MacKinnon's Bar.
48 Gallowgate, Glasgow. G1 5AB. Tel: 0141 5532619.
MacKinnon's Bar. 1991.
There's been a pub on this site since at least 1815 known then as the Crown Tavern.
In the 1880s this old pub was well known throughout the city as the Royal Military Rendezvous where veterans gathered to reminisce of old times. The owner Henry Sharp took over the pub in the 1870s, his wife took over the licence when Henry died in the 1880s.
Royal Military Rendezvous. 1880s.
Matthew Anderson took over from the Sharp's around 1886. Matthew Anderson was born in India; his father was a petty officer in the army. When Anderson came to Scotland he lived in Barrhead and for seven years had a pub in Nitshill. Mr Anderson took over from Henry Sharp in the Gallowgate and renamed the pub to Anderson’s Bar; he also opened another pub in the Candleriggs. In 1906 Matthew Anderson died from a burst blood vessel in his heart he was 62 years of age and was buried in Craigton Cemetery.
Another well known city publican to own this pub was Craig Douglas Riddell to read more click here.
Other names this pub has had over the years CrossKeys, The Calton Arms, Gilmour's, Mercat.
Interior view of the Crosskeys, Gallowgate. Television personality Bill Tennent of Scottish Television was invited to many openings of Glasgow pubs during the 1960s and 70s. This time he was pushing a pile of coins over which the customers of the Crosskeys gathered over the months for the Spastic Children Fund. Tennent Caledonian Breweries owned this pub during the 70s. Customers watched Bill Tennent and manager Charles Tierney push the coins over.
MacKinnon's, August 2005.
Email sent on 26/07/2014...
We are now the only pub on the gallowgate with an 8am license.
We also sell the traditional Scottish 35ml measure.
The new Barrowland Park adjacent to Mackinnons bar is now open. The park details history of performers at the barrowland over the last 34 yrs. The current owner Mrs Ross has been here since 1987. Thank to Denice for the email.
To read more on the pubs on the Gallowgate read up & Doon the Gallowgate by John Gorevan. A copy can be bought for a few pounds at the Hielan Jessie on the Gallowgate or contact me at john@oldglasgowpubs.co.uk
The Scotsman
Tuesday 2nd July 1929 page9.
GLASGOW CRIME.
WOMAN SHOT DEAD AND
MAN INJURED.
EXCITING STREET CHASE.
A public house in the central district of Glasgow was last night the scene of an extraordinary affray, in which a young woman was shot and a man was wounded in the head.
The victim was Agnes Young, whose address was given as c/o Brown, 116 Drygate, Glasgow, and the wounded man is Daniel Owens, 102 London Road, Glasgow. Suffering from a head wound, Owens was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary and immediately taken to the operating theatre, where efforts were made to locate the bullet believed to have lodged in his head.
The man who is alleged to have fired the fatal shot has been taken into custody, pending inquiry, at the Central Police Office. He is stated to be a seafaring man, who is believed to have returned to Glasgow yesterday morning.
Apart from the suddenness and the sensational nature of the tragic happening, the alleged crime is remarkable in that no apparent motive can be added for its perpetration. The tragedy was enacted in the Calton Arms public house at 48 Gallowgate, Glasgow, a distance of about 100 yards from Glasgow Cross. It appears that shortly before 9o’clock a man entered the public house, in which the girl Young was standing speaking to another man. Approaching the girl, it is stated; he produced a revolver, suddenly pointed it at her, and fired twice. The girl dropped to the floor, and her assailant, turning round, made for the door and bolted into the street. Two or three men who were in the public house at the time followed him, and some more who were outside joined them.
A REGULAR MAN-HUNT.
The fugitive ran for a distance of about twenty yards along Gallowgate, turning up a by-pass leading into London Road, and from there he redoubled back to Gallowgate through a narrow passage. By this time the alarm had been fully raised, and the man’s pursuers were rapidly augmented. Continuing on his circuitous way, the man made in the direction of East Nile Street. At this time, however, the nearest of his pursuers were gradually overtaking him, and another shot was fired, which wounded Owens. The others continued the persuit, and, closing in on their quarry, succeeded in bringing him down. He was held there until a police officer came along, and the man was taken to the Central Police Office.
The occurrence created a sensation in the locality. A short distance from the Calton Arms public house a large crowd of people were waiting in Watson Street to get into the second “house” of a theatre, while others were coming out. Hearing the alarm, many of them made for the main street, and, seeing others pursuing a man, joined in the chase, which resolved itself into a regular man-hunt.
EYE-WITNESSES’ ACCOUNTS.
A graphic account of the occurrence was given to a reporter by Hamilton Donnelly, of 116 Gallowgate. “I was standing at the corner of Watson Street, in the Gallowgate,” he said, “when I heard a terrible crash, which I thought was a plate-glass window falling. On looking round in the direction of the public house, I observed through the door a man standing with the revolver and discharging two bullets into the body of a woman in front of the counter.
