The Royal Hotel, Lerwick - Robertson family

[Fifer66]

My great grandmother Lizzie Robertson and her husband James Robertson were proprietors of The Royal Hotel, Lerwick in 1898.

Looking to clarify where in Lerwick The Royal Hotel was positioned? Checked old maps etc and found Queens Hotel & Grand Hotel but not The Royal Hotel. Anyone know where The Royal Hotel was, if name changed / long demolished? Hoping to visit Shetland in next year.

Thanks for any help.

[DonM]

173 Commercial St.

But, you really need to go to Scotland's People and see the Valuations which show Proprietor's/Occupier's/Tennant's and of course the address.

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk then go to Search for Records/Search for People/Valuation Rolls

Select: 1895
County: Shetland
Place: Royal

enter nothing more

Repeat but select 1905 or 1885.

Don

[dowdstree]

I believe it was at 173 Commercial Street, Lerwick.

It was known as the Royal until the early 1900's when it became a shop Liptons.

Today it is Boots the Chemist.

Hope this helps.

Dorrie

[Fifer66]

Thanks for info, much appreciated.

A quick check of this address reveals this is now Boots Pharmacy. The family moved from Edinburgh to Shetland around 1897. John Robertson was originally from Shetland and returned with his family. 3 young children to the family died between Feb - March 1898 from whooping cough, tragic circumstances. John also died in April 1898 from Phthisis.

Thanks again.

[dowdstree]

That is tragic indeed Fifer66.

The downside of family research is finding deaths of wee ones. I know from my own family history that many children died of whooping cough and childhood illnesses that are under control with modern medicine.

Phthisis or Tuberculosis was rife then too.

Take care,

Dorrie

[Fifer66]

Very true Dorrie regarding finding deaths at a very young age.

This family had 4 children. 3 of them died of whooping couch ages 3, 1 & 4 months old, only 6 weeks between the 3 deaths in total. Deaths all registered on same day, 28 March 1898 at Lerwick.

The 4th child of the family James Paton Robertson, died at The Somme in 1917, age 24.

[dowdstree]

Have you managed to find any Service Records for James Paton Robertson? Or do you need some help?

I see you plan to visit Shetland next year. Happy memories of being there in the 1990's for Simmer Dim at the Motorbike Rally (in our younger days). It was amazing to see around 250 bikes being loaded on to the ferry in Aberdeen. There was also a Carnival Parade in Lerwick on the Saturday. It would have been taking place this weekend but obviously it has been cancelled. There is also Up Helly Ah in January but the weather then is dreadful.

Anyway, whenever you go you will have a great time because the Islanders are very friendly but be prepared for "language difficulties" as they have a dialect all of their own.

Take care,

Dorrie

[harrywrag]

hi,
     don't know if this is any help I googled "old photos royal hotel lerwick" did not find a photo but found an advert for cowies royal hotel commercial street lerwick it was from a trade directorey 2slaters" dated 1886 William cowie as prop. est 1868 so looks like perhaps at later date the name cowie my have been dropped to just the royal hotel,
                             
                                                               cheers
                                                                   harrywrag

[Forfarian]

There is also Up Helly Ah in January but the weather then is dreadful.

I went to the Lerwick Up Helly Aa in 1975. The weather was fine - cold and dry. Of course there wasn't a lot of daylight