Tippling houses

“Strangely perhaps, the stamped licence for the sale of beer etc for Fowlis Easter for the period from November 1 17851786, was held by Thomas Galloway,” emails Donald Abbott of Invergowrie.

“The strange element arises as the licence was granted by the Perthshire Justices of the Peace authority. Fowlis Easter is in Angus today. The stamped licences for Fowlis Easter for the period November 1789-90 shows the licence to be held by Andrew Rodger.

“The complete lists of licensed premises for Perthshire are held at the vibrant Perth & Kinross Archive at the A.K.Bell Library in Perth. Incidentally, the numbers of licensed premises in the Carse of Gowrie for the same periods are staggering with most licensed either for ‘tippling houses’ or for ‘retailing beer, ale and other exciseable liquor.’

“Interestingly, as far as the village of Rait, home to some of my Macdonald relatives, goes, the licence for one year from 1783 by the Justices of the Peace, was held by Robert Ferguson for ‘keeping an ale-house, tippling house or victualling house in Rait.’ No such facility in Rait these days!

“It might be an interesting venture for readers to pursue the history of their local hostelry. For example, the Inn at Mylnefield Feus (Invergowrie) is shown in the Return of Hotels, Inns and Public Houses in the Carse of Gowrie Licensing District to have been licensed on April 29 1806 – William Spalding is shown as the occupier of the public house of five rooms. I am unaware of any earlier licensing there.

“I am sure that a delve into the records of the licensing authority for the City of Dundee might be fascinating for anyone so interested.”