Byres Road

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.

Facts…

There are three Judge’s in professional boxing. This is where the pub gets it’s name. Not that there are fight’s in this pub, the exact opposite, this is a great place for a drink.

When I last visited the Three Judge’s the resident Jazz band was playing, what a great atmosphere.

Real ale is very popular in here too. It’s a real gem of a place.