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Collection GD15 - Lewis Coffee House Company, Stornoway
Reports

Identity area

Reference code

GB3002 GD15

Title

Lewis Coffee House Company, Stornoway

Date(s)

  • 1878-1911 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

2 volumes

Context area

Name of creator

Lewis Coffee House Company (1878-1911)

Administrative history

At a meeting on Tuesday 28 May 1878 a public meeting held at the Masonic Hall in Stornoway chaired by Reverend Donald John Martin, Minister of the Free Church, it was agreed to establish a Coffee House. It was felt that the welfare of the public demanded it, “that temperance principles and habits prevailed amongst the fishermen and Crofters of the Island” and that even though many refusals for drinks licences had been given “”it was necessary to counteract this evil by establishing suitable refreshment rooms where Tea, Coffee and Cocoa could be sold” following examples in Edinburgh, Leith, Glasgow and Liverpool. It was agreed to establish the Lewis Coffee House Co Ltd as a joint stock company with a share capital of £1500 to build or rent suitable premises in which the business could be established.

Coffee Rooms were established in Point Street at the corner with Bank Street in Stornoway by August 1878 to provide non-alcoholic drinks along with pies and baked goods. A reading room was also provided for those willing to pay an annual subscription of 10 shillings and 6 pence.

In 1884 the coffee house moved to what is now the Star Inn on South Beach Street where it remained until 1911 when the company was voluntarily wound up having fallen to the level where it was no longer a viable enterprise.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Internal transfer from Museum nan Eilean (Accn 2011-13)

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Minute book 1878-1911; ledger 1878-1902

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Paper records

Finding aids

Digital and manual item level catalogue available in the searchroom of Tasglann nan Eilean Siar

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Notes area

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Place access points

Name access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Rights area

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