Luca Scappaticcio and his wife Anastasia

Category

Library Item

Item no

21179

Title

Luca Scappaticcio and his wife Anastasia standing outside the Olympia Refreshment Rooms, High Street, Musselburgh

Description

Luca and Anastasia Scappaticcio stand in front of the Olympia Refreshment Rooms, Musselburgh. Luca is wearing a suit and Anastasia a skirt and cardigan. A large dog stands beside them. The shop has a double entrance door and an alley to the right of the shop allows access to the back. The windows of the shop advertise Fry's and Cadbury's Chocolate.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1910

Type

Photograph

S. Luca's of Musselburgh are ice cream manufacturers who have shops in Musselburgh and Edinburgh. Luca's began in Musselburgh in 1908 when Italian immigrants Luca and Anastasia Scappaticcio opened the Olympia Refreshment Rooms (now known as the Olympia Café). Luca had learned how to make ice cream whilst working at the North British Hotel. Lucas is still a family business, now in its third generation. Luca Scappaticcio switched his first name and family name and called his business S. Luca and not L. Scappaticcio as it was much easier to pronounce.

The town of Musselburgh is situated at the mouth of the river Esk, roughly 6 miles to the east of central Edinburgh. The site was inhabited as far back as the 1st century AD when the Romans built a fort and a bridge crossing the river here. The town takes its name from the mussel beds located in the river mouth. These have provided a long-standing source of income for the town's residents. Musselburgh is home to a famous racecourse established in 1816. The town's tolbooth dates from 1590. The nearby mercat cross, an historic focal point for commercial activity and town events, dates from the 18th century.

This item was digitised as part of the Whose Town? project, an educational resource for schools. Unique archival material was gathered together to create a snapshot of a person's life at a particular point in Edinburgh's history.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Dogs

Architecture > Architectural features > Arches

Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Clothing and dress > Garments > Coats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Suits

Clothing and dress > Garments > Trousers

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

Places > Scotland > East Lothian

Sport and leisure > Eating and drinking facilities > Cafes