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ROYAL DUNKELD HOTEL HISTORY

Dunkeld was at one time one of the most important villages in Scotland, being the centre of the Celts. The Fine Cathedral, parts of which now lie in ruins, was the richest and most important diocese of the Bishop of Dunkeld, a post of considerable seniority in the hierarchy of the church.

Thomas Telford’s famous bridge was built in 1809, where before it had been necessary to use a ferry. This of course opened up the highlands. It is a point of interest that at this time Birnam and Dunkeld railway station represented the furthest northerly point for the railway service.

The bridge and the then later to be Main Street of Dunkeld was really part of the Great North Road. and so obviously, the needs of travellers had to be catered for.

The Hotel was built around 1815-1820. The first owner was William Smytton who moved from the Smytton Inn, at the cross in Dunkeld. The Smytton Inn has a common thread in that both the first and second owner/tenant moved from the Smytton to what is now known as The Royal Dunkeld Hotel.

As far as our research shows, the Smytton Inn was situated just south of the cross and became the Duke’s Arms in 1821. In 1841 it became a lodging house, and in 1851 the house and office of R.C Carrington, Factor for the Duke of Atholl. This was renamed Culloden house.

So, the first owner of The Royal Hotel was one William Smytton who carried out the role of inn keeping until 1821. Mr Smytton sold the hotel to Daniel Fisher who had also moved in from the Smytton Inn (at this time now called the Duke’s Arms) The Royal Hotel in 1921 was then called Fishers Inn and was greatly extended by Daniel Fisher around 1835. The two floors were added and a garret built which gave the hotel 40 bedrooms. (They must have been very small!)

From 1835 onwards saw the hey – day of coach travel and of course with the stables to the rear, the Fishers Royal Hotel met the need admirably.

Records show the Royal Mail Coach from Perth to Inverness called on alternate nights at 10.30pm and Inverness to Perth at 9.20pm.

The coach “William Fourth” destination unknown left the Royal Hotel every morning and evening except Sunday. It ran on alternate days in winter.

In the 1890’s Slater’s Directory reports of Dunkeld – “two very extensive and superior hotels, the Duke of Atholl Arms and the Royal Hotel. At this time we also know that the hotel was “patronised” by H.M. the Queen (Victoria) and the Ex – Empress of the French Territories.

Daniel Fisher was an astute businessman. In addition to the Fishers Royal Hotel, he also operated coaches, landaus, chaises, droskies, gigs and an omnibus. He then went on to either tenant or buy and establish Fishers Hotel in Pitlochry, which still operates in an expanded form today. At this time, transport was the business to be in.

Daniel Fisher and his wife had six children which was probably just as well since they became “readily available staff” to support his business. One of his sons named Donald went on to run Fishers Hotel in Pitlochry while still continuing to live in Dunkeld.

An extract from “The Constitutional” a Perth newspaper dated 2nd August 1837 reads:-

Royal Hotel Dunkeld

Daniel Fisher

Returns his grateful thanks to the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Commercial Travellers, and the Public in general for the very Liberal support he has received for upwards of twenty years: and he begs to intimate he has greatly enlarged his establishment and trust, by care and attention to merit a continuance of their patronage.

The parlours and bed chambers are well aired and are comfortably and elegantly furnished: families wishing to spend a few weeks among the romantic scenery of the neighbourhood may live as quiet and retired as if in country lodgings, and may be boarded on moderate terms.

Daniel Fisher has a large establishment of superior Post horses and a few small ponies for the use of ladies. Double seated coaches, landaus, chaises droskies, gigs and an omnibus. His Post boys are steady and well acquainted with the surrounding scenery.

NB - Royal mail and other coaches run daily from the House.

Amongst some of the more notable guests in addition to HM Queen Victoria were

1855 Maharajah Dalup Singh, who was at Castle Menzies presumably rented for the fishing – 2nd July.

1856 Lord and lady Elcho - 11th October.

1857 Duke and Duchess of Leeds – 2nd July.

It is interesting to note that as time passes we move into the 1900’s and travel was not limited to the upper classes. The number of aristocratic names which appear in the visitors’ books starts to decline. We would like to think that this reflects changing trends rather than the standards of the hotel.

A poster from the Daniel Fisher era shows that the Fishers had a sense of humour. Please bear this in mind when planning a stay with us!!!

Fishers Royal Hotel Dunkeld

This hotel has been built and arranged for the special comfort and convenience of its visitors. On arrival, each guest will be asked how he likes the situation, and if he says the hotel ought to have been placed up on the knoll, or farther down towards the river, the location of the house will be immediately changed. Corner front rooms up only one flight for every guest.

Baths, gas, water-closets, hot and cold water, laundry, telegraph, restaurant, fire-alarm, bar-room, billiard table, daily papers, sewing machine, grand piano, clergyman and all other modern conveniences in every room. Meals every minute of the day if desired, and consequently nod second table. English, French and German dictionaries are provided for every guest, to make up such a bill-of-fare as he may desire without regard to the bill-affair afterwards at the office. Waiters of any nationality (and colour) as desired. Every waiter furnished with a libretto, button hole bouquet, full dress suits, ball tablets and hair parted in the middle. Every guest will have the best seat in the dining hall and the best waiter in the house. Any guest not getting his breakfast red hot, or experiencing a delay of sixteen seconds after giving his order for dinner will please mention the fact at the office. Children will be welcomed with delight and are requested to bring peg-tops to spin on the velvet carpet and hoop-sticks and shinties to bang the carved rosewood furniture specially provided for that purpose. They will be allowed to bang on the piano at all hours, yell in the hall, slide down the banisters, fall down the stairs, carry away in their pockets dessert enough for a small family and make themselves as disagreeable as the fondest mother can desire.

Washing allowed in rooms: and ladies giving an order to “put me on a flat iron” will be put on one at any hour of the day or night. A discreet waiter who belongs to the Masons, Oddfellows, Knights of Pythias and who was never known even to tell the time of day, as been employed to carry milk punches and hot toddies to the ladies’ rooms in the evenings.

Every lady will be considered the belle of the house and boys will answer the bell promptly. Should any boy fail to appear at a guest’s door with a pitcher of ice-water, more towels, a gin-cocktail, or pen, ink and paper before the guest’s hand has left the bell-knob will be branded “Front” on his forehead and imprisoned for life.

The office clerk has been carefully selected to please everybody and can lead in prayer, match worsted at the village store, play billiards, is a good waltzer, dance the German, amuse the children and is a good judge of horse: as a railway and steamboat reference is for superior to “Lyalls” or anybody else’s guide: will flirt with any young lady and not mind being cut dead when “pa comes down.”: can room forty people in the best room in the house when the Hotel is full, attend to the communications, and answer in Hebrew, Greek, Choctaw, or Gaelic or any other polite language at the same moment without turning a hair.

Dogs are allowed in any room in the house including the w(h)ine room. Gentlemen can drink, smoke, swear, chew, gamble tell shady stories, stare at the new arrivals and indulge in any other innocent amusement common to watering places, in any part of the Hotel. Special attention given to parties who can give information as to how these things are done “Abroad.”

The proprietor will take it as a personal affront if any guest on leaving should fail dispute the bill, tell him he is a swindler, the house is a barn, the table wretched, the wines vile, and that he (the guest) was never so imposed upon in his life, will never stop there again, and means to warn his friends.

We hope that this account has both informed and amused you.