Refreshment Room at Raploch Skating Pond in Stirling
After the first season the Town Council began to consider refreshments, cloakroom and lavatory facilities for the skating pond. The Raploch Primary School was considered, but rejected in favour of a building near the entrance at the southern corner of the pond. The Town Council Master of Works provided a plan and estimate for a refreshment room and in 2nd September 1902, at a Special Meeting of Town Council, there was approval to go ahead with the estimate at £141:7s1d.
On 11th September 1902, the Stirling Council Burgh Committee meeting considered the following amended tenders for Cloak Room at Skating Pond.
On 11th September 1902, the Stirling Council Burgh Committee meeting considered the following amended tenders for Cloak Room at Skating Pond.
| James Ronald, Builder | £49: 13s 1d | ||
| William McPherson, Joiner | First Offer | £52: 4s 1d | |
| Extra for outside shutters | £5: 10s 0d | ||
| Projection on roof | £5: 8s 5d | ||
| Painter Work | £2: 10s 0d | ||
| £65: 12s 6d | |||
| Thomas Thomson, Plumber | Plumber Work | £20: 19s 3d | |
| Walter Balfour, Slater | First offer | £11: 11s 6d | |
| Extra slates at Projection | £2: 13s 6d | ||
| £14: 4s 9d | |||
| Alex Walls, Plasterer | Plaster work | £6: 19s 2d | |
| Total | £157: 8s 9d |
They recommended acceptance and work began.
By December that year, it was reported that the Refreshment Rooms were nearly completed and tenders for local purveyors were sought and the set of conditions under which the premises would be regulated were formulated by the Clerk.
On the 14th January 1903, the Burgh Committee meeting accepted Mr Hemmeler, 66 Port Street, Stirling as purveyor at the skating pond room for that winter’s skating season for £1 rent on the following conditions:
By 1909 Messrs James Millar & Sons were asked to undertake the purveying of tea etc without paying any rent for the room.
Nothing further is recorded for the refreshment room until 29th September 1930 when the Burgh Committee meeting considered a request from West End Rangers F.C. for permission to use the room for stripping. After meeting representatives of the club they were given approval to use the room on following conditions:
It is somewhat ironic that more money was made by the Town Council from letting out the refreshment room as a changing room for football teams than as a refreshment room for the skating pond.
As the Town Council had trouble in attracting purveyors to take up the lease it can only be assumed that the refreshment room was at best open intermittently when there was ice skating. There is no record of how often it was used.
In one instance when the refreshment room pavilion was not open during an evening the Stirling Observer, 28th January 1938 reported the theft of shoes left by skaters under the bench seats, highlighting an important function of the cloakroom for leaving personal belongings. Three 15 year old boys stole three pairs of shoes and two single shoes. As the newspaper noted, the owners of the shoes were caused great inconvenience and had great difficulty getting home. Walking home over frozen ground while wearing only socks would have been painful indeed!
By December that year, it was reported that the Refreshment Rooms were nearly completed and tenders for local purveyors were sought and the set of conditions under which the premises would be regulated were formulated by the Clerk.
On the 14th January 1903, the Burgh Committee meeting accepted Mr Hemmeler, 66 Port Street, Stirling as purveyor at the skating pond room for that winter’s skating season for £1 rent on the following conditions:
- That the tenant take charge of the whole premises, including cloak room and lavatories, keeping them in good order
- Take charge of the lamps and keep them lit
- Be in attendance from 12 noon till 10pm every day when the pond is open
- Will be entitled to the receipts of the cloak room (charging 1d for each cloak) and of the gentleman’s lavatory.
By 1909 Messrs James Millar & Sons were asked to undertake the purveying of tea etc without paying any rent for the room.
Nothing further is recorded for the refreshment room until 29th September 1930 when the Burgh Committee meeting considered a request from West End Rangers F.C. for permission to use the room for stripping. After meeting representatives of the club they were given approval to use the room on following conditions:
- Club use part of the refreshment room, namely the main room with sink and the gentlemen’s lavatory.
- Club use premises on Tuesdays, Thursdays and every alternate Saturday during the period 1st September to 30th April. The premises shall be vacated on notice from the Burgh Surveyor when the skating pond is in use.
- Premises used for dressing and undressing and not for recreational purposes. The gate that gives access to the skating pond shall be kept closed and the club shall be responsible for any damage done.
- Rent of £1 per season be paid.
It is somewhat ironic that more money was made by the Town Council from letting out the refreshment room as a changing room for football teams than as a refreshment room for the skating pond.
As the Town Council had trouble in attracting purveyors to take up the lease it can only be assumed that the refreshment room was at best open intermittently when there was ice skating. There is no record of how often it was used.
In one instance when the refreshment room pavilion was not open during an evening the Stirling Observer, 28th January 1938 reported the theft of shoes left by skaters under the bench seats, highlighting an important function of the cloakroom for leaving personal belongings. Three 15 year old boys stole three pairs of shoes and two single shoes. As the newspaper noted, the owners of the shoes were caused great inconvenience and had great difficulty getting home. Walking home over frozen ground while wearing only socks would have been painful indeed!
References: Stirling Observer articles, 1899 to 1938. Stirling Journal articles, 1901 to 1912. Supplied by Stirling Central
Library on microfilm.
Royal Burgh of Stirling Council minutes, 1899 to 1938, supplied by Stirling Council Archives.