Douglas Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh

[Rockford]

I think I need help from a wise person from the East......

I have found a couple marrying in 1903 at the Douglas Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh. However, the only reference I can find to a hotel of this name is in St Andrews Square - it seems quite to have been quite swanky and was visited by Chopin no less! It seems to be one of the two buildings that flanked what is now the Bank of Scotland's headquarters.

Could the hotel on St Andrews Square and the one listed as having been on Princes Street be the same place, or am I off on the wrong track?

Best wishes

Brian

[AndrewP]

Hi Brian,

It is unlikely that a building in St Andrew Square would be listed as Princes Street. On looking at the 1881 Census CDs, there were numerous hotels in Princes Street (none listed as Douglas Hotel). It may well have still been the case in 1903 that Princes Street had many hotels. The best source that I can think of is the Post Office Directories which can be found in some libraries. On checking the 1903 edition, there may well be a Douglas Hotel to be found on Princes Street.

One other possibility to check, what registration district was the marriage registered in? Princes Street fell into four registration districts.

685/1 St George - included the westmost section of the north side of Princes Street
685/2 St Andrew - included the north side of Princes Street, except the westmost section
685/3 Canongate - included the south side of Princes Street, east of North Bridge (the GPO building)
685/4 St Giles - included the south side of Princes Street, west of North Bridge

If it was registered in 685/1, 685/3, or 685/4, that would exclude St Andrew Square, so you could discount that Douglas Hotel. 685/2 included St Andrew Square as well as the majority of the buildings in Princes Street.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Rockford]

Hi Andrew,

The marriage was listed in District 685/2 (St Andrew), but it clearly says 'Princes Street' under the marriage location. I didn't know about the Post Office directories, so I might see if I can find a 1903 one when I visit Edinburgh in May/June.

Best wishes

Brian

[AndrewP]

I didn't know about the Post Office directories, so I might see if I can find a 1903 one when I visit Edinburgh in May/June.

Hi Brian,

Yes, these directories can be seen in New Register House, Edinburgh Central Library, and probably in the National Library of Scotland. The Scottish Genealogy Society Library probably has some of these, but I don't know which years.

All the best,

AndrewP