SMR 1723 / NS 8560 7311
The Royal Hotel at the Cross in Slamannan was built in 1866 at a time when the extraction of coal had made the village into a boom town. This was a fine-looking building of two storeys, of sandstone ashlar with a hood-moulded doorway facing onto Main Street. It completed the aesthetics of the commercial centre or Common of the village. That December two men applied for an existing public house licence to be extended to the hotel – John Boyd the standing publican and George Smith a grocer in the village. It was granted to Boyd, despite Sheriff Bell stating very distinctly that Slamannan :
“seemed to him to be one of the great centres of crime in that district; and all cases of breaches of peace, assaults, and such like offences were to be traced to the immediate vicinity of the existing hotel” (Falkirk Herald 1 December 1866, 2).
Actually, there were two licensed premises within the building. That at the north end was the Crown Inn and Boyd’s interest were transferred there.
The most used phrase in the local newspaper in connection with the Royal Hotel in Falkirk was “exposed for sale by public roup.” The most used words at the Royal Hotel in Slamannan were “breach of the peace.” Consequently, the tenants changed relatively frequently. Things did settle for a short time when George Smith was finally granted the licence around 1871. He took an active part in the community and was on the School Board.
He also helped to establish the cattle shows in the public space in front of the hotel. George Smith was followed by the Campbell family who extended the business.
In 1889 they branched into undertaking – purveying the commemorative meal and arranging the funeral. John Campbell died on 10 March 1892 and his widow, Mary Gentleman, took over. She must have been a tough lady because even she was assaulted by her customers. One was found guilty in February 1895 of kicking her on the leg. The hotel was owned by the Trust set up by George Smith and it was probably his son, Thomas Smith, who became the publican c1902.
The next innkeeper at the Royal was Mr Fraser whose name appears on some of the old photographs of the building. He died around 1920 and in that year Christina Falconer or Fraser was granted the hotel licence. This was clearly just an interim measure and the following year the occupant was W. F. Taylor. In common with many licensed premises, the Royal Hotel was taken over by James Aitken & Co (Falkirk) and in 1928 Andrew Sinclair was installed as the manager. He was from East Kilbride and had been brought up in the trade. He moved to Slamannan with his young family but soon found that “Slamannan did not agree with his children” and so the following year he was replaced by his brother, Thomas Sinclair.
Thomas was an enterprising man and soon had economic interests in various local businesses. He was strong and well-built. Early in 1934 he acquired the mineral rights of Klondyke Pit from Carron Company and extended the shaft to a depth of 17 fathoms to reach a new seam of coal. On Sunday 18 March 1934 he and some miners went down the pit in order to open up an old air hole so that work could proceed. Around noon they came up for a break and Thomas Sinclair and George Whitelaw were in the last kettle or cage to ascend. Whitelaw had lived through the First World War and was known as “the man they could not kill” – his bullet wounds were a showpiece. He had, however, been out of work for three years and this was his first day back. His luck was not to hold. About 50ft up the cage broke loose from the chain and crashed to the bottom of the shaft. Sinclair sustained injuries to his spine and a dislocated shoulder, while Whitelaw was injured about the chest. They were brought to the surface in a second shaft in an unconscious condition. Thomas’ son, Archibald, had been helping with the winch and took part in the rescue. He later took over the running of the Royal Hotel and drove lorries as a sideline.
In 1938, Luke Hannan, a retired sergeant of the Glasgow Police, living at Binniehill, was granted the licence for the Royal Hotel. It still catered for meetings such as the “tattie an’ herrin’ supper” of the Slamannan Scots Club in February 1942. A shortage of labour during the war meant that Hannan was followed by Magnus Dunsire that year – he was a motor engineer. Almost ten years later he was followed by his daughter, Euphemia, who in 1951 extended the bar. Up until then a part of the premises had been sub-leased as a tailor’s shop but this had fallen vacant. A part was to be formed into a lounge and interior walls in the public bars removed so that the whole of it would be within the vision of a barman. Provision was made for a service counter between the inside bar and lounge.
