Stockwell Street

Murray’s Bar

May 10, 2020 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

89 Stockwell Street, Glasgow, G1 5HE

Stockwell Street Application Refused – 1909

The publican of 89 Stockwell Street, James Buchanan (Lived at 370 Cumberland Street) has applied for a certificate for new premises at 111 Stockwell Street, or alternatively for a provisional grand and confirmation for the same premises.

The current landlords of 89 Stockwell Street were the Glasgow & South-Western Railway Company. They were putting up another building and the licence was for that building. The plan was to move into the new premises and give up the licence for 89 Stockwell Street when it was ready.

Bailie Guest and the Chairman asked if the applicant would consider giving up the licence he held in South Wellington Street if they granted the licence of this new premises. Bailie Paxton, on behalf of the applicant said “I do not think you are entitled to bargain with the applicant at all.”

After the court had retired to consider their decision, the Chairman announced that both applications were refused unanimously.

Licence Holders

Miss Susan Murray
Mr James Buchanan

Do you know anything about this old Glasgow pub? Please get in touch or comment below.

Andrew Purdon’s Tavern.

July 2, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

Stockwell Street, Glasgow.

Andrew Purdon’s Tavern, C 1840.

The “Best Ale Under The Sun” was said to have been served at the Tavern which was located in the building shown above. It stood at the southern end of Stockwell Street close to the River Clyde and had a thatched roof and crow-stepped chimney stacks. A double outside staircase and many colourful signs at the front of the building were also attractions to potential customers. In its heyday the landlord was Andrew Purdon. Cows were milked in the forecourt and nursemaids would queue with the children in their care, the wee ones clutching their tinnies to be filled with warm milk. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

END.

The Scotia Bar

March 22, 2017 by John Gorevan 2 Comments

112 Stockwell Street, Glasgow. G1 4LW. Tel: 01415528681.

The Scotia Bar Stockwell Street

The Scotia Bar. 1991.

This is one of Glasgow’s oldest pub’s, however it is not the oldest. It was taken over by Belhaven Brewery in 2005.

To read the full history of the Scotia Bar click here.

The Scotia Bar 2005

The Scotia Bar. 2005.

I received a letter from Willy Gallagher written by Brian Nugent about the Scotia Bar and one of the owners, you will judge for yourself who this is.

Dear Friends of Old Glasgow.

It is now four years since I wrote a small pamphlet which brought to public attention S.D.A. plans to upgrade (close down) Paddy’s Market. The latest attempt to alter the face of Old Glasgow now comes, not from the now defunct S.D.A., but from a man with a business interest- Mr X. He wants to rename part of the old Briggait area and call it “The Stockwell Village.”
I want to raise some objections to this idea.
Its a posh sounding name about as Glaswegian as Daffodil tea; Queen Elizabeth II Square; and Nelson’s Column. It is obvious that in comparison to names like Paddy’s Market; the Briggait; and Goosbuds, “The Stockwell Village” is plastic and has a hollow ring about it. I don’t like it at all.
Secondly, I object to the attitude of the inventor of this idea. It is true that Mr X has achieved much at the Scotia Bar. In a few years he has turned the business round. An informed source tells me that he clears £1,500 profit p.w. Good money in any language. He has recently spent £150,000 on buying and refurbishing the Merchant now (The Clutha Vaults) and drives a new Volvo. Well done Mr X! Do these achievements give him the right to change street names and invent villages? I don’t think so.
My advice to Mr X is clear. Drop all this exaggerated Glasgow patter and talk of intelligent workers city and the common folk and the Glasgow watch stop writing of the Scotia as a Socialist Pub and instead make the place a Socialist Pub. Share out some of those profits with unemployed workers, even a cheaper pint for those without jobs would do.
Similarly with the folk scene. Instead of someone singing four or five songs and getting no more than a sniff of the barman’s apron, ensure that a pint is laid on the table. Remember the old saying Mr X, “One Singer, One Song + One Pint.”
Finally, Mr X, please stick to making money, you seem to be good at that. Last the folk scene and Glasgow culture develop naturally. When we feel the need to change the name of the area, we’ll send for the Queen, or the Lord Provost.

Village elders are not required.
Your Sincerely.
Brian Nugent.
Question 1. In what way is the Scotia Bar different from any other Capitalist Pub.
Question 2. After the Anti-Water Privatisation March, which Pub did the marchers visit.
Question 3. Why is it that from cover to cover, there is no mention of money in “The Scotia Folk and The Clutha Clipe.”

