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Grand Hotel

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Oban.

Nicholas Bradley Oban

Manager of the Grand Hotel, Nicholas Bradley. 1896.

There was perhaps, in all Oban no finer site for a building of the kind than that of the Grand Hotel. It stood high up on a hill, with a view to kill for, overlooking the town of Oban and the seascape. The Grand hotel stood on it’s own ground which contained every luxury that the most fastidious traveller could wish for.

Manager of the hotel in 1896 was a gentleman called Nicholas Bradley a native of Oban. He was educated there, first in what was then called Skinner’s School, and latterly in the St. Columba in Columba Street. After finishing the rudiments of his education, he entered the service of His Reverence Bishop McDonald, at that time Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, then the Archbishop of the Edinburgh Diocese. He remained with his lordship for nearly five years, receiving as education which had stood him well.

He then went south to Sheffield and entered the Trade. Joining the eminent and well-known firm of Messrs Duncan Gilmour & Co., of Sheffield, no better opportunity of learning his business and gained experience in its every department could have been afforded him, and, realising the fact, he applied his mind and energies to acquiring it. Beginning at the lowest rung of the ladder, he assisted in the cellars blending and mixing whiskies, and so assiduous to his duties and attentive was he, that in a short time he was promoted to take a charge. In such a large concern the work was hard, but young, zealous and determined to fit himself for any position in the Trade, he worked with a will which gained him the confidence and approbation of his employers.

After two years he was offered, and accepted, the position of boots in the Grand Hotel in Oban, a post which he so worthily fulfilled, that in a short time he was promoted to the responsible appointment of manager, the position he held in the 1900.

The George Hotel

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Oban, Argyll.

Mr John McNeill Oban 1895

Mr John McNeill. 1895. Resembles the villain in a Charlie Chaplin film.

In the centre of the bay, commanding a splendid view stood the George Hotel, a building which had been licensed for a long number of years. It was tenanted by Mr John McNeill, a model landlord, who, with his long experience and knowledge of Gaelic as well as English.

Mr John McNeill was born in Tobermory, where he was educated, showing a liking for his studies. On leaving school he came to Paisley and was apprenticed by Mr Neil McLean to learn the trade of Baking.

On completing his apprenticeship, with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employer, Mr McNeill thought he would like to see the world, so joining the Anchor Line service in the old ‘Europa’. Curious enough, on her first voyage after he left her, the Captain and first and third mates were washed off the bridge and drowned.

Wishing to see more of the world and better his position, he joined the S.S Alps, belonging to Messrs. Langlands & Wilson of Glasgow. In her he traded to the South American ports, and took the position of assistant steward. Again changing for the better, he joined the crew of the City Line, in whose steamers he sailed for three years.

Leaving the foreign trade, though not the ‘Life on the ocean wave’, he came nearer home and accepted the position of cook, the position he had held in the City Line, in MacBraynes’ Highland boats, where he remained for seven years. Thinking he had sailed long enough, and that a life ashore might suit him, Mr McNeill took the George Hotel, Oban, and at once, with characteristic energy, set to work to improve the premises and bring them up-to-date.

His cellars, built as an addition, are kept in a way that would do credit to establishments of much greater pretentious. He also added, as who was better able to do so?, a kitchen and a handsome new bar. The hotel accommodates twenty sleepers, just a nice number to obtain the personal attention and care to the genial landlord and his comely wife, who ably assisted him in the conduct of the hotel.

Mr McNeill was a zealous Freemason of Lodge No. 413, “Athole” Glasgow, a keen sportsman, fond of the gun and rod, hard-working, upright, and industrious.

Columba Hotel

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North Pier, Oban, Argyll. PA34 5QD. Tel: 01631 562183.

Columba Hotel Oban

Columba Hotel. 2008.

Columba Hotel1

Columba Hotel with the Oban Inn on the right. 2008.

Columba Hotel Oban2

Columba Hotel with the Harbour Inn on the ground floor. 2008.

