Old Glasgow Pubs

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The Western Bar

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4 Peel Street, Partick, Glasgow.

Western Bar

Today Partick in the west end of the city offers some of the finest public houses in Glasgow, on a visit to the district you will be spoiled for choice in the numerous pubs Partick has to offer.

In the early 1900s you still had that choice, you could pick anyone of the wards forty four pubs, this was due to the help of the Partick Wine, Spirit & Beer Trade Defence Association, which fought to keep the pubs open during the temperance movement which saw many pubs close in Glasgow. Members of the Defence Association were William McColl, James and William Ward, James L Bennett, David Muirhead, Hugh Tennent, William Kirkwood and President John Mossman.

John Mossman spent all his life in the licensed trade, he was born in 1871 in the old established hostelry the Bay Horse in Hamilton, his parents being the proprietors, when his father died at an early age his mother took control of the business helped by young John and his two sisters Lily and Agnes. After leaving school John served for a few years in a lawyers office, however he decided this was not for him as he missed the excitement and the patter in the licensed trade, he then started work in the wholesale licensed trade and joined the staff of Messrs. Bennett & Company, York Street, as a junior clerk, working his way up to assistant manager, Bennett & Co. was producing some of the finest whisky in the city, one of there early blends of Scotch was the Royal Glenartney, other favourites were Niblick Machrihanish and Gothic blends.

After three years experience as a manager he left the firm and went into the retail trade in partnership with Mrs Ann Anderson, 4 peel Street, Partick, and traded under the name of Anderson & Mossman. Mr Mossman injected some youthful ideas into the business, he first made major alterations and had the pub redecorated. In 1897 he enlarged the business by securing a licence for the old Bunnhouse Tavern in Main Street, Anderston, one of the oldest premises in the district, he completely transformed the old place into one of the more modern howff’s in the area, he was granted a piece of old derelict ground at the rear of the building to install new lavatory accommodation for the customers.

Mossman’s pub in Peel Street became known as the Western bar, in the 1930s the pub was owned by Daniel Grant, he also ran the well- known State Bar in Holland Street, the Western Bar was demolished in the 1960s.

John Mossman

Mr John Mossman. 1897.

Wallace Bar

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31 Paisley Road West, Kinning Park, Glasgow. G51. Closed Down.

The Wallace Bar, 1991.

In 1873 George McLachlan was landlord here he also owned pubs in Gardner Street, Paisley Road, South Street and Elder Street.

In 1887 George Christie Walker took over the pub. George was born in Keith where he spent most of his younger days, he had a good education in commercial and business training. He left for London where he spent a few years and other parts of England before returning to Scotland. He came to Glasgow and worked for Thomas Young & Co, south side publican’s.

Thomas Young & Co had premises on Paisley Road, Crookston Street and the Gallowgate, young George Walker managed the pub on Paisley Road and succeeded in becoming a partner in the firm. Maybe this was a business arrangement between Mr Young and Walker as George married his bosses illegitimate daughter who died in childbirth, leaving a baby daughter Winifred.When Thomas Young died George Christie Walker and a son Thomas Pringle Young were to inherit the business.

George then went on to take over George McLachlan’s pub on Paisley Road West. The pub was renamed from McLachlan’s to The Alhambra Bar, George sold mostly whisky and wine in the pub. In 1892 he reduced the price of his beer and stout to try and encourage more ale drinkers into his establishment, a gamble that paid off. George now had ale and whisky drinker in his premises. In his spare time he would ride horses, he was also in the Queen’s own Yeoman’s.

In 1893 extensive alterations were made, including a horse shoe bar of seventy three feet in length.

George later opened another pub in the south side, this time in the Gorbals at 117-19 Oxford Street, this pub sat at the corner of North Coburg Street.

In 1910 Wallace B Todd took over the pub, Wallace ran the pub until the outbreak of the First World War, his wife Janet then took over as licensee until the end of this horrific war.

Another well known face in the pub was Thomas McAuley, the McAuley family ran this pub for over thirty years.

The Wallace Bar has been close now for some time. It is now a Deli shop.

George Christie Walker, 1887.

Do you know anything about this old pub? if so Please get in touch.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1990 Margaret McAuley.
1960 Thomas McAuley.
1947 John Connor.
1937 Patrick Gallen.
1919-1914 Janet Todd.
1903-1910 Wallace B Todd.
1887-1902 George C Walker.
1887-1873 George McLachlan.

END.

The Viceroy & Club.

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22 Paisley Road West, Glasgow. G51 1LB. Tel: 0141 429 0665.

Viceroy

The Viceroy. 1991.

This ancient public house has some interesting stained glass door panels by the Knox brother’s. In the 1870s the Knox brothers painted glass for many of our public houses. These works of art are probably the only glass panels left by the Knox brother’s. In all the years I’ve been in and out of pubs I have never seen anything like them. They are a work of art and must be seem before someone snatches them up or even worse get smashed by a drunk.

Glass dorrs Glass door1

The Glass Doors at Viceroy Bar.

There has been a public house on this spot since 1856, the first to hold a licence was spirit merchant David Stobo. David continued to serve the locals until 1866. Dugald Paterson was the next publican to run the pub. Mr Paterson also had a public house at 64 East Howard Street, he was living at Clifford Street, Paisley Road. Dugald Paterson continued as licensee until 1885.

Robert Gall was next on the list of wine and spirit merchants to run this old pub. Robert was also a licensed grocer (Off Sales) having premises at 117 Lambhill Street. Robert didn’t last long in the Paisley Road West pub and sold up to Thomas Vallance in 1890.

Mr Thomas Vallance was a famous Glasgow Rangers Footballer and manager. To read more on Vallance click here.

interior Vicroy Vicroy interior

The Viceroy Interior. 2007.

After Thomas Vallance the pub was sold to Mr Edmund McDonald. Edmund also had premises at Rue End Street, Greenock. Mr McDonald was a soldier and served his country and his Queen faithfully. Mr Edmund McDonald was born in Aberdeen and went to school in the Granite City, where he did well. He entered the army as a boy, joining the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, with which he remained for eleven years. On duty in Gibraltar and most of the garrison towns in England, Ireland and Scotland. He was also a drill instructor to the 1st Battalion Renfrew Volunteers. The first army man who had ever taken the regiment in hand, he soon showed the metal he was made of, and by his ability and tact transformed the Battalion into one of the best sense of the term, he won the confidence and respect of all he came in contact with.

Edmund took a great interest in drill and gymnastics, and acted as instructor in many private colleges and public schools. He was appointed an instructor under the School Board of Glasgow, where he taught in some of their best schools, principally of the higher grade. He trained in St Andrew’s and City Hall’s in every instance most successfully.

Retiring from military life in 1894, Mr McDonald entered the Trade and acquired the Eagle Tavern, Rue End Street, Greenock. Making a success of this public house he obtained the transfer of the license at “The Club” 22 Paisley Road West. He was an old member of the Greenock Burns Club, in his spare time he played bowls with the Ardgowan and golfs with the Golf Club of the same town. He was an amateur photographer, fond of music and played the piano and violin and many more musical instruments. He also sung for the choir of the Old West Parish Church, in the graveyard of which, Burns’ Highland Mary is buried.

Mr McDonald was a director of the Greenock Branch of the Wine, Beer and Spirit Trade Defence Association, in the interests of which he spared neither time nor trouble. In 1881 he married Miss Burns, daughter of Mr James Burns, M.R.V.C.S., of Dublin. His was an expert cyclist too. Edmund McDonald sold up in 1905.

In 1905 the premises was taken over by wine & spirit merchant James Kerr and changed the name to “The Clarence.” Mr Kerr thoroughly remodelled and fitted all new appliances. There was a large room suitable for holding functions and smaller rooms for smaller parties. James got his training in the famous Horse Shoe Bar, Drury Street. The Clarence celebrated Welsh Rarebit which was becoming very popular with his patrons.

James Kerr was very successful in the Clarence and sold up to James Watt in 1907. Wine and spirit merchant James Watt served the locals until 1924.

John Kennedy then took over. John continued until 1937 and sold to well-known southside wine and spirit merchant James Clelland. Mr Clelland will still be remembered by some as the owner of the Cleland Bar, Hospital Street, Gorbals.

Over the years many publicans have come and gone including: John McKinlay 1940s – 1963, Denis Gerald McKinlay 1963 – 1970s, and present licensee Mr Peter Derrick.

Vicroy interio

Do you have any memories of this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

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