Robert Jaferay’s Wine & Spirit Cellars

March 22, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

105 Stockwell Street, Glasgow.

Robert Jaferay's Wine & Spirit Cellar Stockwell Street

Robert Jaferay’s Wine & Spirit Cellar. c 1820.

Empty casks and barrels outside cottages occupied by a cooper and a tavern keeper at 105 Stockwell Street, Glasgow, c 1820. The row was on the east side of the street, nearly opposite Jackson Street, on the former site of the Glasgow Cattle Market.

A sign above the door on the building on the left identifies Robert Jaferay’s Wine & Spirit Cellar, and above it the home of W Grant. On the neighbouring building there is a sign for Alexander Young. In front of the building is the Stock well, opened in 1638 and encased in a protective wooden structure. Behind, towering above the scene is the Merchants’ Steeple in the Bridgegate. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

Penny Ales

March 15, 2017 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

Stockwell Street, Glasgow.

Penny Ales Stockwell Street

This engraving depicts a view from c 1820 of buildings on Stockwell Street opposite Buchanan Court which was named after James Buchanan, one of the partners in the West Indies merchants Dennistoun, Buchanan & Co
The sign above the open door to the left of the image reads “Sinclar Evan.” The door in the centre has a sign advertising “Penny Ales” and is probably the entrance to a tavern. The sign above the door of the building on the right identifies the home or premises of Andrew Hill. Note the crow-stepped gables, the wall-mounted street lamp and the small-paned windows on the buildings. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

Ronnie’s

February 24, 2017 by John Gorevan 1 Comment

30 Stockwell Street, Glasgow.

Ronnie's Bar

Ronnie’s Bar. 1991.

This old established pub was better known in the 1980s as Kittys’ Bar. When I was a teenager my father drank in here with his many friend, he had a small shop in Brunswick Street next to the Mitre Bar, selling bedding and soft toys. I remember he gave me a massive lion soft toy to carry to Kittys’ Bar, I could hardly lift the feline it was that big, my father had to give me a hand in case I fell. On arriving at Kitty’s everyone gazed at the size of this toy as my father sat it on the bar and said this is Kittys’ bar.

There has been a pub on this site since at least the 1840s. One of the publicans to hold the licence was John White Crichton, born in 1866 in Langloan, he was educated in Thomson Street school, Dennistoun, where he passed through his classes without special distinction. But he seemed to have a taste for mechanical work, his greatest pleasure as a boy was watching the steam cranes at work. He entered into this trade when he left school and passed his apprenticeship with A & P Steven, Provanside Engine Works. He stop his engineering job to help out his father’s business in Townmill Road where he remained for 5 years. In 1890 he was given a transfer to Stockwell Street.

A very fine public house used to stand on the site of Kitties’ Bar and was known all over the city as the Balmoral.

However Mr Crichton was better known for his other profession as an engineer, he invented the “Emergency” beer raising engine, a simple idea and much smaller than the larger beer engines in cellars of that time. John W Crichton went bankrupt in 1897. The pub side of his business was taken over by Robert Black the pub was then known as the “Record Bar” then Robert Paterson took over the business in 1902. Mr Paterson also owned the Park Bar on Main Street, Tollcross which is now closed and called the Village.

During the 1930s the Stockwell Street premises were run by John Lloyd jun he also had a pub on Parliamentary Road at the corner of Black Street. The pub was sold to the West of Scotland Taverns Ltd in 1959, the licensee Joseph Smillie ran a successful business here for many years, he also ran Mill’s Bar in Duke Street, a pub on Morrison Street and Westmuir Street, now called O’Kane’s.

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In the NEWS 1979…

Kitty's Bar advert Stockwell Street 1979

Kitty’s Bar advert 1979.

Kitty’s Bar was owned by Ted Watters and his wife Kitty, the interior of Kitty’s Bar was panelled wall to wall with no particular featured decor. However the Watters and their staff were very friendly.

The couple were old friends of Glen and have been in the trade for a few years. They used to have a pub on London Road, Bridgeton, but when it was demolished they moved the Stockwell Street. It was a move they never regretted.

Darts was a favourite sport in Kitty’s Bar. Their Darts team were champions of the Independent League in 1978.