The public house continued into the 21st century was eventually closed and the vacant building deteriorated over a long number of years, becoming a health hazard. Finally, in 2024, it was demolished by Falkirk Council.
| DATE | PUBLICAN | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| 1866-c1870 | John Boyd | |
| 1869-c1871 | John Chalmers | |
| c1871-c1885 | George Smith | |
| c1886-1892 | John Campbell | Son |
| 1892 – | Mary Gentleman or Campbell | |
| 1903 | Thomas Smith (Trustees of George Smith) | |
| 1903 – | Fraser | |
| 1920-1921 | Christina Falconer or Fraser | Widow |
| 1921 | W F Taylor | |
| 1928-1929 | Andrew Sinclair (James Aitken & Co Ltd) | Purchase. 8 Cuningham Road, East Kilbride. |
| 1929-1934 | Thomas Sinclair | Brother. Bargeddie. |
| 1934 – | Archibald Scott Sinclair | Son ? |
| 1938 – | Luke Patrick Hannan | Retired sergeant of the Glasgow Police. |
| 1942 | Magnus W. Dunsire | Motor engineer, Mungalhead Road, Falkirk. |
| 1951 – | Euphemia Darroch Dunsire or McCarron | Daughter ? |
| 1980s | Mary Elder |
Bibliography
| Jaques, R. | 2001 | Falkirk and District, an Illustrated Architectural Guide. “Royal Hotel, 1866 Natural focus of town centre, in white render with black cornice banding, window surrounds and piended slate roof.”[p. 110 ] |
| Falkirk Herald | Various | See quoted below. |
Falkirk Herald 27 November 1866, 2:
“There were only two appeals lodged, the one John Boyd, publican, Slamannan, and the other by George Smith, grocer there. The appeals were made against the decision of the Falkirk Justices, who refused to grant an inn and hotel licence, for which both parties applied. After considerable discussion, the Court sustained Boyd’s appeal, and dismissed Smith’s.”
Falkirk Herald 1 December 1866, 2:
“Sheriff Bell stated very distinctly that Slamannan seemed to him to be one of the great centres of crime in that district; and all cases of breaches of peace, assaults, and such like offences were to be traced to the immediate vicinity of the existing hotel, and there were serious doubts in the minds of some of the Falkirk justices whether there should not be a change of occupancy… Mr Boyd had kept the house orderly… Mr Dickson the present tenant of the hotel in Slamannan…”
(First case for an extension of a public house to a hotel)
Falkirk Herald 31 December 1868, 2:
“the members of the Slamannan St John’s Lodge, No. 484, held their first annual festival in honour of St John’s day, in the Royal Hotel. An excellent dinner having been served up in good style, ample justice was done thereto. The cloths having been removed…”
Falkirk Herald April 1869, 4:
“John Boyd, for grocer’s premises at Camelon granted. John Chalmers, for inn and hotel at Slamannan — granted.”
Falkirk Herald 4 May 1871, 4:
“Forsyth, 25 years of age, miners, residing at Slamannan, were charged with assaulting the innkeeper, Geo. Smith, of the Royal Hotel there on Monday last, and both having been previously convicted, were sentenced to pay a fine of 20s, with the alternative…”
Falkirk Herald 28 June 1873, 3:
“places of interest in the burgh by Brother J. Costello. These members of this ancient order then hired from Mr A. Campbell, Royal Hotel, the mail coach which ran many years ago from Stirling to Callander. In this substantial and commodious conveyance they…”
Falkirk Herald 16 March 1876, 5:
“School Board election in this parish, which takes place on the 20lh inst. t-Messrs Henry Taylor Redhall, George Smith, Royal Hotel; William Wilkie, Moss Castle; Rev. K. S. Horne, minister of the parish; William Wood, merchant; A. Peddie-Waddell, of Ha…”
Falkirk Herald 15 December 1877, 1;
“NOTICE. MEETING of those Favourable to the FORMATION of a CATTLE SHOW in SLAMANNAN will held in the Royal Hotel, on FRIDAY EVENING, at 7 o’clock.”
Falkirk Herald 26 January 1884, 3:
“Robert Lambie, twenty-two years of age, barman in charge of the Royal Hotel, was on Thursday examined before Sheriff Bell at Falkirk, and committed to prison, on a charge of stealing £12 from the bar till, and a quantity of whisky from the hotel. Lambie alleged that the premises had been broken into and the robbery committed by an outsider. Part of the stolen property was found in his trunk.”
Falkirk Herald 2 July 1887, 6:
“to be exceptional to the general rule of jubilee festivity, sat down to excellent supper, purveyed by Mr Campbell of the Royal Hotel. James M‘Killop, Esq., Binniehill House, occupied the chair, and Mr Roy, Limerigg, acted as croupier. The toast of the evening…”
Falkirk Herald 16 February 1889, 8:
“MESSRS CAMPBELL. ROYAL HOTEL, SLAMANNAN, HAVING made arrangements with a thoroughly Practical Undertaker, are now in a position to receive Orders for Funeral Undertaking. Work in all its branches…”
Falkirk Herald 8 May 1889, 5;
“Archibald Stevenson, miner, Longrigg, was fined 30s or ten days, for assaulting John Campbell, keeper the Royal Hotel, Slamannan. Breach of the Peace. — James Paisley, mason, Slamannan, who was disorderly the public road between Slamannan…”
Falkirk Herald 26 March 1892, 1:
“At Royal Hotel, Slamannan, on the 10th inst., John Campbell, beloved husband Mary Gentleman and eldest son of Colin Campbell, deeply regretted”
Falkirk Herald 16 July 1892, 4:
“apprehended by Sergeant Fyfe, Slamannan, on a charge of having that morning broken into a beer cellar connected with the Royal Hotel there, and with having stolen large quantity of beer. They were brought to Falkirk on Wednesday, and judicially examined”
23 July –
“miner, Bank Street, Slamannan, was planed the bar charge of having, on 12th July, broken into a beer cellar behind the Royal Hotel there and stolen about 25 gallons beer. Accused admitted the charge, agent on his behalf said the first point would like…”
Falkirk Herald 1 March 1893, 5;
“SLAMANNAN Miner Sent T0 Stewart, miner, Burn Row, Slamannan, was charged with having on 25th February, in the Royal Hotel there, occupied by Mary Gentleman or Campbell, widow, assaulted Bert Murray, barman, Bank Street, Slamannan, by striking…”
Falkirk Herald 2 January 1895, 8:
“while the duties of croupier were very ably discharged by Brother H. Baxter, P.M. The supper was purveyed by Mrs Campbell, Royal Hotel, and, to say the least, reflected the greatest credit to the purveyor. After justice had been done to the good things, the…”
Falkirk Herald 9 February 1895, 5:
“Assaulting a Slamannan Hotel keeper, John Campbell, a labourer, from Slamannan, was charged with having, within the Royal Hotel. Slamannan, assaulted Mary Gentleman or Campbell, widow, the hotelkeeper, kicking her on the leg. Panel pleaded guilty The…”
Falkirk Herald 28 September 1901, 5:
Mrs Bell, Royal Hotel.
Falkirk Herald 8 April 1903, 1:
Thomas Smith, hotelkeeper, Slamannan – trustees of the late George Smith, Slamannan, proprietor
(Died December 1903!)
Falkirk Herald 7 April 1920, 2:
renewal or transfer – Christina Falconer or Fraser, Royal Hotel, Slamannan – inn and hotel – applicant proprietor
Falkirk Herald 26 October 1921, 3:
W F Taylor, occupant, Royal Hotel, Slamannan
Falkirk Herald 18 April 1928, 4;
“Andrew Sinclair, 8 Cunningham Road, East Kilbride, applied for the Royal Hotel inn and hotel licence at Slamannan, the proprietors of the property being Messrs James Aitken and Co., Falkirk. Mr Andrew Hunter, who appeared in support…”
Mentioned that the applicant had been born to the trade. The police objected to the use of a back door. Granted as long as the back door only used for cellar purposes.
Falkirk Herald 20 April 1929, 7:
“NEW TENANTS OR OCCUPANTS. Thomas Sinclair, Cutlhill, Bargeddie, applied for the certificate in respect of the Royal Hotel, Slamannan, Mr Andrew Hunter, who appeared for the applicant, said the licence was held Mr Sinclair’s brother, but he found that Slamannan did not agree with his children. The applicant had had considerable experience. Granted…”
Falkirk Herald 21 March 1934, 3:
“at the Klondyke pit, Easter Jaw, Slamannan, on Sunday forenoon [18th]. It appears that while the men in question, Thomas Sinclair, licensee of the Royal Hotel, Slamannan, and George Whitelaw, Dawson City, near Slamannan, were being hoisted to the surface in a cage or kettle, the cage broke loose from the chain and crashed to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of over 50ft. As a result, Sinclair sustained injuries to his spine and a dislocated shoulder, while Whitelaw was injured about the chest…. this was about noon and within a short time a crowd gathered at the pithead. Sinclair, a heavily built man of splendid physique, and Whitelaw were by then lying unconscious in a disused pithead outbuilding… Sinclair had comparatively recently acquired the mineral rights of the pit from Carron Co, the owners of the colliery. It was his intention to mine a seam believed to contain 5,000 tons of coal situated about 17 fathoms below the surface and the shaft had been sunk that distance. On Sunday, Sinclair with some companions intended to open up an old air hole so that an early start could be made…. His son was helping with the windlass and after the accident descended in the other kettle. Whitelaw was known as the man they could not kill in the war.”
Falkirk Herald 30 July 1938, 6:
Archibald Scott Sinclair, motor lorry driver, Royal Hotel, Slamannan
Falkirk Herald 29 October 1938, 4:
Luke Patrick Hannan, Binniehill, Slamannan, a retired sergeant of the Glasgow Police granted a licence for the Royal Hotel, Slamannan.
Falkirk Herald 28 February 1942, 2:
“SLAMANNAN TATTIE AN’ HERRIN’ SUPPER. On Monday evening, Slamannan Scots Club held their third annual Scoti Nicht in the Royal Hotel, Slamannan. Guests from Falkirk were warmly welcomed by Mr M. Grubb, chairman. After supper, songs and recitations Messrs…”
Falkirk Herald 31 October 1942, 3:
“while application for the certificate for the Royal Hotel, Slamannan, was granted to Magnus Dunsire, motor engineer, Mona Cottage, Mungalhead Road, Falkirk.”
Falkirk Herald 14 October 1950, 9:
Magnus W. Dunsire, Royal Hotel, Slamannan
Falkirk Herald 3 November 1951, 5:
Euphemia Darroch Dunsire or M’Carron, applied for a renewal of the transferred certificate in respect of the hotel licence for the Royal Hotel, Slamannan. Mr R. S. Taylor,, solicitor, Falkirk, appeared for the applicant, and as there was no objection by the police, the application was granted. Mrs M’Carron also applied for a new certificate to allow her to carry out an alteration and extension of the premises. A part of the place was used as a tailor’s shop, but this was to be vacated. The proposal was to use the shop as part of the hotel. A part was to be formed into a lounge. Certain interior walls in the public bars would be removed. Provision was made for a service counter between he inside bar and lounge. The whole of the public bar would be within the vision of the barman. There was ample provision for service to the lounge, and the whole of the plans would constitute a considerable improvement…
Falkirk Herald 12 September 1986, 15:
The Royal Hotel, Slamannan – Mary Elder, The Royal Hotel.
Falkirk Local History Society 