Old Dumbarton Road, Partick.
Thomas Fairbairn’s painting shows the Wheat Sheaf Inn at the eastern end of Old Dumbarton Road. The inn was popular with Glaswegians who walked from the city along the Anderston Walk to Partick and the banks of the River Kelvin, to take in the scenery and the country air. It was demolished at the end of the 19th century.
124 Crown Street corner of 105 Rutherglen Road, Gorbals, Glasgow.
The Wheatsheaf Bar, corner of Crown Street and Rutherglen Road. 1960s.
There has been licensed premises on this site since the 1840s.
One of the first licensee’s was wine and spirit merchant Robert Frame, he traded here until 1859.
In 1860 well known and respected John McLean acquired the licence. Mr McLean was a wine & spirit & malt liquor merchant, he also had premises at 9 Main Street, Gorbals, living at 318 Rutherglen Road.
In 1877 John McLean had premises at 9 Main Street, Gorbals, 124 Crown Street, 45-47 Houston Street and lived with his family at Mary Lodge, Langside.
In 1899 John’s son Robert A McLean was licensee, he also had premises at 1039-1043 Pollokshaws Road (Corona Bar), 9 Main Street, 79 Crown Street, his home was at Cart Bank, Langside. All his premises had His name above the Door. As years went on some of his bars were just called Mac’s Bar’s.
The pub stayed in the same family until 1909. The licence was then taken over by James A Paton. Mr Paton wine and spirit merchant continued as licensee until his death in 1918. His wife Helen then took over the running of the business. The Paton family continued here until the late 1930s.
In 1937 Patrick Leonard acquired the certificate. He also owned a public house at 14 Pitt Street.
During the 50s Miss K E Finnegan was licensee, the 60s Margaret M MacDonald, she also ran a pub at 106 Gorbals Street. The licence was held until the late 1960s and like many of the old pubs in the area was demolished.
184 Caledonia Road, corner of 370 Lawmoor Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.
William Lapsley’s Vaults. 1892.
William Lapsley’s Vaults was situated at the corner of 184 Caledonia Road and 370 South Wellington Street which became Lawmoor Street. In 1892 William Lapsley was landlord for this popular Gorbals public house. Mr Lapsley was better known as a footballer than a license holder. He was born in Dumbarton in 1866 and served his apprenticeship in the engineering trade, but abandoned it for a life in the licensed trade. He served as a manager for a couple of years with Mr S J McCutcheon, where he obtained a thorough insight into the various branches of the trade.
Mr Lapsley acquired the pub in 1891 from William Paton who retired from the trade. The main bar was entered from South Wellington Street, a large well stocked bar and gantry with large casks was a feature of the premises, with little rooms or snug’s taking up the rest of the space. The Family Department (off license) was entered from Caledonia Road which did a great trade on it’s own. Younger’s, Bass’s and Allsopp’s ales were stocked.
Mr William Lapsley. 1892.
Mr Lapsley’s fame as a footballer had spread all over Scotland. For years he was an active member of the Dumbarton Football Club and after coming to Glasgow he joined the 3rd L.R.V. Club. He was one of the 3rd L.R.V. team when they, for the first and only time, won the Charity Cup. Since he began business on his own account he had practically abandoned participation in football, although an enthusiastic admirer of the game. He devoted all his time in the pub and found it paid better than frittering away his time on the football field.
For the first few months the business was very successful, but when the novelty was over he soon found out who hard it was in those days to run a pub. William struggled and the pub game was not paying and subsequently sold the business after only 19 months or so behind the bar. William Rose a wine and spirit merchant then took over the pub, he had experience in the trade and was quite successful in the time he was here. Like all publican’s, he struggled for a few years during the First World War.
During the 1930s John Milligan was landlord, many will still remember James McKinlay who ran the pub in the 60s until it was finally demolished like most all the other pubs in the Gorbals.
Many will remember this old pub as the Welcome Inn.
The Welcome Inn. 1960s. On the ground floor of Wellington Corner.
Before this popular pub was called the Welcome Inn it was known as the White Swan, however the locals named it the Mucky Duck.
Ashton Lane, Glasgow. Off Byres Road.
The Wee Pub. 2007.
127 Norfolk Street corner of 1 South Coburg Street, Glasgow.
This large group of the Gorbals Ward outing to Rothesay. c late 1950s.
There has been licensed premises on this site since 1869. The first licensee was a gentleman called Hugh Wilson Hughes. Mr Hughes lived at 259 Main Street, Gorbals with his family and continued a licensee until 1872.
In 1873 Mr W Lyle Jeffrey took over the business. Mr Jeffrey lived at 103 Norfolk Street not far from his pub. His son Alexander Jeffrey took over as licensee in 1875. Alex also had a public house at 37 Watt Street known as Alex’s Bar, many will remember this old pub as the Flyover Bar.
James K Webster on the far left with his wife, friends of the Gorbals Ward outing to Rothesay. c late1950s.