“Along with a man named Patrick Thomson I rushed to the door, but just as I reached it the man dashed out and was running at a great pace along Gallowgate. I had a leather belt fastened round my trousers, and took it off and gave chase along with Thomson. The man was still brandishing the revolver, but I tried to trip him up in London Road. I failed, and the man succeeded in dashing up a side street.
“By this time over a hundred people had joined in the chase, and, breathless, we overpowered him and the revolver was wrenched from his hands. Police and detectives arrived on the scene as we pinned the man to the ground.”
Another version of what happened in the public house was given by a man who was in at the time. According to him, the man with the revolver approached the woman Young, who was talking to another person, and beckoned her to come over to him. When doing this, he shot her, and then discharged three more bullets from the weapon. This man said that he and the others present were so nonplussed by what happened that for a moment or two they were unable to do anything. When they realised what had happened, the man had cleared out of the public house.
WOMAN SHOT THROUGH THE THROAT.
The dead woman is believed to have been about 24 years of age. The address in Drygate where she stayed is in one of the oldest quarters of the city. She lived in a room on the top flat of a tenement building. Other people living there appeared to know very little about her. She had been seen coming out of the house earlier in the day, and is believed to have spoken to a little girl when ascending the stairway. This was the last that was seen of her by any of the neighbours yesterday. Her remains were removed to the Central Police Mortuary. On examining there it was found that she had been shot in the throat. Daniel Owens, the wounded man, is an unemployed miner. It is stated that he was a stranger to the dead woman. The whole case is being investigated by officers of the C.I.D.
Wednesday 3rd July page 15.
ALLEGED MURDER
GLASGOW SHOOTING AFFAIR
SEAMAN CHARGED
Douglas Petfield, a seaman of about 22 years of age, appeared in the dock of Glasgow Central Police Court yesterday morning on the charge of murder and attempted murder. He was remanded in custody for two days pending further inquiry. The sequel to a sensational public-house affray in Gallowgate, Glasgow, the previous night, when a young woman named Agnes Young (24), who resided at 116 Drygate, Glasgow, was shot dead, and Daniel Owens, 102 London Road, was wounded in the head, the proceedings, which were listened to by a packed Court, lasted only a few minutes. The accused, Douglas Petfield, a young seaman, believed to be a native of Aberdeen, stepped briskly into the Court and stood calmly in the dock while the charge was being read. Dressed in a navy blue serge suit with double-breasted jacket, he looked a typical seafaring man. He did not wear a collar, and a discoloured eye was probable evidence of the scuffle he had had the previous night with his pursuers, following the alleged shooting. He is fair-haired and well built.
The charge against him was that in a public-house at 48 Gallowgate, Glasgow, he discharged a revolver loaded with ball cartridges at Agnes Young, wounded her in the head, and did murder her. It was further alleged that he discharged a revolver at Daniel Owens, wounded him in the head, and attempted to murder him. When the Fiscal asked him if he was Douglas Petfield he replied in a low voice that he was.
PUBLIC-HOUSE SCENE.
Varying reports of what actually happened in the public-house are still being given by people who were about at the time. It seems, however, that the woman Young was in a side room with another woman, when a man came to the door and beckoned her out into the larger room. As she came towards him a shot rang out, and the woman fell to the floor. Apparently further shots were fired in her direction, and on Owens intervening he was, it is stated, wounded in the head. He rushed to the door bleeding, and shortly afterwards the man who was seen with the revolver rushed out and dashed along the street. He was chased by several persons and eventually brought down.
Attracted by the revolver shots, hundreds of people quickly gathered in the vicinity of the public-house. Owens was removed to the Royal Infirmary. On inquiry being made at the institution yesterday he was stated to be fairly comfortable.
Friday 5th July 1929 page 7.
GLASGOW SHOOTING AFFAIR
PETFIELD AGAIN IN COURT
In connection with the tragedy which occurred in a public-house at 48 Gallowgate, Glasgow, on Monday evening, Douglas Petfield appeared for the second time before Stipendiary Magistrate Smith yesterday at the Central Police Court.
Petfield was charged with having on 1st July, in a public-house occupied by Craig Douglas at 48 Gallowgate, discharged a revolver loaded with ball cartridges, at Agnes Young, 116 Drygate, Glasgow, wounded her in the head, and murdered her; and, secondly at the time the place libelled, discharged a revolver at Daniel Owens, 102 London Road, Glasgow, wounded him in the head, and attempted to murder him. On the second appearance Petfield seemed to realise his position more acutely.
The Fiscal moved that he be remitted to the Sheriff, and be committed to prison for four days, pending further examination.
