2 Howard Street, Glasgow.
Upstairs Downstairs advert 1976.
2 Howard Street, Glasgow.
Upstairs Downstairs advert 1976.
83 Howard Street, Glasgow. G1.
To read the history of the Old Eagle Inn keep an eye out for our second book here.
The Old Eagle Inn was founded at leased 1818, as there was a gas bill in the old premises with that date on it. In the early years of the Eagle a Mr Wallace was proprietor followed by a Mr Tulloch, the licence was them transferred to his son. Edward McLaughlin took the inn over in 1879.
The original Old Eagle Inn, in Maxwell Street, with James Fraser as landlord, was a favourite resort of the nobility and gentry. In 1816 a rider called on Fraser to hire “a horse the length of Paisley,” but Fraser retorted he “had some long horses but none so long as that.” The upshot was that the rider came to grief outside the city, the horse having to be destroyed, and the damage came “to the length of £18.”
A main of cocks was fought in the courtyard, with 1,000 guineas as stakes, between Provost Jacob Dixon of Dumbarton and Maule of Panmure. The latter was a reckless gambler and spendthrift. His family name was Ramsay, as being the second son of the Earl of Dalhousie, but on succeeding to an estate he took the name of Maule.
Mr Raymond McCrudden. 1971.
Of all the items in the collection at the Old Eagle Inn, Howard Street, the one which interests licensee Raymond McCrudden most was not on display.
This was because the item, a gilded wooden eagle, had only recently been brought out of storage and Raymond was doing some historical research to check if the eagle was from the lantern of what used to be the neighboring St Andrew’s Church.
The carving was the subject of a heated correspondence in a Glasgow paper during 1898 when an angry reader set out to trace the eagle and restore it to its former owners.
Identification of the eagle carving could tie up some inquiries which Raymond had been making about the history of his bar, according to legend stretching as far back as 1690 but definitely recorded as being in existence in 1818.
The inn had been in his family’s care since his father moved in during 1929 and Raymond took it over in 1970 from his mother, who had run it since the war.
Raymond’s interest in the historical background of the Old Eagle Inn was sparked off by a letter received from the county architect of Clackmannan enclosing records found during alterations at Ochil House, Alloa, which confirmed the fact that a stagecoach run had been in existence from the Tontine Hotel, Alloa, to the Eagle Inn as early as 1790, and Raymond had a coach waybill dated 1823 from that service.
The 15 other items in the Old Eagle collection, all linked to the title theme, were of much more recent origin. They were: two stuffed golden eagles; two gilt eagles (one of them a century old which came from Lang’s the distillers); three paintings by Ralston Gudgeon (one of a peregrine falcon); three photographs; two small models from a chemist’s shop; a wood carving; a three-dimensional photograph; and a nameplate plaque from H.M.S. Eagle.
The image above was taken at the Old Eagle Inn, on the occasion of the last outing of the Barrel Club in 1959. The Inn was the Club’s headquarters.
The last-named, although differing in representation from the others, was very much in keeping with the traditions of the Old Eagle Inn, for as well as being the calling point for the stage coach it had always been a favourite port of call for seafaring men.
It was a particular favourite of the whaling crews who called at Glasgow and, indeed, is mentioned in “Whales and Men,” an American book on the subject.
This reference has a sequel in the recent call by a visitor from the United States who had read the book and was retracing the various routes and ports visited by the whalers. During his visit he photographed the Old Eagle Inn and neighbourhood and later sent Raymond copies of some of the photographs he had taken.
Raymond’s favourite in his collection was the stuffed golden eagle from the Hebrides, which was perched centrally in a large glass case between the lounge and public bars.
The eagle was found wandering outside Stornoway with a broken wing and having to live on grubs as a result. It was caught then flown by B.E.A. to Edinburgh, where a museum curator fed the bird to get it ready for an operation to fit a template on its broken wing.
The eagle, however died under the anesthetic, so the curator put on his taxidermist coat and made as excellent job of stuffing the bird. The golden eagle then came into Raymond’s hands and was installed in its eyrie in the gantry to give a new focal point to the Old Eagle Inn. 1971.
6 Howard Street, Glasgow. G1 4AZ.Tel: 01412218217.
Click here to read review for this pub
Imperial Bar. 1991.
This is one of those pub in the city that has been here for years and very few people known exists.
To read the full history of this old establishment Keep an eye out for our second book here.
The Imperial Bar. 2008.
The Imperial Bar has three unusual stained glass windows this one is of a King having a feast.
This one is of a barmaid serving drinks.
Two entertainers playing music. All these images have a theme of what a public house has to offer. 2008.
148A Howard Street, Glasgow. G2 4NG.
The Granary. 1991.
40 Howard Street, Glasgow. G1 Tel: 0141 229 5841.
The Lorne. 1991.
Now called Fat Boab’s Alehouse, the older generation still call this the Lorne.
Established in 1872 as the Lorne Restaurant owned by Alexander Conacher.
When restrauteur James McKenzie took over in 1879 the Lorne was a favourite place for businessmen on both sides of the river, situated at the corner of Howard Street and Dixon Street and facing the St. Enoch Station this was thee place to dine.
When Mr McKenzie died his wife two sons and daughter took control of the business. It was also well known in the city for it’s cold salads during summer months. The Lorne then consisted of a large dining area, smoking room and ladies and gents toilets.
It’s a shame to see the name has change to Fat Boab’s Alehouse.
The Lorne. 1960s.
Fat Boab’s. 2007.
Fat Boab’s. 2007.
21 Howard Street, Glasgow.
The Count Down Bar.
This image was taken in 1979 shortly before demolition.
Thanks to James Green a Glasgow photographer in Glasgow 1979.
Mars Bar advert 1978.
Mars Bar advert 1978.
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After Mars threatened to take the pub to court for copying the name of one of the companies most famous chocolate snacks MARS BARS the pub had to change the name.
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In the NEWS 1979…
Pub Thief “Saved” By His Boss…
Melvin Mitchell has a chance of staying out of jail because he had a boss in a million. Today a court heard how gambling-mad Mitchell, a 27-year-old pub manager, found himself £5000 in debt and in trouble with loan sharks.
In desperation he helped himself to £3641 takings he should have put in the bank night safe, then he vanished.
But Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Mitchell’s boss, James Byrne, had given him the chance of a lifetime to make good. When Mitchell was caught and then freed on bail, Mr Byrne gave him a job in the bar of a hotel in which he also has an interest.
Instead of demanding his cash back he allowed Mitchell to pay off all his other debts. Mr James Friel, defending, said Mr Byrne was now putting Mitchell back into the same pub from which he embezzled the money, starting on Monday.
He will pay Mitchell £70 a week, but will keep £20 until the stolen money is repaid. Mitchell admitted embezzling the money from the Mars Public House, now the Countdown, in Howard Street in the centre of Glasgow.
FIRST OFFENCE
Sheriff Peter McNeill, who was told Mitchell was a first offender, deferred sentence for three weeks for a back-ground report and continued bail.
Mr Brian Logan, prosecuting, said Mitchell had been working at the Mars Bar for about five months before the offence which happened between October 22 and November 4 last year.
Mr Friel said in normal circumstances Mitchell should go to jail, but asked the Sheriff to give him a chance of freedom in view of Mr Byrne’s attitude.
Advert from 1979.
Update 09/01/2014…
In the 1960s the Snaffle Bit changed its name to the Steering Wheel according to an email I got from Jimmy. Other names the pub has been known as : Count Down, Oyster Bar next door, Mars Bar.
Do you remember the pub as this name if so please get in touch.