Alexander L Jeffrey continued as licensee until his death in the 1880s. His wife Mrs Christina I Jeffrey was the licence holder in 1885, she lived at Kyle Park, Uddingston. Christina paid an annual rent of £95 and also had Alex’s Bar in Watt Street. Mrs Jeffrey was running the pubs until after the First World War.
This interesting West of Scotland Trade wedding from 1934. Includes the bride Miss Rea Waid, daughter of Mrs Waid of the Buck’s Head Hotel, Strathaven, and the bridegroom Mr Robert W Webster, Glasgow. The bridesmaid is Miss Nan Waid and the best man H J Watt, trail-bearers are Miss Aileen Webster, niece of the groom and master T Waid MacPherson, nephew of the bride. The marriage took place in Shawlands Church, Glasgow.
Mr Robert W Webster started his career in the Scottish Licensed Trade in 1926 at 127 Norfolk Street. Robert was a keen member of the Gorbals Ward and served as secretary of that Ward. Mr Robert W Webster passed away in 1951.
James K Webster his son succeeded his father shortly after completing his Army service, but he had started to learn the trade under his father some 40 years ago. After taking over the licence, Mr Jame K Webster enthusiastically identified himself with the work of the Gorbals Ward serving for a period at its convener in 1960, being also then a director of the Glasgow Licensed Trade Association.
Mr James K Webster. 1960.
James K Webster was appointed the new Convener of the Gorbals Ward Association in succession to Mr Frank Munro, who retired from the post. Mr Hugh Gallagher was the new Vice-convener and Mr Raymond McCrudden takes over the secretaryship. 1960.
Over the years Mr Webster his staff and customers have raised hundreds of pounds for charity including the Taximen’s Sick Children’s Outing Fund, Red Cross (Glasgow Branch) and many other charities.
Left is Mr Frank Munro and James K Webster 1960.
Committee members of the Gorbals Ward of Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence Association gathered in Sloan’s Restaurant, Glasgow, to honour Mr Frank Munro on his retirement from the convenership of the ward association. With them were Mr Tom F Flynn, senior vice-president of the Glasgow Association, and Mrs Flynn.
On behalf of the Committee, Mr James J Webster, who becomes the new convener, presented a bag of golf clubs to Mr Frank Munro and paid tribute to his services to the Association. 1960.
Mr James K Webster 1961.
This image of Mr Webster was taken at the Gorbals Halloween function in 1961. The Halloween dinner and dance of the Gorbals Ward of Glasgow District Licensed Trade Defence Association has been growing in popularity and in this years event was held at the Grosvenor Restaurant, Glasgow, proved a “sell out.”
The top table party included Mr W B Gow, president of the Glasgow Association and immediate past president of the Scottish Association, and Mrs Gow; Mr Thomas F Flynn, a vice-president of both the Scottish and Glasgow Associations; and Mrs Flynn; Mr W B McDowall, secretary, Glasgow Association and Mrs McDowall; and Mr J S Goulding, of Robert Deuchar Ltd the principal guest.
Mr J K Webster, convener of the Gorbals Ward, and chairman of the function, welcomed the large company among whom he was pleased to see many representatives of the wholesale concerns. He paid tribute to his “very hard-working Committee,” comprised of Messrs. Hugh Gallagher, vice-president, Raymond McCrudden, secretary, Peter Gallagher, M Heraghty, Sam Falconer, P McGovern and J Lundie.
Members of Trade personalities are seen in this group on the occasion of the annual Burns Supper of the Thistle Burns Club in the Grosvenor Restaurant, Glasgow.
Left to right in front row are: James K Webster, (Royalty Burns Club), D A MacLean, (president, Royalty); A M Loudon, (president, Thistle); R W B Eadie, (past president, Thistle); J Young (secretary, Thistle); J H Wylie, (vice-president, Royalty). The group also included, D McLean, M Haxton, A McAulay, W Myron, A E Meiklem, J McAulay, A E Kilgore, W Cockburn, J McIntosh.
left to right Mr James Culligan (Norfolk Arms), P McGuire, Mrs Bertha Sendall (Royal Restaurant) and James K Webster. 1963.
Left to right back row: Mr J Thom; M J Heraghty; N Douglass; Charles Sweeney; James K Webster.
Front row: P McGovern; Hugh Gallagher (Convener); Sam Falconer (Secretary); Raymond McCrudden (Vice Convener). 1965.
This image was taken at the Gala Night for the Gorbals Ward in 1965 at the Grosvenor. It was one of the most successful Halloween dances ever held by the Gorbals Ward Licensed Trade Association.
Left to right Jack Baillie (from Guinness); John Hope (from MacKinlay -McPherson); Mrs J K Webster; Mrs John Hope; J K Webster and Cornelius Byrne, at the Gorbals Ward annual outing to Glendaruel, 1966.
Left to right Sam Falconer, Mr & Mrs James K Webster and Michael J Heraghty 1968.
This image was taken at the retirement of James K Webster, at his premises. Webster’s Bar was being taken over for redevelopment by the City Council. Mr Webster decided that it was a great oppertunity for him to retire from the trade. Sam Falconer handing over a wallet of notes to Mr Webster and Mr Michael Heraghty presenting a box of chocolates to Mrs Webster.
