The Clelland.
42 Hospital Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.
The Clelland. 1950s.
Clelland's bar was established by James Clelland in 1919. James was born in Glasgow of which he was the eldest of a large family. His father also James ran a public house at 29 Hydepark Street. James worked with his father at the age of 13, but within a few years left to serve his apprenticeship as an engineer with Napiers, at the same time he would work evenings and Saturday afternoons serving behind his fathers bar. On completion of his apprenticeship, he had little experience of engineering in Edinburgh and returned to Glasgow. He went back to the licensed trade as charge hand for Archibald Wilson in his Stobcross Street establishment.
He then went into training in an accountant's office followed by charge hand of Mrs Cringle's pub, The Taylor's Clipping's, an old established pub situated in Sydney Court, Argyle Street.
On the outbreak of the war, Mr Clelland served as an engineer in Harland and Wolfe's engineering works and was never marched abroad, his talent and abilities were considered more valuable here. He remained with the firm until 1919, at which time he was shop steward for the firm, he then bought premises at 42 Hospital Street, Gorbals and turn them into licensed premises, The Clelland Bar.
The Clelland. 1960s
Two and a half years later he acquired from Mr John Kennedy the public house at 22 Paisley Road West, the Viceroy Bar. In 1936 James became a director of the Glasgow Licensed Trade Defence Association. Mr Clelland's three brother's were also connected with the licensed trade and a fourth passed away in 1937.
On September 14th 1939, it was announced by the Licensing Court that all pubs and licensed premises in the city of Glasgow would close at 8pm until further notice. Hours of conducting business would be from 11.30am till 2.30pm and from 5pm till 8pm on Mondays to Fridays and on Saturday from 10am till 12 midday and from 4pm till 8pm. This was a short term arrangement and the pubs were soon back to the usual hours on trading.
In his spare time Mr Clelland was a supporter of Queen's Park F.C.
His son James Clelland jun took over the licence for Hospital Street until 1959 and gave up the trade to settle in California with his wife and family. He was then secretary of the Gorbals Ward Association. The pub was then taken over by Jessie H McLintoch. The last licensee to hold the certificate was John Ross Rawley, the pub was finally demolished in the City Council's redevelopment plans for the Gorbals in the 1970s.
Gorbals local Veto Defence Association trip to Largs. 1924.
In the photograph above is Mr & Mrs John Holmes, 26 Bedford Street, Mr & Mrs William Keith, 62 Main Street, Gorbals and 62-64 Thistle Street, Mr Francis P McAvoy, 196 Rose Street, Mr Peter Kernan, Mr J J Gallagher, Mr James Clelland, Mr McDonald, assistant organiser and Mr McLeod, Treasurer.
Royalty Burns Bowling Club. 1944. Back row James Brown, Dan McCrudden, Alick Hall, James Clelland, Donald Kennedy and J W Thomson, Front row Alick Dickson, Duncan Menzies, Willie MacFarlane, Willie Anderson and John Holmes.
End.
