The Douglas was owned by William Wyper, a brewer’s clerk in Edinburgh, although his connection with Langholm is not evident. It was previously owned by Adam Watt, who also owned the Crown Hotel.

Adam died in 1913 and his second wife Elizabeth continued running the Douglas. Elizabeth had also been married before, to a previous keeper of the hotel, Henry Learmonth, who died in 1902.

Adam and Elizabeth had nine children from their previous marriages, three of whom served in the Great War:

• Alexander Watt, Adam’s son, a railway guard in Edinburgh, rejoined the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) and was severely injured by a hand grenade in France on 24th January 1916. He died of wounds three days later, aged 33, leaving a widow Jessie, whom he had married in 1913.
• Henry Watt, Adam’s son and Alexander’s twin brother, joined the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards.
• James Learmonth, Elizabeth’s son, joined the 5th Battalion KOSB.

Elizabeth ran the hotel until her death in 1921 when William Allen, previously of the Commercial Hotel, took over.

The Douglas Hotel was earlier called the Shoulder of Mutton, but was renamed in honour of Robert Douglas, an earlier keeper.