50-60 King Street, Glasgow. G1 5QT. Tel: 0141 553 1638.
Ventura. 1991.
Today 2007 the pub is called the 13th Note.
13th Note. 2005.
13th Note Tel: as above.
King Street
Mono
12 King’s Court, King Street, Glasgow. G1 5RB.
Check back soon for the history of this pub.
The Masons’ Arms
143 King Street, Pollokshaws. later Shawbridge Street, Glasgow.
Mr William Reid Fleming. Proprietor of the Masons’ Arms, 143 King Street, Pollokshaws. 1899.
Mr William Reid Fleming was born in the adjacent village of Strathbungo in 1867. His father John Fleming was long connected with the spirit trade, but left it and became a surfaceman in the employment of the North British Railway Company.
When young William was still a boy he moved with his parents to Tollcross, where he received his education at Carmyle and latterly attended the Board School at Mount Vernon under Mr Young.
On leaving school he entered into the licensed grocery business, joining the staff of Mr Thomas Robertson, of Tollcross, with whom he remained for four years. This was a fortunate start in life for him as he gained the knowledge of the business in its every detail, being in charge of the van as well as inside the shop.
He then left for the big city of Glasgow and entered the employment of James Arthur and Company Ltd., Queen Street, the largest business of its kind in Scotland. He selected the umbrella department, where he served his apprenticeship as a cutter, and remained for the long period of fourteen years.
During this time he still kept up a close connection with the licensed trade, working on holidays, in the evenings and Saturdays. Again he entered the trade and went as second hand to Mrs Robertson, of Shettleston, and after a year was promoted to manager, where he spent three years in all.
He then went to Cumbernauld to take charge of his grand-mothers old established shop. Old Mr Fleming had died, and the business was offered and accepted to young William to carry on the business on behalf of the young children, a duty which he continued for three years.
William Reid Fleming then acquired the Masons’ Arms in King Street, Pollokshaws around 1897. William was a keen Mason himself of Lodge 199, Cumbernauld, of which he was secretary for two years, and on coming to Pollokshaws he was affiliated to Lodge Royal Arch, 153, Pollokshaws, of which he held the office of Steward in 1898.
He was also a member of the Burns Club, he bowled with the Pollokshaws Bowling Club and curled with the Pollok Curling Club. He was also a member of the Shepherd’s Friendly Society of Cumbernauld, sang a good song and was fond of outdoor amusements. In June 1897 he was fortunate in marrying Miss Calder, daughter of Robert Calder, wine and spirit merchant, Main Street, Cumbernauld.
William was a member of the Wine, Beer and Spirit Trade Defence Association. A very busy man in his time.
William sadly passed away in 1914, his wife then took over the running of the business. She paid an annul rent of £49.
Mr William Reid Fleming. 1947.
In March 1947 Mr Fleming celebrated a unique occasion on fifty years that his late father William senior took over the Masons’ Arms. He took over the business in 1930, he had business interests in Largs where he was proprietor of the Jubilee Bar, which he took over from Mr Sam Galbraith in 1941. He too like his father was a member of the Royalty Burns Club and regularly attended at the clubs bowling outings.
The last member of the family to run the business was Janet Fleming and continued until the pub was closed down in the 1960s.
Licence Holders…
John Robertson 1893.
William Reid Fleming 1897.
Isabella Fleming 1914.
William Reid Fleming jun 1930.
Janet Fleming 1960.
Laurie’s
34 King Street, Glasgow. G1 5QT. Tel: 0141 552 7123.
Laurie’s. 2005.
The Institution
51 King Street, Glasgow.
Mr Campbell. 1893.
Mr Campbell was a native of Armagh and came to Scotland in 1863, finding work where ever he could. For eighteen years he was in the employment of Thomas Ellis, Coatbridge, of the British Iron Works, as a contractor. He had been twelve years associated with the spirit trade, but left the management of the business almost entirely to Mrs Campbell. The Institution was conducted by Mrs Campbell with an assistant barman.
The Institution was situated in King Street, city centre, it was a favourite haunt of the old societies in Glasgow. The building of which it forms the ground floor, was old and time-worn. The tavern had two entrances, one from Kind Street through a narrow close, the other from the lane which bounds the western side of the Britannia Music Hall. On both sides the locality was insalubrious and inhabited by the rougher element of Glasgow’s population and when a stranger visited, he was surprised by the appearance of the place and the persons who patronised it, so out of harmony were they with the external surroundings.
Inside the Institution was a model of neatness, everything suggestive of comfort, the sitting-rooms cosy with a fire blazing in the grates and it was nothing unusual to find even a Glasgow Bailie or a Glasgow Minister enjoying a pipe, sipping stout or ale out of silver tankards, or consuming a snack of scallops or brandered steak.
Mrs Anderson was a most genial host, full of lore about the place and a link that connects Glasgow with that of two hundred years. Her father Mr Fisken, was the proprietor of the White Hart Hotel and the carrier quarters, situated where the Bazzar was located. The White Hart and carriers quarters were historical places; here, too, the old Glasgow Radicals met, and on one occasion Thomas Muir, the brilliant Glasgow advocate and one of the pioneers and martyrs of Scottish democracy, addressed a meeting of sympathisers of the great French Revolution. Mr Fisken ran coaches from Glasgow to Balfron and had the cleansing of the city before Drummond was entrusted with that duty.
Mrs Anderson still had in 1891, nine silver tankards presented by the students of the Old College to Anderston, one of the proprietors of the place, in recognition of the generous hospitality extended to the boisterous graduates who frequented the tavern. At that time the professors and students met regularly here, and here nightly story followed story and the roof rang with merriment.
On of the most interesting things about the Institution was a ring in a hugh stone at the King Street entrance, to which Sir Walter Scott was in the habit of fixing his horse while refreshing himself in the tavern. Sir Walter Scott, as it was said, when he visited Glasgow on legal business patronised The Institution, where he usually met other congenial cronies connected with his profession. Another feature in the Institution is what is known as the “Wishing Stone,” near the bar. The story goes that persons sitting underneath this stone, which projects slightly from the wall, were usually awarded with what they desired. The custom has fallen into disuse, but sometimes it is still resorted to by the more youthful of patrons.
There has always been a dispute as to the oldest tavern in Glasgow, the Institution in King Street and the Waverley in the Old Wynd were just two of them.
Facts…
King Street had some interesting old taverns, in the 1840s there was the Boar’s Head and the Peacock at no47, the Glasgow Arms at no10, the Polka no20 and the Hatter’s Arms at no27.
License Holders.
1893 Mr Campbell.
Campbell’s.
King Street, Rutherglen, Glasgow. G73 1BZ. Demolished.
Campbell’s. 1991.
Update… November 2009.
Campbell’s is now called Dixie’s.
Dixie’s . November 2009.
Thanks to Norrie McNamee for this image.
Update 2012…
This Rutherglen bar has a new name “The Burgh Bar”.
Do you remember this old pub? If so please leave a comment.
END.