In January 2001, Peter Wilson, Eleanor Cooke and Grant Manson formed the company Renaissance Ecosse Limited which owns and operates Orocco Pier.
The Orocco Pier, a 17th century ‘B’ listed building, at 17 High Street, Queensferry is a 12 bedroom boutique Hotel.
It was previously the Queensferry Arms Hotel.
After an extensive refurbishment by renowned architects Kerr Blyth Associates, it officially opened in 2003.
‘Orocco’ is the moniker of Iroko wood which was used extensively throughout the refurbishment of the building.
The events venue ‘Fuschia’ was added in 2004, the café bar ‘Antico’ in 2009 and the seafood bar and grill ‘Samphire’ was added in 2011.
Part of the building to the rear is on the ground of the now demolished Glenforth Distillery which was behind the Queensferry Arms and the nearby Staghead Hotel.
The Orocco Pier, a 17th century ‘B’ listed building, at 17 High Street, Queensferry is a 12 bedroom boutique Hotel.
It was previously the Queensferry Arms Hotel.
After an extensive refurbishment by renowned architects Kerr Blyth Associates, it officially opened in 2003.
‘Orocco’ is the moniker of Iroko wood which was used extensively throughout the refurbishment of the building.
The events venue ‘Fuschia’ was added in 2004, the café bar ‘Antico’ in 2009 and the seafood bar and grill ‘Samphire’ was added in 2011.
Part of the building to the rear is on the ground of the now demolished Glenforth Distillery which was behind the Queensferry Arms and the nearby Staghead Hotel.
Queensferry Arms Hotel. Image © Queensferry History Group
This image of the Staghead Hotel, date unknown, shows how close the Staghead is to the Orocco Pier Hotel which is on the left (was most likely the Queensferry Arms at this time). The shop by the walking trio was a charity shop, next to a Chinese Carry Out, which are now both part of Orocco Piers 'Antico'. Image © Queensferry History Group
Glenforth Distillery on right of white window by harbour. Image © Queensferry History Group
The Glenforth Distillery Co. was a large mass of buildings which lay at the end of Gote Lane near the harbour. It lay behind the Queensferry Arms Hotel, adjacent to the rear of the Staghead Hotel and was established in 1843 by Mr James Wylde, of Gilston, Fife, who was also proprietor of the Staghead Hotel in the 1855 valuation Roll. He employed 20 persons and made around 2,000 gallons of whisky weekly. His son Robert S Wylde, born in Leith, 1808, was Provost of Queensferry from 1852- 1861. He was proprietor of the brewery and buildings in Brewery Close which were no longer in operation by 1856.
This 1916 map shows the Royal Burgh Boundary in dark blue. Within this area, the light blue area marked 'Malthouse', near the harbour to the left of map, is where the Glenforth Glenforth Distillery was. The Stagshead and Queensferry Arms (marked Hotel) are in front on the High Street.
Image shows the side and rear of the Orocco Pier with Antico, and a sign at the rear of the Staghead Hotel
James sold the distillery in 1863 to John Stewart & Co, Kirkliston, who had it until 1867. The buildings from those days were demolished in 1939 following a fire, but part of a retaining wall still remained, which is now incorporated in the Orocco Pier Hotel.
Retaining wall from Glenforth Distillery
Orocco Pier today. Retaining wall from Glenforth Distillery is the right side wall of the main building. The outside area is where the distillery was.
Some Proprietors of Queensferry Arms Hotel
via Census Records and Valuation Rolls.
In the 1841 census, David Kerr was a publican then. It is unclear in the census information but it is possible he was publican of the Queensferry Arms Hotel. He was certainly publican in the North side of the High Street and it is clear it was not of the Stags Head Hotel. Born in West Lothian around 1811, he was with his wife Janet and children Margaret, David, William and Alexander.
via Census Records and Valuation Rolls.
In the 1841 census, David Kerr was a publican then. It is unclear in the census information but it is possible he was publican of the Queensferry Arms Hotel. He was certainly publican in the North side of the High Street and it is clear it was not of the Stags Head Hotel. Born in West Lothian around 1811, he was with his wife Janet and children Margaret, David, William and Alexander.
Alexander Rae, born in Linlithgowshire around 1836, was Innkeeper by 1871. He was with his wife Christina Fraser (married in 1864) and children Jane and Christina. Alexander died in 1872 and is buried in Queensferry Vennel Cemetery. Christina then married William Russell, a Seaman, in July 1874. Sadly he died in December 1875, then an Innkeeper (of the Queensferry Arms Hotel) and Christina later married Hugh Mackintosh in 1878.
Headstone of Alexander Rae in Vennel Churchyard. Image © Queensferry History Group
By 1881 Hugh Mackintosh was Hotel Keeper. Born in Inverness around 1842, he was with his wife Christina and step-children Jane Rae, Christina Rae and William Russell (from Christinas previous marriages). Christina, widow of William Russell, Innkeeper and previously widow of Alexander Rae, died in February 1886.
In October 1886 Hugh married Janet Fraser (not a sister of Christina). She and their two children, Elizabeth and Hugh, are with him in the Queensferry Arms Hotel as he was still Innkeeper in 1891.
1901 still sees Hugh as Hotel Keeper, with his wife Janet and children Helen, Elizabeth, Hugh, James, Catherine, Russell and David. David was a member of Queensferry Rowing Club and had won trophies, the Hopetoun Mackintosh and McLaughlan Cups won by the Jolly Boat Crew at local regattas on the Forth. He emigrated to Canada in 1913 and joined the Canadian Infantry as a nationalised Canadian. He was killed in 1916 aged 23 (not 24 as stated on the memorial) in the Somme Offensive. He is remembered on Queensferry and Cramond Memorials, Queensferry Parish Church and Queensferry Primary School Memorials, also in ‘Veterans Affairs’, Canada.
In October 1886 Hugh married Janet Fraser (not a sister of Christina). She and their two children, Elizabeth and Hugh, are with him in the Queensferry Arms Hotel as he was still Innkeeper in 1891.
1901 still sees Hugh as Hotel Keeper, with his wife Janet and children Helen, Elizabeth, Hugh, James, Catherine, Russell and David. David was a member of Queensferry Rowing Club and had won trophies, the Hopetoun Mackintosh and McLaughlan Cups won by the Jolly Boat Crew at local regattas on the Forth. He emigrated to Canada in 1913 and joined the Canadian Infantry as a nationalised Canadian. He was killed in 1916 aged 23 (not 24 as stated on the memorial) in the Somme Offensive. He is remembered on Queensferry and Cramond Memorials, Queensferry Parish Church and Queensferry Primary School Memorials, also in ‘Veterans Affairs’, Canada.
Hugh Mackintosh died in Queensferry in 1910 and his wife Janet died in Cramond in 1930.
By 1920/21 Valuation Roll, the proprietors of The Queensferry Arms Hotel are Mackintosh & Co LTD.
By 1920/21 Valuation Roll, the proprietors of The Queensferry Arms Hotel are Mackintosh & Co LTD.
Image © Queensferry History Group
1941 – 1961 valuation Rolls, show the proprietors as Thomas Usher & Son LTD with Hotel Keeper as Robert Wemys.
Kate Gibb was Hotel Keeper at the time Queensferry Arms was sold to Orocco Pier.
© Queensferry History Group 2017
