• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Old Glasgow Pubs

Old Glasgow Pubs

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Find A Pub
  • Find Address
  • Find A Publican
  • Latest Posts
  • Further Reading
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Members Area
  • Click Here to Search the Site
  •  
You are here: Home / Archives for Bucks Head Inn

Bucks Head Inn

Bucks Head Inn.

November 11, 2016 by John Gorevan Leave a Comment

Argyle Street, Corner of Dunlop Street, Glasgow.

The Bucks Head Inn.

Thomas Fairbairn’s view of the Buck’s Head Hotel, built on the corner of Dunlop and Argyle Streets in 1757 by John Murdoch, a leading tobacco merchant and three times a lord provost. It became a hotel in 1790. The building of similar design to the left of the hotel on Argyle Street was built by Colin Dunlop of Carmyle, another tobacco merchant and lord provost.

The Bucks Head Hotel. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

During the so-called Radical War of April 1820 the Buck’s Head was occupied by the City Magistrates and by men of the 7th and 10th Hussars. The cavalry’s horses were kept saddled in the courtyard behind the building, ready to carry the troops into action against radical insurgents. However, the “rising” quickly fizzled out and the cavalry did not see action. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

From Old Glasgow Club.1923-24. The Buck’s Head was built about 1750 in Argyll Street as a residence for Provost Murdock, the site being the east corner of Dunlop Street. Alongside stood the companion house of Colin Dunlop of Carmyle, and this last was taken down only last year for a clothier’s premises and a picture house.

The landlord was Peter Jardine, who married a widow, Mrs Currie, with a dashing daughter, who was the first to drive a two-horsed phaeton in the city. This Inn had a gilt stag’s head, and was reached by two side stairs rising from the pavement, as in the Old Tolbooth at the Cross.

In 1820 the town was crowded with troops, about 7,000 in all, a radical rising being feared, and the officers of the 10th Hussars were lodged in the Buck’s Head.

When on duty a young officer was assailed by hooligans and called an aristocratic coward. One of them tried to drag him down by the jacket, but the officer pitched him on to the pavement. His companions came to his aid, but the young Hussar disposed of each of them in turn. The Inn began its existence in 1790, and finally closed in 1863.

One of the earliest recorded acid attacks occurred in the Buck’s Head Inn on the 2nd of August 1833. A servant of the Inn called Mr Hugh Kennedy attacked Mr James Goodwin AKA “Head Boots” of the establishment. Mr Kennedy was hanged in Glasgow for his crime in early 1834 and didn’t tell anyone of his motive for the attack. Thanks to our reader James Simpson for his research on the acid attack.

Bucks Head Buildings.

A reminder that the old Bucks Head Inn stood on this site at Argyle Street. An A listed building at the corner of Dunlop Street next to where Debenhams is today.

Do you remember any of the Old Pubs on Argyle Street? If so please leave a comment.

END.

Filed Under: Argyle Street, ArgyleStreet, B Tagged With: argyle street, Bucks Head Buildings, Bucks Head Inn

Primary Sidebar

Become a Member of Old Glasgow Pubs

We are very excited to announce that we have created a new membership! In return for supporting the site, you will gain fantastic perks! Click below to find out how you can support the site!

All content on this site is Copyright Old Glasgow Pubs (OGP). To use any history or images, please make sure you link back to our site.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT