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The Corner Bar, Dixon Blazes

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371 Crown Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. G5. Demolished.

Corner Bar. 1991.

This was one of the last pubs to be demolished in old Gorbals. Situated at the corner of Crown Street and Caledonia Road. This old pub was established in 1872 by landlord William Bryson. Mr Bryson lived then at 389 Caledonia Road before moving to better accommodation at Victoria Cross, Govanhill then to Mount Florida.

The Corner Bar from Caledonia Road.

Many will still remember this old pub when it was called the Waverley, owned by John Boyle.

Left to right John Boyle; Mrs and Mr R Gibson, Black Bull, Rutherglen; Mrs and Mr D A Maclean, the Phoenix. 1970.

John Boyle wins Brady Trophy. 1970. Left to right; E Smyth, president, Glasgow Vintners’ Golf Club; L Brady, Bray and Co., Glasgow; John Boyle and W Martin, acting secretary, Glasgow Vintners’ Golf Club. 1970.

Dixon Blazes. 1970s.

Dixon Blazes from Crown Street. 1970s.

Left to right James McDevitt of the Killearn Bar; John Boyle of Dixon Blazes; and Peter Byrne of the New Hawthorn Bar. 1975.

In the NEWS 1977…

It’s Nomads’ Land…

Tuckers (left) and Dixon’s Blazes pubs on street corners in Govanhill, but no houses in between.

Watering Holes in Govanhill Desert.

They stand like oasis in a Glasgow desert…the watering holes of a square mile of Govanhill left derelict by the planners and demolition men.

They are eight pubs in the area around Caledonia Road where no one lives any more. But the “nomads” still return to the oasis.

Customers travel from all over Glasgow for a pint in the howffs they still regard as their locals although they have lived for years on the city’s outskirts.

One regular is Jim Toner who travels from Ardencraig Road, Castlemilk for a pint in Hugh Gallagher’s Govanhill Bar. said Jim, “I have been living in Castlemilk for 22 years but I still regard this as my local. I used to live in Oatlands.

NICELY

The Govanhill Bar is the third bar owned by Mr Gallagher that Jim has frequented. All have been in the same area. “I suppose you could say I’m following him around.” Jim said.

As for Mr Gallagher, he’s doing quite nicely, thank-you. He said, “There hasn’t really been a drop off in trade since they knocked down all the houses. A good pub keeps its regulars.

Hugh O’Neill, the manager of Derry Treanor’s said: “I don’t think you will find any pub complaining about lack of trade. The regulars keep coming.” And there are even better days coming. Eventually all the ground left bare by the demolition of tenements will be built up again bringing new trade into the area.

RENTED

Another licensee not worried by the depopulation of the area is Mrs Sophia Seils. She was so determined to hold on to the Blarney Stone, which has been in her family for 45 years, that she bought the two shops next door to keep the ground floor of the tenement.

The upper floors have since been demolished but Mrs Seils has rented out the two shops to a butcher and a newsagent. She said: “I came into this pub 12 years ago to help my late husband when his charge-hand retired. I’ve worked here ever since.

“It’s a great pub and the regulars always come back.” The other pubs, which stick out like sore thumbs among the dereliction include Tuckers, Dixon’s Blazes, The Hi Hi, the Grant Arms and the Club Bar.

If there are any more, forgive us, but eight pubs in one day is enough for anyone.

Jim Toner (Centre), one of the regulars in the Govanhill Bar with owner Hughie Gallagher (right) and barman Joe McGuigan. 1977.

The Blarney Stone, It’s been in the same family for 45 years.

Facts…

This old pub has been known as The Corner Bar, The Waverley, Dixon Blazes.

Licence Holders.
1973-1966 John Boyle.
1950 Annie Egan.
1937 John Egan.
1920 J A Cronin.
1910 D Russell.
1899 William Welsh.
1890-1875 William Bryson.
Do you know anything about this pub or any other pub in the city?
If so please contact us and we will review your comments.

END.

The Corner Bar

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51 Blythswood Street, Glasgow. G2. Demolished.

The Corner Bar.  1962. Thank to the Mitchell Library.

The Corner Bar was situated at the corner of Blythswood Street and Waterloo Street.

Blythswood Street was formerly known as Mains Street.

In 1874 Andrew Frost owned this old pub, he also owned the old Victoria Bar, St. Vincent Street which later became known as the Dew Drop.

His wife Rachel took over the following year and continued as licence holder until 1878.

In 1898 Eva Manson Sturrock acquired the licence, the pub was then known as the Waterloo Vaults. Mrs Sturrock was still the holder the the licence in 1919.

In 1926 William Y McCreadie was licence holder, William was a Director of the Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence Association as a representative of the Blythswood Ward, he was also president of the Royalty Burns Club, in his spare time he played bowls. Mr McCreadie died in 1945, his wife Margaret continued as licence holder. The family continued in this pub just before it was demolished in the early 1960s.

This group of Glasgow and District Licensed Trade Defence members on a days outing to Oban. 1937. Front row left to right, Frank Jeans, W Y McCreadie, John Burns, John Russell, James Denholm, president, Archibald McNiven, Vice-president, William Jamieson, Hon. treasurer, John Holmes, John McKinnon, William Cosgrove and Kenneth McLean. Back row Alexander Graham, W J McDowall, secretary, James Clelland and Patrick McKay.

Mr Kenneth McLean.

Another view of the Corner Bar. 1960. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

This old pub was demolished a few years after this image was taken.

Here are some principal personalities who attended the smoker dinner held at Belmont House, Glasgow, by the Cowcaddens Ward of the Glasgow Association in 1962. Left to right: Mr G Ramster, Glasgow Association Office; Mr H Doherty, Symposium Bar, Cowcaddens Street; Mr N Jones, Cross Keys, St. Peter’s Street; Mr J Dougan, Dougan’s Bar, Springburn Road; Mr R Lemon, Lemon Tree, Parliamentary Road (Ward Convener); Mr W J Bennet, Port Dundas Road; Mr W B Gow, Bristol Bar, Cowcaddens; Mr J Lanagan, Maitland Street; Mr T F Flynn who succeeded Mr Gow as president of the Glasgow Association; Mr D McNiven, Argyle Arms, Kennedy Street; and Mr W J McDowall, Secretary, Glasgow Association.

Another view of the Corner Bar. 1960’s. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

The Corner Bar. 1960. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1960-1945 Margaret Thomson McCreadie.
1945-1926 William Y McCreadie.
1919-1898 Eva Manson Warren Sturrock.
1878 Mrs Rachel Frost.
1874 Andrew Frost.
Do you know anything about this pub or any other pub in the city?
If so please contact us and we will review your comments.

END.

The Corn Exchange

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88 Gordon Street, Glasgow. G1 3RP. Closed.

The Corn Exchange. 1991.

To find out the history of the Corn Exchange click here.

The Corn Exchange has been here since 1890 owned by Cockburn & Campbell wine merchants, before this the firm traded from 26 Royal Exchange Square.

In the NEWS 1973…

Paul has some exciting ideas for the Corn Exchange…

Why should London have the best pubs? asked young Paul McBeth, newly appointed manager of the newly redecorated Corn Exchange in Glasgow’s Gordon Street.

A good question. And there will be some people who are sure there are pubs in Glasgow every bit as good as those in London. But Paul, and his brother Michael, who is deputy manager of this Drybrough pub are determined to make sure that “their” pub will knock spots off all comers.

A 1973 advert for the Corn Exchange.

Fired by the enthusiasm of youth, they want to see the Corn Exchange capturing even more business than before, and that’s going some!

For many years the Corn Exchange has attracted businessmen from all walks of life. It first appeared opposite the Gordon Street entrance to Central Station way back in 1890 when it was owned by Messrs Cockburn and Campbell and operated as a wine shop.

In 1899 it got its first restaurant licence and became the property of Glaswegians White and Smith, who were well-known restaurateurs in the city.

FAVOURITE MEETING PLACE

In 1918 it first got the Corn Exchange label. The name came from the original corn exchange which from 1841 to 1930 was situated on the Waterloo Street/ Hope Street corner.

The pub was a favourite meeting place of lawyers, stockbrokers, and businessmen. The old place lost its name briefly when it was taken over in 1959 by John Scott, who called it, appropriately Scott’s Bar. But in 1961 when it became a Drybrough house, it reverted to its old name.

30 BRANDS OF WHISKY

Today the Corn Exchange consists of a lounge, a cocktail bar, and a function room. It has all been redecorated and food is far more in evidence than ever before. There are two serveries, one for cold food and one for hot.

Visitors can have anything from a pint to a full-scale meal. The food ranges from a salad roll at 8p to a meal at £1 or more. There’s a set price for a hot meal, 35p, with a selection including braised steak, mince, fish, and beef olives.

The Corn Exchange interior. 1978.

And there’s a basic price for a salad, 25p, which includes either gammon, beef, pork, egg, prawns, or chicken, with lettuce and tomato. There are also numerous “extras” available.

There are more than 30 different brands of whisky on the gantry. The interesting history of the Corn Exchange is to be included in a cocktail booklet at present being printed. And customers who have favourite old family cocktail recipes are invited to volunteer their secrets for possible inclusion in the list.

The Corn Exchange. 1960.

One of the features of the redecorated bar are murals of old Glasgow, painted by local artist Tom McLean. They include Stockwell Street Bridge, the Fiddlers’ Close in High Street, and Glasgow Cathedral.

The Corn Exchange has always been a popular place by all accounts. And with the young McBeth brothers at the helm it looks like staying among the front runners in Glasgow.

The New Cocktail lounge in the Corn Exchange. 1960.

At the opening day Mr & Mrs Morrison Paul, secretary, Fraser Stuart & Co Ltd; Mr John Scott, chairman and managing director, Fraser & Co Ltd; Mrs John Scott, and Mr H Spoelstra, manager of the bar. 1960.

Also read how the Corn Exchange was refused an all-day licence.

Read More On Glasgow’s Old Restaurant’s.

Do you remember the Corn Exchange? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Copy Cat

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26 Anderston Quay, Glasgow. G3 8BG. Demolished.

The Copy Cat. 1991.

The Copy Cat has been hit by the bulldozers like all the other pubs in this area. Not one of the historic pubs have survived here since the developers have upgraded the entire area with fancy flats and office buildings.

The Cop Cat stood at the corner of Cheapside Street and was popular with the Daily Record staff, this is where the pub got it’s name.

Formerly known as the Dublin Vaults.

Exterior view of the Dublin Vaults Anderston Quay 1967
Dublin Vaults. 1967.
Exterior image of the Dublin Vaults Anderston Quay 1967
Dublin Vaults. 1967.

There has been a public house on this site since 1845. The first licensee was a gent called Govan Stewart. William Teacher even traded from this site from 1862 until 1876.

Facts…
Licensees’
1990      Annie Houston, (Allied Breweries.)
1979      Manager John McCartney, (Lormier’s Breweries Ltd.)
1978      Daniel M Gordon, wine & spirit merchant, also 2231 Great Western Road.
1973      Dugald Stewart McIntyre.
1960      James Young.
Do you remember this old pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.

The Copper Lamp

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1850 Maryhill Road, Glasgow. G20 0HD. 

The Copper Lamp 1991.

This pub was formerly called Garven’s and is now called the Maryhill Tavern. Situated at the corner of Duncruin Street formerly known as Hill Street.

The history of this old Maryhill pub can be traced back to 1875. Wine and Spirit merchant William Garven was trading from these premises, the address then was 168 Main Street, Maryhill. Above the door the lettering was “Wines William Garven Spirits” the locals called the pub Garven’s after the licensee and years on the lettering above the pub was “Garven’s”.

In 1889 Mrs Jane Garven was licensee, her son John was in partnership with John G Miller and traded under the title of Miller & Garven, Wholesale Umbrella manufacturer, 73 Virginia Street, Glasgow. Both Jane and John lived at the same address, 1 Mary’s Place, Maryhill.

In 1937 Andrew Ross a well known and respected Glasgow wine and spirit merchant was licensee, Mr Ross also owned the Andros Bar, now Wintergills on Great Western Road and the Halt Bar on Woodlands Road.

The Maryhill Tavern. 2005.

After the Second World War Mrs Martha Campbell was licensee, she continued until the 1960s. James Dunsmore took over as licensee in 1972.

Maryhill Tavern. 2005.

In 2013 the Maryhill Tavern had a for Sale sign up.

Maryhill Tavern. 2017.

It was a shame to see this once great public house on fire. A fire that was deliberate, over the last twenty years I have seen many many Glasgow Pubs deliberately set on fire, there is often a suspicion about the amount of fires in old pubs in Glasgow. I will say no more.

Facts…
From the First & Last Bar on Maryhill Road to the other end of New City Road there was a total of 44 public houses, that was in 1899.
Main Street had 11 Pubs.
Wyndford Street had 3 Pubs.
Gairbraid Street had 5 Pubs.
New City Road had 25 Pubs.
This long stretch of thoroughfare was then divided into four parts Main Street, Maryhill then continued to Wyndford Street from under the Viaduct then continued to Gairbraid Street then to New City Road from Queens Cross to St George’s Cross. New City Road continued down to Garscadden Street.
Do you know anything about this pub or any other pub in the city?
If so please contact us and we will review your comments.