Gallowgateroad

384-388 Gallowgate. Glasgow.

John McElroy’s Holyrood Vaults was situated at the corner of the Gallowgate and Claythorn Street. This public house can be traced back to the 1820s when landlord Archibald Phillips occupied the premises. The tenement building was built around 1771 and the pub was formerly residents flats. Archibald Phillips continued as proprietor of the business until around 1845 when he went into partnership with Hugh Fyffe and traded until the name of Phillips & Fyffe, this partnership only lasted a few years and the pub was sold on to Mr James Andrews.

The John McElroy took over the pub in the 1880s, other members of the family had well established pubs in Parliamentary Road, Gallowgate, Rutherglen Road, Market Street and the Old Burnt Barns, London Road.

John McElroy came from Ireland and set up as a spirit merchant in the east end of the city, the Gallowgate had many Irish publican’s just like the Gorbals at the time.

The McElroy family continued to run this pub until the end of the 1920s, Miss Emily McElroy was then licensee, the second female member of the family to hold the certificate, Bridget held the licence in 1902 as trustee of the late John McElroy. In 1928 Miss Emily McElroy was at the Central Police Court, her premises were about to be closed down, the police visited the premises at 9.20pm on a Saturday where they found John Murphy and Thomas Cunningham consuming excisable beer outwith permitted hours, as the pubs closed at 9pm. Both gentlemen were fined 15 shillings at the Central Police Court. Miss McElroy was not present at the time of the crime. The pub was closed shortly afterwards.

In 1933 the pub was closed for good, the licensee was then a Mrs McQuade, her husband Patrick managed the premises for her. The pub was closed by order of the Dean Of Guild, the property had been condemned as a result of the old tenement being in such a poor condition. It was demolished shortly afterwards.

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]

374 Gallowgate, Glasgow. G4 0TX. Tel: 01415520753.

Hielan Jessie. 1991.

Thank’s to everyone who came along to the Hielan Jessie for Glasgow Doors Open Day 2013.

This is one of the best pubs in the east end of the city run by the Gold family since the 1980s. To read the full history of this old established pub Keep an eye out for our second book.

Formerly known as the Regal Bar.

The Regal Bar. 1960s.

Another view of the Regal Bar. 1960s.

A well known figure in the bar.

Hielan Jessie, August 2005.

Interior views of the Hielan Jessie. 2005.

Glasgow’s infantry barracks in the Gallowgate, looking north with the university tower in the background

The Hielan Jessie sits opposite the old Barrack’s of Glasgow. The barracks were built in 1795 at a cost of £15.000 and could accommodate up to 1000 men. Before their construction soldiers had been billeted with the town’s inhabitants. The buildings were erected on the site of the city butts, were the burghers of medieval Glasgow had practiced archery and were required to gather at the time of the wapinshaws (weapon shows), to present their arms and armour for inspection. The first regiment to be stationed at the barracks were the Argyleshire Fencibles. However, by the mid-19th century the buildings were in a dire condition and in 1872 new barracks were completed on Maryhill Road. The old site was later used for a railway goods yard.

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]

Many thanks to Mr & Mrs Billy Gold owners of the Hielan Jessie for a wonderful Hogmanay Party 2009 to 2010. Click here to see photographs of the party.

UPDATE…

03/08/2013… A sad day, Josephine McCormack, Billy Gold’s partner in the Hielan Jessie passed away today. Josephine was diagnosed with cancer.

Ten days later she passed away in Stobhill Hospice. She will be remembered for her bubbly personality, a lady that loved to sing country and western songs. Josephine had been spotted chanting in some of our city pubs. It wasn’t long ago that Billy and Josephine welcomed my wife and I to their Hogmanay Party 2009-2010. Josephine then was the sole of the party. I will remember her as a kind, friendly and generous person. R.I.P.

251 Gallowgate, Glasgow. G4.

The Haven. 1991.

This old pub is now called The Gate and is nothing like the former establishments that were once on this site. The pub is not Celtic-themed and doesn’t allow football colours. Click here to see more about the new pub.

The history of this oldie can be traced back to the 1820s when James Reid occupied the premises for nearly forty years.

David Graham took over the pub in 1875, the Graham’s owned several pub in the east end of the city including Graham’s on the Saltmarket, Graeme Street, Bridge Street, Paisley Road.

The Emerald Isle, August 2005.

Other names this old pubs has had over the years, Reid’s, Graham’s, Civic Bar, The Land, Ye Land Inn, Murray’s Bar, The Emerald Isle.

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]

Licence Holders.

1991 George McDowall.

1973-1961 James A Murray.

1937 Nathaniel Reid.

1914-1875 David Graham.

1863-1826 James Reid.

Also see a photograph of Mr Murray at the Kessington.