Name of public house in Avonbridge, Stirlingshire c 1904

[doddie]

Hi, bit of a frustrating one this. I have also posted on RootsChat. I am trying to discover the name and location of a pub that used to be - or maybe still is - in the village of Avonbridge, Stirlingshire. John Wilson who lived in nearby Slamannan got approval in1904 to turn his grocery store in Avonbridge into a pub. He owned the pub until 1911 when he sold it on. Having looked at various old maps of the Avonbridge area, I have ascertained that around this time period there were two pubs in Avonbridge - the Bridgehill Inn and another just marked as 'PH' on the maps. I am sure that this pub is where the Avonbridge Inn (formerly the Avonside Inn) now stands, but I have been unable to find any historical information about the pub. It may be that this building is the one I am looking for. I am doing some family research for my girlfriend. Her g. grandfather Thomas Graham had connections to a pub in Avonbridge until 1909 which was definitely owned by a John Wilson. I am hoping that someone can help me with my query.

Regards

Doddie

[WilmaM]

Hi Doddie,
The current pub in Avonbridge is on the main street near the corner of Bridgend road , and has been known as the Avonside Inn and Avonbridge Inn.
The Bridgehill Inn marked on the older maps is now either:
a. under part of Stevenson Bros yard, on Blackston Road,
b. in the cresent of houses now known as Bridgehill
any original buildings in that area have been long since demolished.

The valuation rolls aren't very helpful in locating any pubs or Inns either.
However looking at google earth, the first house on the Slamannan Road looks as if it has been a shop or business at some stage and been converted to a house . Not showing on any map as anything other though. My Husband vaguely remembers it as a shop.

You had posted on the Local history FB page too I recall. Perhaps the archives at Callender House would be able to provide details of publicans and premises in the area.

I wonder if downloading the Valuation Roll for Thomas Graham in 1905 would help? these pages often given a fairly wide area of buildings [and A'Brig really is pretty small!]

[AndrewP]

The Bridgehill Inn shows up on the 25" OS map, revised 1913.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=1 ... orld&o=100

and on the 1:1250 OS map of 1955.

https://maps.nls.uk/view/130290939

All the best,

AndrewP

[doddie]

Hi WilmaM,

It seems a bit random that on some old maps the Bridge Hill Inn is specifically named, yet the other pub on Main Street that you mention is just plain old 'PH'. I wonder if there is a specific reason for that.

Regards

Doddie

[WilmaM]

Possibly because it was an INN, a lodging place rather than just a public house.?
It certainly is marked on the maps long before the pub is, and the building has been there much longer.

I did find a photo of the Bridgehill Inn, it seems to be very historical - present during the Covenantor times [late 1600's]:

Bridgehill Inn, Avonbridge, Prop Robert Gentleman at door. This was where Rev Hastie of Slamannan was held as a prisoner during the Covenanter Period (RE: Waughs Book of Slamannan)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... ce=43&_rdr
another photo on that FB page suggests there was a pub known as 'Lackies Bar', but doesn't pinpoint the location.

Sorry we aren't getting you much further forward with your initial question.

[doddie]

All your information has been most helpful, WilmaM. Funnily enough, I have been looking through the British Newspaper Archive today, and I came across two intriguing references. The first one is from the Falkirk Herald (16 June 1906) - "PRESENTATION., On Friday evening last a few friends met in Mr Wilson"s Inn, Avonbridge for the purpose of showing the high esteem and respect in which they held Mr James Redpath, overseer for Mr James Paton" The other one is from the same publication (18 September 1909) - "AVONBRIDGE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY - JUBILEE SHOW. The Avonbridge Horticultural Society held its fiftieth annual show on Saturday last in the public school at Avonbridge....After the judging, the dinner was held in Avonbridge Inn." In 1906 was 'Mr Wilson"s Inn' the actual name of the premises? If this had been intended as a reference to the premises as simply belonging to Mr Wilson (John, presumably), surely the word '"Inn" should not have started with a capital letter. I just can't help being pedantic . I think the pub name in the second newspaper article is nearer the mark. I just cannot understand why finding the name of the pub is proving to be so difficult. Even, in 1911, when John Wilson sold the pub to David Robertson Adams - the recently retired Celtic goalkeeper from 1902 until 1911! - the Falkirk Herald simply described the premises as "....the public house in Avonbridge" So frustrating!

Regards

Doddie