Jules Verne Forum

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Verne's favourite tavern in Edinburgh

From: <ian.thompson~at~ges.gla.ac.uk>
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:57:45 +0100 (BST)
To: jvf~at~Gilead.org.il

During Verne and Hignard's 1859 visit to Edinburgh, as recorded in
"Backward to Britain",the two men had a favourite eating place.Verne
describes its location as being "outside the Tron Church". They had lunch
there on August 27th and returned there on the following day only to find
it closed on the Sunday. They returned there for their supper before
taking the train to London.
The Post Office Directory for 1859 gives the location of the Tron Church
as 124 High Street. The nearest coffee house was George Burden at 129 High
Street, but this was not "outside the Tron" but was across the busy South
Bridge Street. The only other nearby coffee house was J.Buchanan's at 114
High Street, which they would have passed and probably observed as they
walked down the High Street.
However, I think that neither of these establishments was the one
patronised by Verne. He describes eating "cold meat and Scottish ale". The
sale of alcohol suggests a tavern rather than a coffee house and Verne
states that he would like to take lunch in an inn. In 1859 there were no
taverns on the High Street near the Tron Church. Indeed Edinburgh's two
major Protestant churches, St Giles Cathedral and the Tron Kirk are
located close together on this part of ther High Street and would not have
been an appropriate location for an inn or tavern.
However, immediately behind the Tron Church is the tiny Hunter Square with
only 10 buildings, of which no 10 (ie closest to the Tron Church) was a
tavern belonging to John Spence. At a different address, John Spence
manufactured lemonade, soda water and ginger beer.He would therefore have
been a serious entrepreneur, and at the location close to the Tron Church,
his tavern would have been a respectable rather than an unruly
establishment. I feel that this is the most likely candidate for Verne's
favourite eating place in Edinburgh.
Ian Thompson.
Received on Sat 21 Apr 2007 - 13:57:55 IDT

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