Proprietors of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Peterculter
John Stephen
June 1899-Oct 1900
The Gordon Arms Hotel was opened with a Complimentary Dinner to John Stephen, the proprietor, on 28th June 1899. “There was a large gathering, about 100 gentlemen being present”. A silver salver was presented which was inscribed:
“Presented to Mr and Mrs Stephen, along with a cheque, by friends and well-wishers at a complimentary dinner on the occasion of the opening of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter. – June 1899.” An examination of bankruptcy was held against John Stephen in March 1901. He said then – “I was proprietor of the Gordon Arms, Culter. I entered into possession at Whitsunday, 1899, and I left about October last. The building cost £6000. All the estimates were paid, but not all the accounts for furnishing. The transaction was financed by Mr G. Mair Hood. He had a bond of £2000 over the Aberdeen property.” Referring to the books, bankrupt explained that his son George, a lad between 222 and 23 years , had kept them. One of theses shown was from May to October, 1899 and showed an income of £1243 3s 3d, and payments £97 8s, leaving a difference of £1150 of profit. “The first year I was drawing an average of over £40 a week.” He was asked “What made you leave Culter?” – “Necessity. (Laughter). Simply because I was underfunded.”
William McPherson
Oct 1900-Apr 1913
The licence was transferred to William McPherson in October 1900. “this house was licensed about 18 months ago, and the business done justified the granting of the licence, The hotel had been a great convenience to the locality, and promised to be more so in the future. Mr McPherson had a long and varied experience, and began life as a boots in one of the Edinburgh city hotels. He was there for several years, and afterwards went to Forfar, where he was boots in the principal hotel. Mr McPherson came to Aberdeen 25 years ago, and got a licence for the place which he now occupied.”
Adam Marr
Apr 1913- Apr 1922
“ Mr McPherson, the former tenant of the Gordon Arms, had now acquired the licence for the county Hotel, Aberdeen. The Gordon Arms was built some 17 years ago, and was thoroughly up-to-date in every way. It was really the only first-class hotel between Aberdeen and Culter. Deeside was a very popular resort for visitors and tourists, and it was the intention of Mr Marr to conduct the hotel in a way to make it one of the most popular on Deeside. He was anxious to cater for tourists and visitors who went there”.
When the Licensing Board met in April 1921, all licences were renewed without comment except that of the Gordon Arms Hotel.
“Chief Constable Gauls stated that Mr Marr had been fined five guineas for a contravention of the Beer Prices Order. Mr G A Wilson, Advocate, said Mr Marr had been a licence holder for 13 or 14 years, and that this was the first time he had ever been in trouble. He was charged on the occasion referred to with having sold two bottles of beer at prices beyond those allowed by the Food Controller. The offence was entirely due to inadvertence. The Chief Constable said it was very desirable that licenceholders should stick strictly to the terms of the Orders, which were intended to protect their customers. Mr Irvine of Drum, as one coming from the district concerned, said that this hotel had always been conducted by Mr Marr in a satisfactory manner, but he must say that overcharges of the public was a pretty serious offence- and it all came one way- they seldom heard of a licenceholder suppling liqueur under the standard prices. He moved that the licence be renewed with a warning.
Adam Marr died on 11 December 1944, aged 81.
Frank Glenesk
June 1922- Apr 1925
“Mr Frank Glenesk, motor hirer, has purchased the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter and enters into possession as 1st May next. In consequence of this he is disposing of his garage and hiring business at Lumphanan.”
GORDON ARMS HOTEL, CULTER, ABERDEENSHIRE.
This Modern, Nicely Equipped Hotel, with Tennis Court adjoining,
is situated in the Suburban Village of CULTER, about 8 miles from Aberdeen.
NOW BOOKING FOR THE SEASON.
F R GLENESK, Telephone No. 19.
Frank married Marguerite Hamilton Robertson on 11 October 1922 at St Peter’s Church, Culter. She was the daughter of the Rev. Robert Robertson B.D., Minister of Logie-Coldstone Church.
Frank Reid Glenesk died in 1972.
James Bell
Apr 1925- Apr 1927
“James Bell, hotelkeeper, Station Hotel, Bucksburn, applied for the transfer of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter. The applicant submitted plans of improvements on the Gordon Arms Hotel. “
In 1928, Inverurie Court granted the licence of the Butcher’s Arms Hotel to Mr James Bell, Craigton Cottage, Culter. He had been a licence-holder In Inverurie before, but went to the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter, from which he retired last year owing to his wife’s ill health.”
