Morgan’s Object of the Week
The museum has a fantastic photographic collection, so this week I have chosen to feature two photographs as my object(s) of the week.
These photographs show the Dean Tavern, a Gothenburg in Newtongrange.
Staff and customers at the Dean Tavern in the 1920s, copyright unknown
In Scotland, some supporters of the temperance movement advocated limiting the sale of alcohol rather than prohibiting it entirely. They adopted the Gothenburg system, which encouraged family activities and discouraged excessive drinking. Colloquially known as Goths, Gothenburgs took their name from the Swedish city where they originated in the 1860s. They were a type of pub that sold alcohol, but did not promote it, and did not allow betting, gambling, or games. Their revenues were used to fund community facilities and events, such as libraries, parks, and galas. More than 60 Goths were built in Scotland, many funded by coal companies in mining communities. The Dean Tavern was built in 1899 and still exists today. It is the only operating Gothenburg left in Scotland.
The view of the Dean Tavern from Main Street, 1970s, copyright unknown
To see more photos from the collection, see: https://nationalminingmuseum.com/collections/
