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The Vulcan Bar

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426 Springburn Road, Glasgow.

The Vulcan Bar

The Vulcan Bar. 1980’s.

This was originally MacMillan’s Bar, situated at the corner of Springburn Road and Vulcan Street.

The history of this bar can be traced back to 1891 when landlady Mrs Waterson owned the premises, she lived nearby in Hillside Terr. In 1898 John Govan MacMillan took over the licence, he continued in this popular Springburn hostelry for over 40 years. He obtained his first experience in the licensed trade in the office of Messrs MacLeay, Duff & Co., wholesale wine & spirit merchants. After gaining an insight into the wholesale side of the business he took over the licence in Springburn Road. Keenly interested in all matters affecting the trade, Mr MacMillan served for a period as a director of the Board of the Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence Association, until ill-health obliged him to resign. He also took a prominent part in Trade Defence matters within his own district and was secretary of his local Ward for a few years.

Vulcan postcard

A postcard with a Tram on Springburn Road with the Vulcan Bar on the left.

Mr MacMillan died in 1940 at his home, Park House, Balgrayhill Road, Springburn, he left his wife and two sons, one of whom was serving in the Forces. Mrs MacMillan then took control of this prosperous business in Springburn. Mr Hugh Ross was the manager of the pub, he served in MacMillan’s bar for almost 47 years. He had an unusual hobby, of making rugs and made one for the Red Cross, Charity in 1945, raising £185, 14 shillings and 10 pence. Mr Ross went on to raise money for various charities including the Aid to China, and the Royal Infirmary. Hugh was one of a set of triplets, he had three aunts who were triplets and he had a set of twin daughters.

The Ross family went on to becoming licence holder for these premises during the 1960’s.

Mr Hugh Ross

Mr Hugh Ross with one of his rugs. 1945.

Springburn Road at Vulcan Street

Old postcard Springburn Road with Vulcan Street on the left..

Licence Holders.
1973 John Richmond.
1960 Hugh John Ross.
1945 Mrs MacMillan.
1940-1898 John Govan MacMillan.
1895-1891 Mrs Waterson.

The Redan

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1802 Maryhill Road, Maryhill, Glasgow. G20 0HD.

The Redan

The Redan. 1991.

This part of Maryhill Road was formerly Main Street, Maryhill.

This old established Maryhill local was owned by Bailie William McLeod.

William McLeod was born in 1843 at Lambhill and educated in Springburn, his first initiatory start in life was his engagement as clerk to the firm of Messrs., Leadbetter, Govan & Co, quarrymasters, to whom he remained for 17 years, during which time he married a niece of Mr Govan, one of the partners.

Mr McLeod took over his first pub at 281 Gairbraid Street, Maryhill, premises that had just been built in 1873 at the corner of 3 Vernon Street, now Queen Margaret Drive. In 1881 he took over another public house at 394 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow, many will still remember this old pub as the Lemon Tree Bar. Business was booming and in 1887 he acquired another pub further up Maryhill at 210-12 Main Street the “Redan.” Using his Gairbraid Street establishment as his headquarters, all the finest liquor was dispensed at his premises, blending all his own whiskies and his special blend of “Tiree” which not only had a large home consumption but was known abroad, where it was extensively exported.

McLeod's Maryhill Road

McLeod’s Bar corner of Maryhill Road and Vernon Street now Queen Margaret Drive.

William was a valuable inhabitant of Maryhill, with good qualifications and a talent to get on with the locals, he was elected as Bailie to the Town Council of Maryhill before the Burgh was merged with Greater Glasgow, the separate Council then ceased to exist.

He was a famous dog lover and an acknowledged judge, he owned Scottish Terrier “Tiree” and even named his whisky after him, the dog was one of the finest canines in the country, paying £50 for him at the Edinburgh show in 1890. In the black and tan class he owned the famous “General II” while his Greyhounds “Chevy Chase” and “Sodger Hew” made an enviable reputation for themselves. His Scotch Terrier “Ashley Plug” was a prize winner at Birmingham and Crystal Palace shows where he was also successful with his Bulldog “Jim Mace.”

McLeod's Bar Maryhill Road2

Another view of McLeod’s Bar. 1960s.

Mr McLeod was a director of the Scottish Kennel Club and for many years was well known at the Maryhill Cattle show, president of the Bowling Club, secretary for many years at the Kelvin Dock Curling Club and a freemason, vice-president of the Maryhill Conservative Association, how he managed to run a successful business is beyond me.

William lost his wife when she was in her 30s, leaving him with a young family of 2 daughters and 3 sons, his brother Alexander lived with them at East Park Terrace, Maryhill, Alexander was also involved in the licensed trade in the area, he was licensee of premises at Main Street, Maryhill at the corner of Watt Street, this pub is now known as the First and Last. he also ran the Little Mill in Bowling, Dumbartonshire.

William McLeod’s son Robert took over the pubs in 1906 which then consisted of 281 Gairbraid Street, 210-12 Main Street and 15 Cambridge Street.

During the 1950s and 70s the pub was run by Allan Peter Hannah for Robert Fyfe McLeod and Co Ltd.

The last time I passed the Redan it was closed down with a TO LET sign on the building, it looks like this old establishment will be demolished, with houses erected on it’s site.

The Redan. 2005.

The Redan 2005.

William McLeod

Bailie William McLeod. 1893.

McKenzie, Andrew Rowan

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McKenzie’s Vaults, Wholesale & Retail Wine & Spirit Merchant.

159 Stobcross Street, Anderston, Glasgow.

Mr Andrew R McKenzie

Mr Andrew R McKenzie. 1887.

The business at 159 Stobcross Street, Anderston was established by John McKenzie in 1843. Anderston was not part of Glasgow then, nothing more than corn fields and county roads separated the two towns. Folk from Glasgow used to take walk in summer nights to Anderston and headed back before night fall.

John McKenzie’s son Andrew took over the business in 1876 paying an annul rent of £55.00. The business was successful from the very start and for generations the business flourished and the McKenzie family made a good living out of this old howff. Andrew had the premises modernised to keep up with the ever growing number of pubs that sprouted when Anderston became part of Glasgow.

Mr McKenzie was twice President of the Weavers’ Society of Anderston, and for a long period was Honorary Director.

The pub stood on the shaded side of the street which meant nice and cool in the summer and very cold in the winter. The pub was divided into three large sitting rooms built on the box system, the cellars were always stocked with good quality liquors, sherries, brandies wines and spirit, Mr McKenzie blended all his own whisky, a bottle of McKenzie’s special old Scotch would have cost 3/6, 3 shillings and 6 old pence.

On entering the pub one would have noticed the numerous pictures on the walls, photographs of canine species were everywhere. This was Mr McKenzie’s hobby and business, he loved animals especially dogs, many of the photos were his own pets. His favourite were Greyhounds and Dachshunds, his dogs won several tickets and many first prizes in competitions all over the county, he won first prize in Dublin Show, 1886, first prize in Edinburgh Scottish Dog and Kennel Club Show in 1887, a first in Kilmarnock. He also had several first prizes for his terriers.

Andrew also had a certificate on the wall of his own diploma from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. M.R.C.V.S, a practice he still continued with and had several properties in and around Glasgow.

In his spare time he loved fishing being a member of the Glasgow St. Mungo Angling Club and won many trophies and first prizes on Loch Leven.

 

License Holders for McKenzie’s Vaults.

1843-1875 John McKenzie.

1876- 1919 Andrew R McKenzie.

1920 Allan McLeod.

1937 Roderick McLeod.

1947 George Reid.

Alexander McKenzie

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7 Shuttle Street, Glasgow.

Alexander McKenzie's Bar

Alexander McKenzie’s Vaults. 1888.

Alexander McKenzie was born in 1846 and brought up in Balfron, when he was 42 years of age he was still a bachelor.

This old pub sat between Ingram Street and College Street on one side and North Albion Street and High Street on the other. It was a stones throw of the College Station.

The pub had five small snug’s or little box rooms all with simple upholstered seating, a spacious saloon at the rear contained three large tables.” McKenzie’s Toddy blend” was popular with the customers. As you entered the main bar one was faced with large barrels on the gantry selling “Breadalbane Highland Whisky” for 10d a glass, other well known blends of whisky such as “Glenlivet” on tap, “Campbeltown,” and “Islay.”

Mr McKenzie made a point to sell nothing but the best matured blends of whisky. Wines Brandies and Bass on tap and bottles were also stocked in the bar. The cellar was deep underneath, a block pulley was arranged for lowering barrels and goods into the cellar, all the bottling was also done on the premises. The bar it-self was unusual, in a J shape.

Before Mr McKenzie entered into the pub trade he was an engineer and boasted that he regularly lifted £20 and over for a fortnight’s pay for himself and his apprentice boy, a large sum of money in those days. But he never had any regrets in leaving that trade. He left the pub the following year, selling it to wine and spirit merchant John McLean, he had another pub at 9-11 Castle Street.

In 1865 David Anderson owned this old pub, Mr Anderson also owned the “Stag” Candleriggs (Granny Blacks), and a pub at 228 Broomielaw. In 1875 William Wright was landlord, 1888 Alexander McKenzie, 1889 John McLean, 1890 Hugh Patrick. The pub closed for good before the First World War.

McKellar’s Bar

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81 Gorbals Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.

McKellar's Bar Gorbals Street

McKellar’s Bar. 1960s.

Before the tenement building was erected and the old Gorbals two storey shops and businesses were here, there was a Victualler called Daniel Innes trading from this site in the 1850s.

When the tenement buildings were built the shop keepers occupied many of the shops on the ground floor. In the 1880s Alexander J Martin opened a public house here and served the locals until 1907.The pubs annul rent was £99. Mr Martin resided at 39 South Apsley Place, Gorbals.

The license was transfered to publican William Thomson in 1907, who kept the business going until the second World War. Mr Thomson was very successful also having pubs at 139 Camden Street and 183 Crownpoint Road in the east end of the city.

After the war Mr John McKellar took over the pub, McKellar’s was to become one of the best known pubs in the area, serving the locals with good quality liquor until it finally closed for demolition in the early 1970s. Mr McKellar was residing at 3 Kings Park Avenue in 1947.

Facts…

In 1899 there was 12 public houses trading on Gorbals Street also known as Main STreet, Gorbals.

During the 1960s there was still a lot of pubs here, in fact 11 pubs which survived for more than 60 years.