Charles Ewen
Apr 1927-Dec 1932
“The Court granted the application for transfer of inn and hotel licences (6 days only) , Charles Ewen, public-house keeper, 216 Great Western Road, Aberdeen, at the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter, Deeside. In 1930, Charles applied for a seven day licence, By five votes to one the extension had been refused.
Dec 1932. A well-known member of the licensing trade in the Aberdeen district died today in the person of Mr Charles Ewen, proprietor of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter and formerly of Glentanar. Mr Ewen, who was 77 years of age, died at his residence at 216 Great Western Road, Aberdeen. For many years, Mr Ewen was in the service of the late Sir William Cunliffe-Brooks, of Glentanar, as clerk of works and factor. When the estate of Glentanar changed hands on the death of Sir William, Mr Ewen acquired the premises known as Haud Again Inn, Great North Road, Woodsie. Some years later he was successful in securing a public-house license for the premises at the corner of Holburn Street and Justice Mill Lane, which he named the Glentanar Bar. About ten years ago he sold the Glentanar Bar, and after living a few years in retirement became proprietor of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter, five years ago. A man of quiet and retiring nature, but genial and kindly, he was well liked and respected by his acquaintances. He was an enthusiastic piper, and was always willing to play at social gatherings or to give his services in judging piping competitions. He is survived by Mrs Ewen and a grow-up family. He left an estate of £1224.
Jane Ewen
Oct 1933- 1945
Mrs Jane Sheret or Ewen (widow) applied for the six day licence for the Gordon Arms Hotel. Jane died on 23rd February 1945 at 58 Bon-Accord Street, Aberdeen. She left an estate of £1410.
Flora Faulkner
Apr 1945-1961
An application for a new licence was made by John Faulkner, barman, Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter on behalf of the new proprietrix, Mrs Flora Faulkner. A separate application was made by Mrs Flora Ewen or Faulkner, Gordon Arms Hotel . Flora died in August 1961. She left an estate of £19,011.
James Sweeney
Mar 1962- 1990
Mr James Sweeny was granted a seven day licence for the Gordon Arms Hotel. The Licensing Court was told that “there was no question of bus parties trooping out and turning the places into drinking dens”.
Jim and Liz Hunter
November 1990- 2002
June 1899-Oct 1900
The Gordon Arms Hotel was opened with a Complimentary Dinner to John Stephen, the proprietor, on 28th June 1899. “There was a large gathering, about 100 gentlemen being present”. A silver salver was presented which was inscribed:
“Presented to Mr and Mrs Stephen, along with a cheque, by friends and well-wishers at a complimentary dinner on the occasion of the opening of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter. – June 1899.” An examination of bankruptcy was held against John Stephen in March 1901. He said then – “I was proprietor of the Gordon Arms, Culter. I entered into possession at Whitsunday, 1899, and I left about October last. The building cost £6000. All the estimates were paid, but not all the accounts for furnishing. The transaction was financed by Mr G. Mair Hood. He had a bond of £2000 over the Aberdeen property.” Referring to the books, bankrupt explained that his son George, a lad between 222 and 23 years , had kept them. One of theses shown was from May to October, 1899 and showed an income of £1243 3s 3d, and payments £97 8s, leaving a difference of £1150 of profit. “The first year I was drawing an average of over £40 a week.” He was asked “What made you leave Culter?” – “Necessity. (Laughter). Simply because I was underfunded.”
William McPherson
Oct 1900-Apr 1913
The licence was transferred to William McPherson in October 1900. “this house was licensed about 18 months ago, and the business done justified the granting of the licence, The hotel had been a great convenience to the locality, and promised to be more so in the future. Mr McPherson had a long and varied experience, and began life as a boots in one of the Edinburgh city hotels. He was there for several years, and afterwards went to Forfar, where he was boots in the principal hotel. Mr McPherson came to Aberdeen 25 years ago, and got a licence for the place which he now occupied.”
Adam Marr
Apr 1913- Apr 1922
“ Mr McPherson, the former tenant of the Gordon Arms, had now acquired the licence for the county Hotel, Aberdeen. The Gordon Arms was built some 17 years ago, and was thoroughly up-to-date in every way. It was really the only first-class hotel between Aberdeen and Culter. Deeside was a very popular resort for visitors and tourists, and it was the intention of Mr Marr to conduct the hotel in a way to make it one of the most popular on Deeside. He was anxious to cater for tourists and visitors who went there”.
When the Licensing Board met in April 1921, all licences were renewed without comment except that of the Gordon Arms Hotel.
“Chief Constable Gauls stated that Mr Marr had been fined five guineas for a contravention of the Beer Prices Order. Mr G A Wilson, Advocate, said Mr Marr had been a licence holder for 13 or 14 years, and that this was the first time he had ever been in trouble. He was charged on the occasion referred to with having sold two bottles of beer at prices beyond those allowed by the Food Controller. The offence was entirely due to inadvertence. The Chief Constable said it was very desirable that licenceholders should stick strictly to the terms of the Orders, which were intended to protect their customers. Mr Irvine of Drum, as one coming from the district concerned, said that this hotel had always been conducted by Mr Marr in a satisfactory manner, but he must say that overcharges of the public was a pretty serious offence- and it all came one way- they seldom heard of a licenceholder suppling liqueur under the standard prices. He moved that the licence be renewed with a warning.
Adam Marr died on 11 December 1944, aged 81.
Frank Glenesk
June 1922- Apr 1925
“Mr Frank Glenesk, motor hirer, has purchased the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter and enters into possession as 1st May next. In consequence of this he is disposing of his garage and hiring business at Lumphanan.”
GORDON ARMS HOTEL, CULTER, ABERDEENSHIRE.
This Modern, Nicely Equipped Hotel, with Tennis Court adjoining,
is situated in the Suburban Village of CULTER, about 8 miles from Aberdeen.
NOW BOOKING FOR THE SEASON.
F R GLENESK, Telephone No. 19.
Frank married Marguerite Hamilton Robertson on 11 October 1922 at St Peter’s Church, Culter. She was the daughter of the Rev. Robert Robertson B.D., Minister of Logie-Coldstone Church.
Frank Reid Glenesk died in 1972.
James Bell
Apr 1925- Apr 1927
“James Bell, hotelkeeper, Station Hotel, Bucksburn, applied for the transfer of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter. The applicant submitted plans of improvements on the Gordon Arms Hotel. “
In 1928, Inverurie Court granted the licence of the Butcher’s Arms Hotel to Mr James Bell, Craigton Cottage, Culter. He had been a licence-holder In Inverurie before, but went to the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter, from which he retired last year owing to his wife’s ill health.”
Charles Ewen
Apr 1927-Dec 1932
“The Court granted the application for transfer of inn and hotel licences (6 days only) , Charles Ewen, public-house keeper, 216 Great Western Road, Aberdeen, at the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter, Deeside. In 1930, Charles applied for a seven day licence, By five votes to one the extension had been refused.
Dec 1932. A well-known member of the licensing trade in the Aberdeen district died today in the person of Mr Charles Ewen, proprietor of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter and formerly of Glentanar. Mr Ewen, who was 77 years of age, died at his residence at 216 Great Western Road, Aberdeen. For many years, Mr Ewen was in the service of the late Sir William Cunliffe-Brooks, of Glentanar, as clerk of works and factor. When the estate of Glentanar changed hands on the death of Sir William, Mr Ewen acquired the premises known as Haud Again Inn, Great North Road, Woodsie. Some years later he was successful in securing a public-house license for the premises at the corner of Holburn Street and Justice Mill Lane, which he named the Glentanar Bar. About ten years ago he sold the Glentanar Bar, and after living a few years in retirement became proprietor of the Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter, five years ago. A man of quiet and retiring nature, but genial and kindly, he was well liked and respected by his acquaintances. He was an enthusiastic piper, and was always willing to play at social gatherings or to give his services in judging piping competitions. He is survived by Mrs Ewen and a grow-up family. He left an estate of £1224.
Jane Ewen
Oct 1933- 1945
Mrs Jane Sheret or Ewen (widow) applied for the six day licence for the Gordon Arms Hotel. Jane died on 23rd February 1945 at 58 Bon-Accord Street, Aberdeen. She left an estate of £1410.
Flora Faulkner
Apr 1945-1961
An application for a new licence was made by John Faulkner, barman, Gordon Arms Hotel, Culter on behalf of the new proprietrix, Mrs Flora Faulkner. A separate application was made by Mrs Flora Ewen or Faulkner, Gordon Arms Hotel . Flora died in August 1961. She left an estate of £19,011.
James Sweeney
Mar 1962- 1990
Mr James Sweeny was granted a seven day licence for the Gordon Arms Hotel. The Licensing Court was told that “there was no question of bus parties trooping out and turning the places into drinking dens”.
- Emily Sweeney (Emily Warren Keldie) died on 27 March 1982.
- James Sweeney died on 16 February 1995.
Jim and Liz Hunter
November 1990- 2002