Raffles Hotel Singapore

[cousinroger]

One further snippet of new information that may be of interest to readers is the following about Lessudden House:
I was interested in finding out more about one Robert Scott,(born 1774 in ROX) who is said to have died in London in 1836 but was buried in the Vault at Lessuden House.(He has a nice Will at TNA,London)
Robert was a sea captain/country trader,mostly in the Bay of Bengal and lived for some time at Penang.One of his ships in the 1790s was named the "Carnatic" and so his cousin James Scott in Penang spoke of him as Carnatic Bob...and he also intimated in one of his letters to Lessudden House that he had a Scottish....er I mean Scotch problem..but that is just hearsay of course!!!
Anyway what is more interesting is that while Googling his name a few weeks ago I came across an interesting piece of history.Robert it seems was the first person to build a house on the property that is now the famous Raffles Hotel in Singapore.It seems that a Samuel Milton was the man who had the first land grant from Stamford Raffles the Governor at the time. Robert later bought the property and built a large mansion there.After his death it was turned into a 10 room hotel.The Sarkies brothers later bought it,expanded the business but then knocked down the original building in the last century.
For anyone who has been there they will know that the architecture is spectacular and simply drips with Raj nostalgia and the ghosts of famous people.Maugham being only one of them.Well worth a visit if one is in the area.
You can Google this with "Robert Scott-Samuel Milton/Raffles Hotel"
For what it's worth.
Cousin Roger

[AndrewP]

See http://www.raffles.com/singapore/about-hotel/

The website doesn't mention my visit in 2006 to the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel to sample a Singapore Sling (or two).

My budget didn't stretch to staying in the hotel.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Wee Ann]

I know what you mean! We stopped in for a Gin Sling, (because that is what one is supposed to have in Raffles). We just bought the one, and shared it, but it really wasn't our cup of tea, if you know what I mean, but it was an amazing place. One we will not forget.

[StewL]

I have fond memories of the Raffles, been in the long bar a few times, sampling Singapore slings during my navy days.
Although I could never afford to stay there, but I didn't really need to.

[cousinroger]

Well...Raffles...I had breakfast there about 30 years ago (just to say I had done it) when my hair was a different colour....and I was living there on $7 US per day.
A few years ago they did some rebuilding but they did it completely to the old specs and I defy anyone to tell me which bits are old and which the new.Quite marvelous.....however I also looked at the room prices.The penultimate highest was about $4,000/night.Above that one, the highest,.... simply says "ask" (I didn't)
Nice to know though that there is a genuine Scottish Borders connection to the land and buildings and a few old Asia hands still knocking about.
Cousin Roger

[q98]

For any future visitors to Raffles Hotel, take an hour to tour the museum. It's above the open-air bar and well worth the visit!