Petfield is the son of an ex-officer of Customs and Excise, residing in Aberdeen. He went to sea at the early age of 16, after being educated at Aberdeen Grammar School. One of the survivors of the Eastway, sunk in a storm in 1926, he later signed on with the Kittiwake, which sails between Glasgow and Antwerp.
Monday 12th August 1929 page 7.
HIGH COURT INDICTMENTS.
For the sitting of the High Court at Glasgow on August 26 there are nine cases set down for trial, involving fourteen persons. Four of them are of an unsavoury character. Douglas Petfield appears on a charge of murder and attempted murder. The charge against him is that (1) on 1st July in a public-house known as the Calton Arms, 48 Gallowgate, he did assault Agnes Young, 116 Drygate, and did discharge a revolver loaded with ball cartridge at her, and did shoot her and murdered her; (2) At time and place above libelled assault Daniel Owens, 102 London Road, and did discharge a revolver loaded with ball cartridge, and did shoot him in the head, and did attempt to murder him. Bernard Docherty (a Greenock case) is also to be tried on the capital offence. He is charged with having on the 19th June at the Green at the rear of the tenement number 16, Floors Burn Crescent, Johnstone, assaulted John Gallagher, 7 Floors Burn Crescent, and did stab him in the chest with a knife or other sharp instrument.
Saturday 17th August 1929 page 9.
HIGH COURT PLEADING DIET
A pleading diet was held at the County Buildings, Ingram Street, yesterday, before Sheriff Robertson, for the High Court of Justiciary, which will sit at Jail Square, Glasgow, on August 26.
In the case of the young Aberdeen seaman, Douglas Petfield, who is charged with murder and attempted murder, a special plea was intimated on his behalf that the panel was of unsound mind at the time he was alleged to have committed the crimes and further that in any event he was of such unsoundness of mind- (1) As to be unable to plead, and (2) as to be unable to instruct a defence. Petfield is alleged to have shot a girl dead in a public-house known as the Calton Arms, 48 Gallowgate, Glasgow, on July 1, and is further indicted with attempting to murder a man by shooting him in the head on the same date. Pleas of not guilty were tendered in all the other cases.
Tuesday 27th August 1929 page 5.
SEAMAN INSANE.
GLASGOW SHOOTING AFFAIR.
HIGH COURT TRIALS.
Two murder charges were included in the nine cases comprising the calendar at the sitting of the High Court of Justiciary which opened in Glasgow yesterday. The presiding Judges were the Lord Justice-Clerk (Lord Alness) and Lord Mackay. Fourteen persons are involved in the nine cases, five of which are of an unsavoury nature. One of the two capital charges was quickly disposed of by the acceptance of a plea of insanity. In the other principal case evidence will be concluded to-day.
A plea of insanity in bar of trial was intimated on behalf of Douglas Petfield, a young seaman of Aberdeen, who was charged with shooting and murdering a woman in a public-house in Gallowgate, Glasgow, on July 1st last.
In the course of evidence in support of the special plea, Edward Petfield, a retired surveyor of Customs and Excise in Aberdeen, stated in reply to Mr McGregor Mitchell, K.C., who appeared for the defence, that his son, who was born in 1907, had been detained in Larbert Institution for two years from October 1916. Later, while in Aberdeen, he was for several months in a mental hospital there. His mother, witness added, was found dead in the kitchen of her home, death being due to the asphyxia by her own act. The accused went to sea. His ship turned turtle, and he was one of the survivors. Witness wanted him to study for his certificate when he returned, but the boy absolutely refused to do any studying.
A MORAL IMBECILE.
Dr Gilbert Garry, medical officer at Duke Street Prison, Glasgow, said he was of the opinion, following upon examination of the accused that Petfield was of unsound mind and unfit to plead. He did not appear to appreciate the difference between right and wrong.
Corroborative evidence, was given by Dr MacDonald, medical superintendent at Hawkhead, and by Dr Clarkson, medical superintendant at the Royal Scottish National Institute, Larbert. The former described accused as a moral imbecile and insane. Dr Clarkson said the accused had no sense of moral obligations when he was under detention at Larbert. Witness had recommended that his detention should be extended, but that was not given effect to. He had seen Petfield that morning, and found him exactly in the same mental condition as when he was a boy.
Replying to Lord Alness, Dr Clarkson declared that the accused, for the protection of others, should have been placed under proper supervision and control from the time he was eight or nine year’s old right through his life.
Was he a public danger?
No, if he were kept under suitable care and control.
Lord Alness said he was satisfied on the evidence that the accused was now insane, and could not be tried under that indictment. Accordingly he ordered the accused to be detained during His Majesty’s pleasure.
Saturday 17th August 1929 page 9.
HIGH COURT PLEADING DIET
A pleading diet was held at the County Buildings, Ingram Street, yesterday, before Sheriff Robertson, for the High Court of Justiciary, which will sit at Jail Square, Glasgow, on August 26.
Thanks to Eva Paterson for these newspaper cuttings.
End.
