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Agents, Breweries and Distillers.

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Agents, Breweries and Distillers.

Glasgow Licensess' visit Harp 1973

Glasgow Visitors to Harp Lager.

A party of licensees’ from Glasgow who visited the Harp Lager Brewery in Edinburgh were welcomed by Mr. A. T. Wilson, Scottish sales manager, Harp Lager, and accompanied by Mr. D. Crines, Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Ltd., and Mr. R. Simpson, Arthur Guinness Son & Co. Ltd.

Pictured at the brewery, before lunching at the Barnton Hotel are: Mr. and Mrs. J. McDevitt, 39 Houston Street, Glasgow; Mr. J. Lynd and Miss Lynd, 73 West Princess Street, Glasgow; Mr. J. Hastings and partner, 1097 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow; Mr. & Mrs. Alexander, 158 Main Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow; Mr. John Hutton and Mr. Craigen, 163 Maxwelltown Avenue, East Kilbride; Mr. R. Shirley, The Moorings, Arrochar; Mr. and Mrs. J. Dunne, Darnley Street, Glasgow; Mr. Wilson; Mr. Crines; and Mr. Simpson. 1973.

In the News 1974…

Terry Doherty of Harp Lager 1974

Mt. Terry Doherty. 1974.

Harp Lager Ltd., announce the appointment of Mr. Terry Doherty as sales manager for Scotland and North-East England, following the retirement of Mr. A. T. Wilson.

Terry Doherty joined Harp in May 1973, following a successful sales career in Guinness, with whom he was latterly administrator for Scotland and North-East England. 1974.

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In the News 1974…

Tom and Lockhart Ferguson 1974

Brothers who are not rivals.

Meet two brothers in the licensed trade, Tom (left) and Lockhart Ferguson. But they are not rivals. For Tom is on the brewery side as managing director of Whitbread (Scotland) Ltd., while Lockhart is sales director of the champagne and wines firm of H. Parrot & Co. Ltd.

Parrot, agents for the well-known champagne house, Veuve Cliquot, gave a luncheon in Glasgow last week for a few trade friend to sample their Louis Latour Burgundy, Trimbach Alsace and Anheuser Nahe wines.

After the excellent quality of the wines shown was praised, guests were served with Parrot’s Premier family reserve cognac. 1974.

Messrs. John Haig & Co., distillers, Markinch, sent out a blotter which formed a capital advertisement for their celebrated “Glenleven” whisky, 1893. There was a verse for every month in the year, and the rhythm is after the style of Longfellow’s stirring poem, “Excelsior,” which had been ingeniously paraphrased to suit the occasion. For example:- “Tis nectar for the gods, he said; Before my weary way I trend, I’ll stand with pleasure glasses round, I’m more than happy now I’ve found- Glenleven.”

Latest headgear at Grant’s annual lunch

Staff of Grants Distillery 1972

All the ladies were wearing fancy hats at this annual lunch, of Grant & Sons Ltd, Glasgow. 1972.

Laing alex, Whyte and MacKay Ltd.

In the News 1974…

Matthew Lamont of Peter Thomson Perth Ltd 1974

Matthew Lamont, better known as Callum, has taken up a new appointment with Peter Thomson (Perth) Ltd., that of product manager, table wines. His duties will be mainly concerned with wine development and marketing.

Before joining Thomson’s three years ago, Mr Lamont was in business on his own account in Irvine. He and his wife have four of a family, and have now made their home in Abernethy.

A good deal of Mr. Lamont’s time will be spent helping hoteliers with their wine lists, and he will be prepared to travel anywhere in Scotland to assist with wine problems.

Mr C C Holmen, head manager of the brewing department at Carlsberg.

McVey daniel. of Messrs. Maclay & Company, Thistle Brewery, Alloa.

Kenneth Ross, managing director of Wm. Sanderson & Son Ltd. 1974.

Scottish & Newcastle Breweries.

Strathisla Distillery.

Teachers.

Tennent Caledonian Breweries.

White Horse Distillers Ltd.

