724 Dumbarton Road, Whiteinch, Glasgow. G11. Tel: 01413390836.
The Thornwood. 1991.
To read the full history of the Thornwood Bar, check back soon for our second book.
724 Dumbarton Road, Whiteinch, Glasgow. G11. Tel: 01413390836.
The Thornwood. 1991.
To read the full history of the Thornwood Bar, check back soon for our second book.
444 Maryhill Road, Glasgow.
Thomas Ferguson’s bar sat at the corner of Maryhill Road and Hinshaw Street. In the early 1920s this part of Maryhill Road was called New City Road. Many will remember this old pub as The Wilton.
In 1877 Robert Lauder occupied these premises until 1880, the business was them acquired by John Lockhart. He was well established in the city of Glasgow having premises at the Queen’s Arcade, Raeberry Street and North Street.
Thomas Ferguson became licence holder in 1916, the pub then was still known as John Lockhart & Co. Thomas acquired the business own his own account around 1930. The old pub was renovated a few years later with his name above the doorway.
The pub was demolished in the late 1970s, Tennent Caledonian Breweries operated the business before it was finally flattened.
161 Garscube Road, Glasgow.
There has been licensed premises here since 1866, occupied by grocer Duncan McDonald.
A full public house licence was acquired in 1877 by spirit merchant Peter McGregor. When Peter passed away in 1881, his wife took over the licence until 1897.
William McMullen acquired the business from Mrs McGregor in 1898, he also ran a popular pub in Findlay Street, Cowcaddens. James Dorrain an assistant acquired both the pubs on Mr McMullen’s death.
Thomas Carey took over the pub in the early 1930s. The photograph above was taken shortly after alterations in 1933. Garscube Road was never short of public house, in 1899 you had the choice of going into one of twenty six of them. Mr Carey also owned a small pub at 119 Norfolk Street, south side.
The pub was known after WW2 as Jack’s Bar, William Collins the proprietor formerly an H.L.I., also ran the 51st Bar, 405 Moffat Street and the Garnock Inn, Harbour Street, Irvine. Jack’s Bar was a popular rendezvous for old veteran’s.
74 Main Street, Baillieston, Baillieston, Glasgow. G69 6SL. Tel: 01417711457.
The Thistle Bar. 1991.
This old established Baillieston local is haunted by the spirit of James Reid who keeps a close eye on his families business, which dates back to 1880s.
The Reid family turned the upstairs part of the building into a family home. Licensee and manager David Marshall has felt the presence of James Reid for years, as a wee boy David was told to look out for the old man that haunted the place not giving it a second thought that there really was a ghost on the premises. Young David’s uncle Kenny McDonald owned the pub years ago and thought the threats were to stop him from prowling upstairs.
Uncle Kenny used to bring the children into the pub on a Sunday morning to empty the machines, the kids were kept quiet with a bottle of coke and a packet of crisps, while uncle Kenny counted the money one of the kids used to sit in the corner of the bar and talked to his invisible friend, a ghost from the past. A photograph of the child was taken one day as he spoke to his friend, when the picture was developed a large flash mark appeared on the picture beside the child, the wee boy looked at the photo and said that was my friend the old man.
Donald McCloud a former employee who worked in the pub for over 20 years was a big highlander and refused to believe in ghosts, he too was scared out his wits one night, David went on to say that Donald stayed behind for a staff drink when the pub was empty, he heard strange noises from above the pub they go louder and louder until he left his pint and ran home, leaving all the lights on and never set the alarm.
The BBC heard of these stories and filmed Psychic Barber Gordon Smith in a series called Mediums talking to the dead. Gordon said that it was a harmless spirit of James Reid, who wasn’t’t very happy with some of the changes of the pub, which had various changes over the years; Gordon also stated that Mr Reid comes here because he likes the place and wants to look after it. David also mentioned that went the Reid family are spoken about the temperature in the room plummets and a real chill is in the air.
The staff stayed back with David one night for some drinks, a tapping noise was heard by all, everyone looked at each other said David as the noises got louder and louder we all thought someone was doing it as a joke, but realising it was something spooky, wee all rushed out of the pub that night scared to death.
The Thistle Bar. 2005.
191 Byres Road, Partick, Glasgow. G12. Tel: 01413411024.
Tennent’s Bar. 1991.
Hugh Tennent jun. obtained a certificate to sell wines beers and spirits from premises on this site since 1888. A new tenement was built on the site with a new public house for Hugh Tennent in the 1890’s.
Hugh Tennent jun. was the grandson of the Hugh Tennent of Wellpark Brewery, Duke Street. He was born in Tasmania in 1842. In 1871 he established the Wellshot Brewery in Cambuslang, when he gave up brewing in that district he became a wine & spirit merchant in Clydebank, Glasgow, Rutherglen and Whiteinch. His establishments were run like clockwork with all the newest equipment installed, he dispensed in large polished wooden barrels his own single malt called “Royal Brackla.”
In 1881 he was living in Wellshot House, Rutherglen with his housekeeper Barbara Kennedy and a domestic servant Jeanie McDonald, he was still a single man at this time employing 30 men and 7 boys in Wellshot Brewery.
Hugh Tennent jun died in 1919, his son George Beaconsfield Tennent took control of the public houses and other businesses his father had going at the time. However there was a dark secret Hugh Tennent jun kept to himself which later came out after his death, he had another family and mistress, a court case that was continued until 1955.
When Hugh Tennent died in 1919 he left two families one of 4 children by Ellen Clarke and one of 11 children by Rebecca Whaley and an estate valued at £70,724.
James Wilson judicial factor of the late Hugh Tennent stated that there were 13 defenders, most of them living in the Glasgow area, were believed to be all the children and heirs of Tennent, Mr Wilson also stated that there might have been others who had gone abroad and who could not be traced.
Tennent in his will and codicils, made provisions which included the payment of an annuity of £1500 to his widow, Rebecca Whaley Tennent. He also provided that his trustees should hold the residue of his estate, including and surplus annual income, for his children equally in liferent and to their respective issue equally per family in fee until the death or remarriage of his widow. Mrs Tennent died in June 1953.
The question of fact in the case, was who were the legitimate children of the testator. Of the four children by Ellen Clarke only one Hugh Tennent, Tantallon Road, Glasgow survived. The latter contended that the testator and Ellen Clarke were married at Mount Florida, Glasgow in 1873 or 1883 by interchange of consent or by the Rev. Henry Drysdale of Mount Florida Church.
It was argued by counsel for the other claimants that no declaration by the testator after the death of the woman was relevant since it could not be communicated to her. They argued that the testator was never married to Ellen Clarke and accordingly all the first family were illegitimate.
The Judge said this was a case in which it was sought to establish a marriage between and man and woman who had been in the position of mistress and keeper. In those circumstances he believed it necessary to have clear evidence in support of the marriage.
There appeared to be no evidence whatsoever to establish a marriage by declaration in 1873 between the testator and Ellen Clarke. This would have had the effect of making the three elder children of Rebecca Whaley illegitimate. If it had appeared from the evidence of Hugh Tennents housekeeper Miss Kennedy that she had been present at a death bed ceremony it might have been possible to spell out the declarations made by the testator subsequent to the death of Ellen Clarke, corrobation for that evidence.
The Judge said he regretted in some respect that he had not been able to find evidence sufficient to establish a death bed marriage on January 10 1883, since if that had been established it was admitted that all the children would be legitimate and entitled to share equally in the fund.
The Three Judge’s. 2007.
Tennent’s Bar today is as popular as it was when it opened it’s doors for the first time. If you like a cheap lunch and a good pint this is the place for you.
1 Baronald Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 1AF. Tel: 01416472568.
Tennent’s. 1991.
This pub was named after Hugh Tennent Jun.
Interior view of Tennents Bar 1953 shortly after alterations.
Tennents. 2009.