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Nelson Street

The Laurieston

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58 Bridge Street, Glasgow. G5 9HU. Tel: 0141 429 4528.

The Laurieston Bar, 1991.

The Laurieston Bar sits on the corner of Bridge Street and Nelson Street.

Alexander Wiseman occupied a public house on this site in 1836. Wiseman also ran a small pub in Carrick Street and Eglinton Street, he also had a wholesale store in Nelson Street. He lived not far from his place of business in Eglinton Street, where he could keep an eye on his small empire.

Robert Graham & Sons (see our book) took over the pub in 1865, The Graham’s ran many pubs in and around the city of Glasgow including 2 in the Gallowgate, 2 in the Saltmarket, Marlborough Street, Graeme Street now Bell Street, Paisley Road, High Street and London Street now London Road which was also used as their headquarter’s. Robert Graham the licensee lived in an exclusive part of the city Monteith Row near the Glasgow Green. Robert Graham & Sons also had a flourishing business as Bread & Biscuit Bakers, Barrowfield Bakery.

The Graham family were wine and spirit merchant’s from as early as 1850s, John Graham traded at 1 New Street, 2 Well Street, Calton and 419 Argyll Street, he lived at 4 Well Street in the Calton.

The Laurieston, 1960s.

The Laurieston is a remarkable example of a near-complete 1960s Bar. As seen from the photograph above the exterior is unpretentious but the lettering above the door has a 60s theme. Internally the public bar has a timber boarded elongated oval bar counter topped with Formica. Above the bar is a well preserved suspended canopy with typical hidden lights. Even the old McGee’s hot pie heater has survived. The gantry has concealed neon lights another period theme.

Interior view of the Laurieston 2009.

One of the reasons the pub had survived the 1960s theme is that the pub remained in the same family from the late 1930s through to the 1970s, which was owned by James Alexander and succeeded by Adam Alexander during the 60 and 70s.

McGhees Oven Fresh Hot Pies at the Laurieston Bar. 2009.

Another well preserved 1960s bar is Morrison’s Bar on Clyde Street.

James Alexander, 1937.

Another well-known Glasgow publican to own the Laurieston was John Clancy.

Do you know anything about this pub? If so please get in touch.

Facts…
Licence Holders.
1991 John Clancy.
1978 A Carson.
1973-1966 Adam Alexander.
1950-1937 James Alexander.
1930 Robert Graham.
1899-1865 Robert Graham.
1864-1836 Alexander Wiseman.

The Southern Bar.

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60 Eglinton Street, corner of 2 Wallace Street, Glasgow. G5 9DE. Demolished.

Image of the Southern Bar Eglinton Street corner of Wallace Street 1930s
The Southern Bar. 1940.

The Southern Bar was situated at the corner of Eglinton Street and Wallace Street.

When a new tenement building was erected in 1873 at the corner of 60-62 Eglinton Street and 4 Wallace Street, William Craig was granted a licence to sell wine and spirits.

Mr Craig was already an established liquor merchant in Glasgow having premises at 52-54 West Street, Tradeston at the corner of Nelson Street; he also operated a licensed grocer’s (off sales) shop at 36 Pollok Street formerly owned by Thomas Bennett.
In 1889 he took over the pub at 15-17 Norfolk Street (Garry Owen) near to Gorbals Cross, at that time there were twelve pubs trading on Norfolk Street. William Craig came to Glasgow from Inchinan, Renfrew where he was born.

In 1881 he was living at Craigmiller, Nithsdale Road with his wife Janet and had a large family of three sons and three daughters. Also living with them was his father-in-law Robert Miller a retired Mercantile Clerk, along with his wife’s aunt Susan.

Image of Mr William Craig 1898
Mr William Craig. 1898.

Mr Craig was making enough money in the licensed trade and could afford two domestic servants. When the Mr and Mrs Craig took over a beautiful villa in Nithsdale Road they named it Craigmiller after their surnames.

When the family moved to St John’s Road, Pollokshields they renamed this villa “Craigmiller”.

William was born in Inchinan in 1842. He came to Glasgow in 1862 and identified himself with the retail Trade, entering the service of Mr John Aitken, of Dalmoak, Dumbartonshire, in his public house in High Street. Mr Aitken was at that time one of the best known and highly esteemed members of the Trade in the city. He was one of the founders of the Benevolent Institution and was its second president, filling the chair in 1870 until his death.

After a time Mr Craig left Aitken’s employment and joined the staff of George Robin, remaining with that gentleman until January 1868, when he started business on his own account in West Street, Tradeston. In 1873 William took over new premises at 60-62 Eglinton Street “The Station Bar” formerly owned by Mr Robin since 1842. Mr Craig then acquired the Pollok Street establishment which he made his head-quarters. He then took over premises at Norfolk Street in 1889.

William Craig was heavily involved in all trade matters including the Benevolent Institution in 1876 and a member of the Board of Directors since 1892. He then carried out important work in the Institution’s Committees. He was also involved in the Pension’s Committee and was appointed vice-president in 1896. He was fortunate in having the unique experience of being president during the year of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, and of seeing the pensioners of the Institution suitably looked after.

Mr Craig was a member of the Incorporation of Coopers and of the Incorporation of Wrights. Of the former Incorporation he had the honour of being elected Deacon in 1889, and one year he was also Trades’ House representative on the Board of Governors of the Victoria Infirmary. He was a member of the Grocer Company. He was an enthusiastic bowler and was a representative of the Queen’s Park club which carried off the Eglinton cup in 1895. In later years Mr Craig had deserted bowling for Golf and enjoyed playing at Troon or Pollok course. He was a great swimmer and won the life-saving certificate of the Humane Society for plunging into the Clyde and saving a drowning child.

William Craig’s public houses and the grocers business was demolished many years age, West Street was demolished in the 1960s, Norfolk Street followed in the 70s, then owned by Michael Joseph Heraghty the well-known Garry Owen Bar, the Southern Bar was the last to survive and was demolished shortly afterwards.

Image of the Cottage Bar Eglinton Street corner of Wallace Street 1970s
The Cottage Bar.

The Cottage at the corner of Eglinton Street and Wallace Street. 1970s.

Image of the Cottage Bar Eglinton Street corner of Wallace Street 1970s
The Cottage Bar.

The Cottage. Thanks to Norrie McNamee for the images.

Facts…
Other licensees …
M Reuben 1977.
Donald J Grant 1973-1966.
Frederick W Miller 1960.
J N Murdock 1945.
James W Smith 1937.
A Smith 1934.
J W Whittot 1933.
T Quin 1923.

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END.

Country Corner.

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Country Corner: 33 Nelson Street, Glasgow. G5 8BU. Closed.

The Country Corner. 1991.

In the 1850s Margaret Dale a dressmaker, Milliner and Furnisher occupied this site.

In 1858 a licence was granted to a gentleman called George McKay to sell wine and spirits, Mr McKay lived in Eglinton Street not far from his place of business. Jessie McKay took over the licence until 1879. New premises were built in 1881 a new landlord moved in and traded under the title of James Menzies & Co, by 1885 the firm was known as Simpson & Menzies. Manager of this pub in the late 1880s was James Robertson, the Menzies family continued in this old pub until the early 1940s. During the Second World War Allan Robertson Parvin took control of the business until the 1950s.

This was once known as the Bingham’s Bar.

It’s now called Bingham’s. 2007.

Bingham’s. 2019.

Bingham’s. 2011.

Since at least 2011 Bingham’s has been closed down. In 2015 the old pub was sold and is now a business called Cookiez n Creamz.

In the NEWS…1975.

In 1975 this old pub was known as The Jilt Inn.

The Jilt Inn, 33 Nelson Street advert 1975.

Jack and Irene McGhee and family and staff wish all their regulars to the Jilt Inn a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Facts…
Nelson Street.
In 1899 there were 8 pubs and 2 licensed Grocers from the corner of Bridge Street to Morrison Street which was a continuation of Nelson Street to Paisley Road. Morrison Street had 3 pubs and 1 licensed Grocers.
Licence Holders.
1991 Sarah Scott.
1978 J Lamont.
1972 William MacKenzie Johnstone.
1970 A Alexander.
1960 Miss Janet Miller Lamont.

Do you know anything about this pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.