White james, Glasgow, Agent for McEwan’s, Edinburgh, Brewery.

Whyte & Mackay.

Abernethy, James

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James Abernethy was the first licensee of the Woodhill on 100 Auchinairn Road. It was his first pub, although he had previous experience in the trade. At the opening in 1955 many trade personalities were present. The pub is situated next to the golf course and across the road from Auchinairn’s oldest established pub the Auchinairn Tavern.

 

James Abernethy

James Abernethy right being congratulated by J C McIIwraith, secretary of the Hamilton and District Licensed Trade Association. 1955.

Ye Old Inn.

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1 Chapel Street, Rutherglen.

Ye Olde Inn with the licensees’ name above the door, “Brennan.”

Ye Olde Inn had an established date of 1650. Before television and radio customers at the old Inn told stories and tales that were passed down to the next generation of locals, one such story was that Ye Olde Inn had witnessed on May, 1679, when armed horsemen rode into the town and fixed to the cross a Declaration and Testimony of the true Presbyterian Church, an act of revolt which led to the bloody battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Brig.

Another story that was told within the thick brick walls of Ye Olde Inn, was a gentleman called James Philipshill a cooper, who in 1668 was banned by the Magistrates from all brewers and sellers of drink in the Burgh. A prohibitory order to this effect was issued with the humane proviso, and the very obvious loophole for abuse, that his wife and bairns might buy drink for the use of house and family. the penalty for serving Philipshill with drink was £5.

The Inn was once both tavern and dairy with its own cow. Thus a demand for a pint and a pint could conveniently cover both domestic and personal requirements.

That famous old Rutherglen custom of baking sour cakes on St Luke’s eve is almost sure to have been observed in Ye Olde Inn. The tradition demanded the services of six elderly ladies who prepared the cakes and passed them to their Queen for toasting. The cakes distributed to passer-by.

For many years Rutherglen Main Street was where you could buy and trade Clydesdale horses, on market day. Rutherglen fair was another important event in the burgh, this holding of street fairs came to an end as increasing traffic put a stop to it.

Over the years many families have traded in Ye Olde Inn, in the 1870s the inn was called The OddFellows Arms Inn, it then had an established date of 1836 ,over the years this date seems to have got older by nearly 200 years. The occupier of the old premises was grocer Thomson, he kept a badger, later the old establishment was passed to the Mr Shearer, he was a contractor and lived in the premises. In 1879 John McDonald took over as licensee, thirteen years later the inn was combined with the Glendronach Distillery Stores.

Ye Olde Inn. 1948.

In the late part of the 1890s Patrick Brennan was landlord and licensee and afterwards Mr F J Doran. The licence was transferred to the Murray family which was still in the same family circle. Mrs Mary Murray worked in the bar when she was 18 years of age, she and her husband then ran the pub until it was demolished in the 1960s.

Four large whisky barrels of early vintage used to sit on the gantry, apart from this there were nothing of historic interest left inside the bar apart from the large wooden table that sat in one of the parlour’s, it must have been made inside the old inn as it was to big and bulky to fit through the windows or any of the doors of the premises. A mystery that baffled customers and residents of Rutherglen for many many years.

A new pub was found for the Murray family which still stands today and called the Fairway.

Ye Olde Inn with a drummer standing outside.

Date and source unknown.

Old Rutherglen Inn Facts…
The Auld Ruglen Spirit Vaults, Main Street, this was once called the Eclipse tavern owned by Mr Thomas Rae, he employed a manager Willy Gray, Mr Rae also owned the Stonefield tavern, Blantyre.
The Auld Hoose Distillery Stores, Main Street, Old Granny Kirkwood, a dounce, canny old fashioned Scotswoman owned it for over 50 years.
In 1899 there were 36 public houses in Rutherglen with 14 licensed grocers.
18 of the pubs were situated on Main Street. If you were looking towards Cambuslang there were 7 pubs on your right with 11 on your left.
In 1953 8 licensed premises of the present 26 will disappear in the next 20 years under Rutherglen’s Development Plan it was stated at a public inquiry in Rutherglen Town hall.
7 public houses and 1 licensed grocers was under threat and scheduled for demolition, this evidence on the opening day of the enquiry showed that if the plan were approved Rutherglen would be left with seven pub in one street and one each in seven other streets.
Mrs Givens, licensee of a pub at 26 Main Street stated that the population of 25,000, there were actually only 4 licensed grocers and 22 pubs, a total of 26, or a ratio of one licence to 932 of the population.
If as suggested under the development plan, eight licensed premises were taken away, that would leave only a ratio of one to 1346, of the population.
A new development of shops, and flats above were to be erected on a piece of ground of triangular shape to the west end of Main Street where the pubs were situated.

