St. Laurence Inn

SMR 1286 / NS8558 7311

The St Laurence occupies the north-west corner of the crossroads at Slamannan and appears to have been a speculative build in 1846 by Provost Rankin.  It is built of the local hard brown whinstone with dressed sandstone margins – a distinctive style once common on the Slamannan plateau.   The two-storey building continued northwards along Main Street and included a hall, stabling, a coach house, and offices.  The ground floor was occupied by the public house and before long had a bottling store, washing house and wine cellar.   James Wilson took over the inn and then acted as the host.  As well as drinking, many activities took place here – such as dinners, business meetings, social meetings, auctions and sequestrations.  Around 1855 the two-storied building was extended westwards as a tenement with accommodation upstairs and a provision shop below.  At the same time Wilson played the lead in constructing a gas works in the grounds behind the inn which it served.  John Spence, gas-fitter and brass-founder in Airdrie, acted as the engineer and fitter.  The works was large enough to provide gas to the neighbouring houses and shops.  When it and the inn were sold on in 1859 it was stated that

“Pipes have been laid into nearly the whole of the houses in the village and neighbourhood, and numerous buildings are being erected every year, thereby increasing demand for Gas” (Falkirk Herald 11 August 1859, 1).

Bibliography

Ordnance Survey Name Book		ST LAURENCE HOTEL “A large two storey house in the village of Slamannan, it is slated and in very good repair.  Property of Provost Rankine, Auchengray.”
The Falkirk Herald		Quoted below.

• Falkirk Herald, 19 July 1866
  • Property in Slamannan for sale by private bargain. St Lawrence Inn, large hall, provision store, dwelling-houses, gas-work, and whole plant, together with vacant building ground, with good frontage to principal street. That tenement of houses, comprehending St Lawrence Inn, with large and commodious provision shop below the same, bottling store, washing house, cellars, and others. The inn has been long established, is well frequented, and known as the only one in the district. There is ample accommodation for stabling, with suitable coach-house at the back of the inn. The shop commands a large and thriving retail trade. The gas work, adjoining the above premises, supplies the village of Slamannan and district with gas. The population of Slamannan is yearly increasing. There is a large garden in connection with the property, and the dwelling-houses and shops are well let, while the feu-duty is moderate. Part of the price may be allowed to remain on the security of the property, and will be disposed of in whole or separately, to suit purchasers. Apply to the proprietor, John Dickson, St Lawrence Inn, Slamannan; or David Mitchell, banker, Airdrie; either of whom will receive offers up to 6th August next.”
• Falkirk Herald, 27 Feb 1904
  • “For sale, within he Faculty Hall, Glasgow, on Wednesday, 2nd March 1904, at three o’clock pm to close the estate of the deceased George M’Allister, the St Lawrence Hotel, Slamannan, (together with the goodwill of the public-house business carried on therein) and 6 shops and 3 dwelling-houses, situated at the corner of Bank Street and Main Street, Rental (capable of increase), £183. Feu-duty, £18 4s 6d) less £2-£3 paid by the Gas Company). No casualties. Reduced upset price, £3000. As new collieries are being started in the district, this forms a very desirable investment. Particulars as to turnover, & c from Arthur S Brown CA, 96 Renfield Street, Glasgow; or Burgess & Smith, writers, Wishaw, the latter of whom have the titles and articles of roup.”
• Falkirk Herald, 5 June 1851, 3: Mr Wilson, innkeeper, Slamannan
• Falkirk Herald, 6 October 1859, 1:
  • “Grocer and Innkeeper’s Stock, For Sale by public auction, at Slamannan,… THE Whole STOCK-IN-TRADE, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, &c, belonging to the Sequestrated Estate of John Smith, Merchant and Innkeeper, Slamannan, will be Sold Public Auction, on the Premises, in Lots to suit Purchasers, on Tuesday the 11th day of October current … The stock consists of groceries, provisions, and drapery goods; a quantity of wine, brandy, oil & c; also, office clock, beams, scales, weights, shop counters, shelving, spirit casks, measures, and crystal.  Also the whole plenishing of the inn, containing five rooms, kitchen, and outhouses, consisting of bedsteads and bedding, mahogany tables, chairs, sofa, mirrors, china, and delftware, grates, fenders, and fire-irons, kitchen requisites, gasaliers and brackets, patent mangle, cart, sets gig and cart harness, pump, milk measures, water barrels, & c….”
• Falkirk Herald, 25 June 1863, 2:
  • John Dickson, innkeeper, Slamannan, was brought up charged with letting a dog-cart and horse out on hire to an excise officer, on 28th …
• Falkirk Herald, 19 November 1963, 5:
  • “SLAMANAN. TESTIMONIAL TO MR CROCKETT.——According to the notice given, a l.r}e number of the subscribers to the above met in Mr John Dickson’s, St Laurence Inn, on Wednesday evening last, 11th November— Mr James Liddle in the chair. After the usual preliminary …”
• Falkirk Herald, 12 July 1866, 1:
  • “on the security of the Property, and will be disposed of whole separately, to suit purchasers. Apply to the Proprietor, JOHN DICKSON, St Lawrence Inn, Slamannan; or DAVID Banker, Airdrie ; either whom will offers to August next. Slamannan, 10th July, 1868 …”
• Falkirk Herald, 3 September 1868, 4;
  • “LICENSED CERTIFICATE. —At the Justice of Peace Court oil Thursday—before Dr Maccall, Hay park, and Arthur Kennard, Esq. —John Dickson, hotel keeper, Slamannan, pled guilty to having Sunday the 9th inst. kept an house for others than travellers lodgers, and …”
• Falkirk Herald, 15 May 1869, 1:
  • ” and Kitchen, newly finished, one mile East Linlithgow, beautifully situated the rising ground. Entry at Whitsunday.—Apply JOHN DICKSON, St Lawrence Hotel, May, 1869. …”
• Falkirk Herald, 5 March 1870, 1:
  • “rising ground. There is a plentiful supply of Spring Water connected with the Premises. Entry now, or at Whitsunday.—Apply John Dickson, St Lawrence Hotel, Slamannan.”
• Falkirk Herald, 29 September 1870, 5:
  • “was committed to prison. The value, of the straw damaged is calculated to amount to nearly £100 and w as the property Mr John Dickson, St Lawrence Hotel, Slamannan. …”
• Falkirk Herald, 23 March 1871, 4:
  • ” DRUMTASSIE AND BANKHEAD, On MONDAY, 27tii MARCH. MR NEILSON begs to give notice that he has received instructions from Mr John Dickson, St Laurence Inn, Slamannan, to Sell by Public Roup, at Drumtassie and Bankhead, in the Parish of Slamannan, on Monday the …”
• Falkirk Herald, 29 October 1874, 2;
  • This action at the instance of James S. Rough, innkeeper, Slamannan, against Peter Moir & Son, Her Majesty’s Horse Repository, Ediuburgh, and Patrick Birnie, horse dealer, Grassmarket …”
• Falkirk Herald, 27 February 1904, 8:
  • “The St Lawrence Hotel Slamannan (together with the Goodwill of the public-house business carried on therein) and 6 shops and 3 dwelling-houses, situated at the corner of Bank Street and Main Street…. “

G.B. Bailey, 2025