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Sweeney Todd’s

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456 Keppochhill Road, Glasgow. G21 1HY.

Sweeney Todd's

Sweeney Todd’s. 1991.

Other names this old pub, The Auld Hoose, Rockerfellow’s.

In 1873 Cowcaddens wine & spirit merchant John Caldwell was licensee for a new pub on this site. Mr Caldwell ran a small pub on Milton Street before taking on this new public house. John was born in Houston, Renfrew, he met Mary from Dollar and were married. Their six children were all born in Dollar, John started in the licensed trade as a wine & spirit merchant in 1862 at premises 37 Milton Street, Cowcaddens.

Auld Hoose Keppohhill Road

The Auld Hoose sitting at the corner od Scone Street. Circa 1930s.

John was living not far from this pub but soon moved to better accommodation with his family to Kilmalcolm House, Scotia Street and then on to Tandle Hill, Kilmalcolm. Mr Caldwell became very successful in the licensed trade opening other premises the Milestone Bar on Garscube Road, he also had the advantage of owning the property of all his pubs.

In 1899 the Milton Street premises were sold on to publican John Baxter, his other two properties on Garscube Road and Keppochhill Road were taken over by Thomas Wilson. Thomas like Mr Caldwell ran a successful business here for over thirty years.

Thomas was born in Killearn, Stirlingshire, he came to Glasgow where his father started business in the Cowcaddens, he obtained his first rudimentary training in the licensed trade. Thomas then went on to work with James Anderson, publican in Parliamentary Road, a few years later he was appointed charge hand in John Caldwell’s, 37 Milton Street. In his capacity he remained for the long period of fifteen years, when as a fitting and well-merited reward for his faithful services he was assumed a partner, an arrangement that lasted for another fifteen years.

The old pub on Garscube Road was demolished and a new four storey building with a new pub on the ground floor was erected in 1909 by his son architect James Wilson.

The pub was again sold to the Grant family in 1930, William Grant was licensee for over twenty years, his wife Alice then continued in the pub from 1952. The family ran this pub until the 1980s.

The pub was named Sweeney Todd’s after the owner Margaret Sweeney. The pub was demolished a few years ago.

The Pinkston Bar

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480 Keppochhill Road, Springburn, Glasgow. G21 1HY.

Pinkston Bar

Pinkston Bar. 1991.

Opened in the summer of 1889 by well known publican Timothy Warren. Mr Warren opened his first public house in 1876 at Henderson Street, Maryhill Road. Other pubs were added to his empire shortly afterwards in Dunchattan Street, Kelvin Street, Clyde Street, Anderston and Scotia Street.

The name above the doorway was Timothy Warren & Sons, the family business pinned their faith on Castle Ales and a notable feature at Warren’s was the care taken to ensure that all draught beer was supplied from the cask to the customer in perfect condition. To ensure this their pubs were kept up to date with the latest beer rising and pipe systems available, silver counter founts were also a feature.

In 1892 Timothy Warren Wine & Spirit Merchant, got liberty to erect a four-storey building for shops and dwelling houses on the north side of New Keppochhill Road.

In 1899 the rent for the premises were £28.00 per annum. Mr Warren’s sons Thomas and Charles took over the running of the business after his death.

The Keppochhill Road business was sold in the 1930s to Sydney Duthie, he sold it on in 1938 to Norah Dorrian. The premises were extended in 1955 taking over adjoining property and converting it into an up to date lounge and cocktail bar.

Australian walnut panelling in the lower portion of the walls was used in the cocktail bar and the new gantry. Ample seating accommodation was provided this included fixed wall seats upholstered in Dunlopillo. Tables and the bar counter were topped with Formica. In the decorative gantry effective use was made of sun tan vitroflex and glass shelves. The lounge was compact and cosy. Mr Dorrian assisted his wife in the running of the bar and their son Mr A Dorrian was in charge of the cocktail bar.

Pinkston interior

Mrs Norah Dorrian standing with her husband Mr A Dorrian and their son. On the right is Mr W Bailie, shopfitter and at the rear is Mr C Dundas, Barman. 1955.

Licence Holders.
1991 Raymond McGuire.
1973-1970 John Fletcher Laughlin.
1960-1938 Norah Dorrian.
1937 Sydney William Duthie.
1930-1907 Charles Warren.
1889-1907 Timothy Warren.

Benson’s.

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441 Keppochhill Road, Glasgow. G21 1HY. Tel: 0141 332 1556.

Benson’s. 1991.

Benson’s is named after landlords William R Benson. There has been a pubs on this site since 1879.

Elizabeth West an Irish lady was the first licensee, she formerly ran a pub on 111 Castle Street before coming to New Keppochhill Road. She also resided next door to her pub in Castle Street before moving to Flemington Street, Springburn.

In 1881 she moved house with her children next door to the pub, Matthew her eldest was an apprentice engine fitter, daughter Elizabeth and sons William and Archibald, she also had a domestic servant Mary who originally came from Islay.

James Muirhead then took over the business in the late 1880s, he also owned pubs at 122 Millburn Street and 380-82 Springburn Road and lived in Viewfield Villa, Springburn.

James Muirhead was born in 1831 in the parish of Denny, Stirlingshire. He was married to Jessie Ballantyne and had five children, James the eldest, John, Jessie, William and Margaret. All the children were born in Glasgow.

In 1881 James was living 4 New Keppochhilll Road with his wife and family, they were fortunate enough to have a domestic servant Catherine McCorquodale.

James started out in the licensed trade in the 1870’s in a small public house at 122 Millburn Street in the Garngad. Many will remember this old pub as the Mill Vaults. He was then living at 181 Garngad Road before moving to better accommodation to Keppochhill Road. Business flourished, new pubs were added to his small empire, Springburn Road premises were taken over in 1876, New Keppochhill Road pub then the Snug Bar at 147 Castle Street.

With a very prosperous business, James moved house with his family to even better accommodation to Viewfield Villa on Balgaryhill. His businesses included public houses and a Billiard room at 366 Springburn Road he also let property in Springburn.

James sadly passed away in 1900, his wife Jessie didn’t know the licensed trade neither did his children, his eldest son James was an engineer in Africa. The public houses were sold on to various Glasgow Publicans. William MacKintosh took over the New Keppochhill Road premises, Margaret Murray took over Millburn Street pub and William Smith took over the Castle Street pub.

Thanks to Joan Nicklin for much of the information on her family.

William Benson who the pub is named after ran public house in the 1930s until the 1950s, he also had the Bristol Bar, Renfield Street.

Springpark Bar. 2017.

During the summer of 2009 Benson’s was closed and a full renovation of the inside and outside of the premises was going on. Then in August 2009 a new name was above the door “Springpark Bar” appeared.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1991 Christine Shearer.
1973 John Forbes Darge for Tennents Caledonian Breweries Ltd.
1960 David Dempsey.
1950-1937 William Benson.
1919-1905 John Cruden.
1899 James Muirhead.

Do you know anything about this pub? If so please leave a comment.

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