was/is something entirely different - it is purely a place where the evil drink was/is consumed - no I'm not a tea-totaller. If her reli' worked in Oban in 1881 he could well appear in the Census If she let's me have details I';ll see whether I can find him. Best Wishes Les ========================== Lochaber and North Argyll Family History Group - http://tinyurl.com/y6te7n ==========================

Hello Sheila, I don't think that you are looking at what we would now call a pub. Oban was a popular tourist attraction in those years, people went to Iona and Staffa. If you can get your hands on a book called 'Iona and Staffa via Oban' by Bob Charnley ISBN 1 873597 02 9 you will find several photos of 'Hotels' in the book. A caption under the Oban - Craig Ard Hotel, states "The accommodation of this new and spacious Hotel is ample, the Rooms lofty and well-aired - near the steamboat Pier, and commanding one of the most picturesque and extensive views of Argyleshire. Mrs McLaurin, in returning thanks to the Nobility, Gentry, and Tourists, for the liberal support she has for many years received at the Woodside Hotel (Which she still maintains), hopes, by sparing no exertion to secure comfort, to be honoured with the amount of patronage as on former occasions." There is also a photo of the Alexander Hotel, Oban and also an indoor sketch. There is also a photo on page 33 of a Temperance Hotel which was in George Street. Although it is a small book it has quite a lot about hotels and Oban in the 1880s. Kind regards Jan Peasnell/Sydney/OZ ----- Original Message ----- From: "D & S Tryk" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; "Argyll" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:05 AM Subject: [ARGYLL] A question of semantics > Dear listers, > We have a problem defining where an ancestor worked. He worked in > several big "hotels" in Oban in the 1880s. Australian rellies assume > that's a pub. American rellies assume it's a place to stay overnight. > Cosidering that the man in question worked in a Temperance hotel, and was > married in the Temperance hotel in Perth, I don't think that a watering > hole is the right assumption. But what WAS the difference in Scotland in > the nineteenth century? What are the nuances of the term? Can anyone give > us a clue? > Sheila in Missouri > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >