9 Bank Street, Edinburgh

[Andrew C.]

I have found a wedding at 9 Bank Street, Edinburgh. The next entry in the register is also at the same address. Both grooms are seaman. Does anyone know what this address was?

[arthurk]

Both these marriages are 'by Declaration' - strictly speaking an irregular marriage. Scotland's People has an article about them, one example they give being in the Registrar's office, and another in a lawyer's office:

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/irregular-marriage-scotland

So it seems likely that 9 Bank Street was some kind of office; the dates of the marriage, registration and sheriff's warrant (explained in the article) might provide clues as to whose.

[hanes teulu]

Early 1917 these premises appeared in many adverts eg
The Scotsman
9 Jan 1917
For further particulars apply to David Thomson, House Factor, 9 Bank Street

20 Jan 1917
SHOP - No 9, Bank Street,; extensive frontage, large saloon, office basement &c. Messrs Allison, 11 St David's Street.

25 April 1917
SHOP - 9 Bank Street, and room; £27. Naismith, St Giles St.

I suspect this is to do with Scottish marriages taking place at home - see para 3.
https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/economicsocialhistory/projects/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/marriage/

"Town Propert to let"

[Andrew C.]

Thanks my couple were the top marriage, both gave their address as The Feus, Freuchie. As I mentioned the groom was a ship Captain perhaps docked at Leith. Bride was 61 and the groom 51. He perhaps didn’t fancy his chances of making it through the war and thought they better tie the knot. The groom is a visitor to the brides house in Kirkcaldy on the night of the 1901 census, so they seemed to have been together a while before being married.

[still_looking]

Bank Street in Leith is now Seaport Street.

S_L

[arthurk]

Looking at the formation of the numbers, I think it might be 8 Bank Street, not 9. In support of this, a brief search brings up multiple newspaper adverts in 1917 on the lines of:

"Marriages by Special Licence, legally completed, with marriage lines. Particulars free. Write or call - William Shaw, 8 Bank Street, Edinburgh. 'Phone 3270 Central."

I haven't looked into who William Shaw was, or the nature of his business.

ADDED:
Someone else came across this address in similar circumstances:

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=548271.0

[Andrew C.]

Brilliant thanks, it does look like an 8 now you mention it.

[hdw]

This will show you where Bank Street is -

https://www.edinburgh-selfcatering.co.uk/holiday-rentals/27736-bank-street-just-off-royal-mile-200-metres-from-edinburgh-castle

Harry

[Andrew C.]

Still_looking suggested it was in Leith and now called Seaport Street.