West Street Archives - Old Glasgow Pubs

144 West Street, Glasgow. Demolished.

Norwood interior

This photograph was taken in 1965, Eric Caldow, Ranger and Scotland footballer, scrapes £27 7 shillings from the mirror, proprietor Mr T Blue catches the coins in a bucket. The coins were stuck on the mirror by dipping it in your pint and when dried stuck like glue. The customers collected this amount for the home of the mentally handicapped children at Merchiston Hostel.

In 1891 Jane Mitchell was landlady of this popular West Street howff. Mrs Mitchell continued as licensee until the end of WW1.

During the 1930s David Craig ran this old pub followed by his wife Jean who held the licence from 1945.

One late February morning in 1956, just after opening time a three ton lorry and a Corporation bus collided outside the pub, the truck shot tight through the lounge window, showering glass and plaster all over the bar. The lorry became embedded in the masonry and could not be moved until the public house wall had to be shored up. A column supporting the four storey tenement above had been snapped.

Four persons were injured as a result of the crash. The fire brigade and gas board workers were called out in case a fire broke out as there was flooding fuel from the truck and escaping gas from one of the pipes. A no smoking order was issued by the police to the crowd of onlookers.

Inside the premises the burglar alarm was ringing, the trucks horn blared and the lights flickered, the plaster from the ceiling began to rain down on the bar.

65 year old Mrs Craig the proprietrix said “I got the shock of my life, I thought the whole place was collapsing.”

In spite of all this Mrs Craig continued to serve the customers with drink, while the lorry was still embedded in the lounge.

Norwood with lorry in window

Interior view of the Norwood Arms, note the lorry embedded in the lounge.

Mr T Blue group

Group of Glasgow Licensed Trade Golf Club members, front row left to right Mr H W G Kerr, Queen Anne., Mr A Hart, W MacNair & Co. Ltd., Mr J Blair, W MacNair & Co. Ltd., Back row Mr Norman Smith, Planet Bar, Mr T Salton, Smiddy Bar., Mr T Blue, Norwood Bar, Mr W Newall. 1966.

Mr T Blue group1

Glasgow Licensed Trade Golf Club at the Grand Hotel, front row Norman Smith, Mr P Smith, H W G Kerr, Mrs A Hart, Mr T Salton, rear Mr T Blue, Mr V Adkins, Mr W A Simpson, Mr A Hart, Mr J Escourt, Mr B Barclay, Mr J Logan, Mr W Redpath, Mr W Newall, Mr J Ryburn. 1966.

Facts…

Licence Holders.

1965 Mr T Blue.

1960 Denis Miller.

1956-1945 Jean Burnett Craig.

1945-1937 David Craig.

1919-1891 Jane Fish Mitchell.

Do you remember this old pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.

64 Clyde Place corner of 1 West Street, Glasgow. G5 8AQ. Demolished.

Image of the Ceilidh Bar corner of Clyde Place and West Street 1975 — The Ceilidh Bar. 1975.

Clyde Place in the South Side of the City had eight public houses at the beginning of the 1900s.

The last pub on this short street was the Ceilidh Bar owned by James McWilliam. Mr James McWilliam was in partnership with John McWilliam and traded under the title of J & J McWilliam. The firm acquired a licence for 64 Clyde Place in 1877.

James and John already had premises at 3a – 5 Stirling Street now known as the Strathdie Bar and Wardrop’s Court, 38 Queen Street, Glasgow.

James McWilliam the senior partner of the firm was living at 32 Grafton Square before moving to better accommodation at 300 St Vincent Street. John was living at Fairfield, in Paisley.

Read more on Andrew McWilliam another member of the family. Click here.

James was a prominent member in the Scottish Licensed Trade and the Scottish Licensed Trade Defence Association since 1865. He was elected Director from 1870-1890 and became President. James sadly passed away in 1901.

His funeral processed to Central Station and conveyed by the 10-25 train to Wemyss Bay thence to Campbletown. His remains were interred in the Kilkivan Churchyard. He was missed by various members in the Scottish Licensed Trade.

After Mr McWilliam’s death the premises were taken over by the trustees and Alexander McWilliam became the licensee. A few years later the pub was sold to William Urquart another well known publican in the city.

William Urquart also ran a pub at 148 Nelson Street at the corner of West Street not far from the Ceilidh Bar. William paid an annul rent of £76 10/- (shillings).

Other licensees were Patrick Lavelle and Robert Martin.

The pub was demolished shortly after the above photograph was taken.

In 1875 these premises were occupies by the London Clothing Company.

In 1870 McAllister & Co., wholesale and retail grocer occupied the site.

Do you remember this old Pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.