Harbour Inn Oban 2008

The Harbour Inn. 2008.

Caledonia Hotel

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Station Road, Oban, Argyll. PA34 5RT. Tel: 01631 563133.

Caledonia Hotel Oban

Caledonia Hotel. 2008.

JOhn Thomson Oban

Mr John Thomson, manager of the Caledonian Hotel. 1896.

John Thomson was a native of Glasgow, where he received his education at the old St. Enoch’s School, under Mr Sim, who became rector of the Bellahouston Academy. On completing his studies he joined the firm of Messrs. James Pattison & Co., drysalters, West George Street, where he served an apprenticeship of five years. Having attained as a position as he could secure in the services of that firm he accepted the appointment of cashier in the Western Club, a responsible position in, as everyone knows, the senior and premier club in the West of Scotland.

Remaining there for three years and gaining the goodwill and respect of all with whom he came in contact, he thought he would like to see more of the world, and entered the service of the British India Steam Navigation Company as purser, trading between Calcutta and Bombay.

The Egyptian War was going on at that time and Mr Thomson was on board the S.S. Ethiopia when the Indian Government chartered her to carry troops to Ismalia to engage in the battle of Tel-el-Kebir. After three years he returned to Glasgow, and was offered again his old position in the Western Club, but at an increase of salary, which he accepted and again remained for three years. In 1887 he was fortunate enough to get married to Miss Galt, daughter of the late Mr George Galt, glazier and glass merchant, Eglinton Street, Glasgow.

He was appointed at this time the first club master of the Imperial Union Club. When the club was opened they took the premises of the old Junior Club in Sauchiehall Street, a very select coterie of our young men of the best families in the West of Scotland comprising the members. Mr Thomson, besides inaugurating the club, had to superintend their removal to their new premises at 82 St. Vincent Street only three months after, an undertaking he accomplished with credit to himself. In 1890, after three years, Mr Thomson went to Killin as manager of the hotel there, where he remained for a year and went north to Sutherlandshire to manage the Lochinvar and Culag Hotels for MacBrayne.

With pleasure to himself and the satisfaction of his employer, he remained there till the expiry of the lease, when the houses changed hands and he came to Oban to occupy the position of manager of the Caledonian Hotel.

In 1904 Jasper Anderson had the Caledonian Hotel and the Spean Bridge Hotel.

Argyll Hotel

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Corran Esplanade, Oban. PA34 5PZ. Tel: 0631 562353.

Argyll Hotel Oban

Argyll Hotel, Oban. 2008.

Agyll Hotel old 1896

The Argyll Hotel. 1896.

Mr J D Smith Oban

Mr J D Smith. 1896.

In Oban all travelers to the West of Scotland know there are two steamboat piers, one at the railway station the other at the end of the esplanade. Exactly at the head of the Argyll Hotel, owned by J D Smith.

Mr Smith was for twenty years acting as steward in Mr MacBraynes steamers. He was born in Brora, Sutherlandshire, on leaving home after completing his education Mr Smith at once joined Mr MacBraynes steamers as a boy, and by diligence, attention to his duties, and perseverance, he gained promotion, step by step, till he rose to the highest position he could attain, that of chief steward.

In 1889 having gained the respect of his masters and compeers alike, with mutual regrets he left the service with which he had been so long and happily connected, and having youth, energy and enterprise on his side, determined to strike out for himself.

He was fortunate in securing a lease of the Argyll Hotel, Oban, a handsome structure built in the Scottish baronial style and one of the most comfortably arranged houses for caring on the business in the north. From his long practical experience in catering for tourists, commercial men and travelers of all kinds, Mr Smith, of course, knew their wished almost intuitively and to his credit be it said, spares neither himself nor his efficient staff in seeing that their wants are supplied and their wishes attended to. Mr Smith was assisted by his wife in the running of the hotel.

The Argyll Hotel is now demolished.