Do you remember this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.

Thomson, George

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Manager of Wyper’s Bar, 55 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

Mr George Thomson

Mr George Thomson, Wyper’s Bar. 1893.

Mr George Thomson was born in Bellshill, where he first got a job as a grocer, to which trade he served his time. In 1878 he joined the staff of Mr John Waugh, Wine Merchant, 358 Argyle Street. Staying here for eighteen months, but born and bred in Bellshill, one of the finest mining districts in Scotland, he turned his attention to the study of mining engineering. He mastered this subject and found employment with Young’s Paraffin Light and Oil Company, where his practical knowledge of shale mining stood him in good stead. After being in less responsible situations, he finally undertook the management of Mr Wyper’s establishment, a position he held to the satisfaction of his employer and a credit he was.

Mr Thomson was a volunteer, a crack shot, found of dogs and was an excellent swimmer, he also took a keen interest in football and all out-door sports.

Wyper’s Bars was founded by John Wyper in the 1840s. His early public houses were in the east end of the city at Gallowgate, Wyper’s was a well known pub at 498 Gallowgate and 514 Gallowgate, many will still remember this old pub as the Market Bar or the Enterprise, he had another pub on the Gallowgate at no 588a, this old pub will be remembered as the Club Bar.

John Wyper went into partnership with his son James Wyper and traded under the name of John Wyper & Son. Between them they had some of the best run pubs in the city including 48 Dale Street at the corner of Reid Street, 39 Shuttle Street, 64 Main Street, Bridgeton, 104 Dalmarnock Road, 121 London Road, 514 Gallowgate at the corner of East Market Street, 588a Gallowgate at the corner of Henrietta Street and 55 Sauchiehall Street at the corner of Sauchiehall Lane, which he took over in 1886.

Mr Wyper also went into partnership with John Dawson wine and Spirit Merchants, having premises at 218 Duke Street, 653 Gallowgate (Bellfield Bar) and 50 Main Street, Calton. James Wyper’s son John Strang Wyper became a partner with his father when the founder John Wyper died.

John S Wyper became trustee of the late Mrs Elsbeth Dawson’s estate who owned the pubs as Wyper and Dawson, this was in 1920, between John and his father James they had interests in six public houses, 2 in Gallowgate, 1 in London Road, 1 in Market Street, 1 in Dale Street and 1 in Sauchiehall Street. They were partners in business from Military Service. In 1920 James Wyper gave his son increased responsibility and had three public house licence’s transfered in his name. James Wyper was devoted Glasgow Wine and Spirit Merchant, his interests in the trade were increased from Vice president to President of the Scottish Defence Association and Managing Committee and a director of the Glasgow Defence Association.

Two years later Mr James Wyper passed away, leaving his son John S Wyper to run the business on his own. Year after year the pubs were sold on, as some of the pubs were taken over by trustee’s, Mr Beddie was trustee of the Sauchiehall Street business. The manager of the Sauchiehall Street premises Mr William P Halliday bought this pub while other manager’s took over the other pubs. During the 1920s the business was totally transformed, this was not just because of the death of James Wyper, the First World War also had a part in these hard times, so much that in the 1930s, there was no Wyper’s left trading in Glasgow.

To read more on the pubs on the Gallowgate read up & Doon the Gallowgate by John Gorevan. A copy can be bought for a few pounds at the Hielan Jessie on the Gallowgate or contact me at [email protected]