1901 census Burns Home Partick

[alimail]

Hi folks, I've just found a relative, Duncan Mcguigan, listed as living at Burns Home, 83 Douglas Street, Partick, Glasgow on the 1901 Census.
He's listed as a Boarder along with lots of other men, all working.
I just wondered if anyone had heard of Burns Home, or can I assume it was just a big lodging house for men. Thanks

[AndrewP]

Hi Ali,

If you go to www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk and read the free (free after you purchase one page view from that book) header pages for this one, it describes some sort of institution, housing 4 officers (male), 4 females belonging to officers' families, and 195 boarders (all male). It looks like your assumption is right that it is a big lodging house for men. It also goes on to describe there being 6 rooms with one or more windows. So it sounds like these were large dormitory type rooms.

All the best,

AndrewP

[alimail]

Thanks Andrew. I only opened the first header page, not the other 2 with all the information.
I'm now trying to picture a house with nearly 200 inmates and only 6 rooms with windows......sounds grim, eh?

[emanday]

Hi Ali,

These types of lodgings were commonly known as "Model Lodging Houses" and, yes, the conditions were apparently somewhat grim.

If they were lucky, the men had a modicum of privacy even if that was usually little more than a cubicle with a bed and a table in what was just a huge dormitory. I understand that most of these places only had large open dormitories.

[Currie]

Hello Ali,

It looks like Mr Burns had been operating Lodging Houses for some time before the company Burns’ Homes Limited was founded and presumably they started the one in Douglas Street.

Glasgow Herald (Glasgow), Monday, March 25, 1895
SUPERINTENDENT and Wife wanted, to manage one of Mr. Burns’ Homes.—Apply, by letter only, enclosing copies of testimonials, addressed to Mr. Burns, 31 Watson Street, Glasgow.

Glasgow Herald (Glasgow), Saturday, October 22, 1898
The following public companies have been registered in Edinburgh during the past week:—
4024. Burns’ Home (Limited), to acquire the business of lodging-house keeper carried on by Robert Burns, 31 Watson Street, Glasgow, the capital being £8000 in £1 shares. The subscribers are:—Robert Burns and Felix Burns, 31 Watson Street; E. H. S. Craig, C.A., 63 St. Vincent Street; W. M. Jardine, banker, 1 St. James Place; J. Macdonald, writer, and William Wilson, writer, 149 Hope Street—all in Glasgow; and D. C. Burns, lodging-house superintendent, Dundee.

Glasgow Herald (Glasgow), Monday, April 16, 1900
SUPERINTENDENT—Wanted, Married Man for one of the Homes belonging to Burns’ Homes Limited. —Apply, by letter only, with copies of testimonials, to E. H. Stanley Craig, C.A., 63a St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

“The Housing of the Working People” by Elgin Ralston Lovell Gould, 1895, has a report on Mr Burns Lodging Houses. This book is apparently only availably in snippet view outside the USA. (unless you make it think otherwise )
http://books.google.com.au/books?um=1&q ... arch+Books

BURNS' HOMES, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

Quite as interesting in every respect as the municipal model lodging houses in Glasgow are those known as Burns' homes. Mr. Robert Burns, the proprietor, was originally a manager of the model lodging houses belonging to the city. Believing that it was possible to still improve on the accommodations and make money out of the investment, he resigned his public duties about thirteen years ago and established his own houses. He was able to command sufficient capital; and, as he anticipated, his business has continuously prospered. Up to August, 1892, he had opened six homes in different parts of the city, furnishing accommodation for 3,130 persons nightly, and a seventh, was in process of construction.

The prices charged for accommodations are the same as at the city lodging houses, except that there is an additional superior grade for which 6d. (12 cents) per night is exacted. The free use of hot and cold baths, with necessary toilet accompaniments, cooking utensils, smoking, recreation, and dining rooms, a laundry, and ample lavatory accommodations are included in the prices charged. There is also a provision shop at which inmates may purchase provisions at low rates. Each home is in charge of a resident superintendent, and Mr. Burns devotes his whole time to seeing that the inmates are properly treated and that strict order and cleanliness are at all times observed.

New buildings have not been erected for these homes. Existing buildings, such as warehouses which could be easily altered and put in proper condition, have been selected. In this way considerable expense has been saved. The reconstruction has been carried out so successfully that the buildings seem as well fitted for the purpose as if they had been originally intended for model lodging houses.

The Watson Street Home (No. 1) was formerly a warehouse, and has been reconstructed at a cost of £4,000 ($19,466). It has a wide corridor and staircase, the walls of which are of glazed brick all the way to the top floor. A lavatory containing hot and cold water appliances, a bath, and a water-closet for night use only, opens to the corridor on each story. The stairways being of cement, a strip of carpet has been placed on them. The carpet also leads to the water-closets, so that men getting up at night need not get their feet cold. A fire extinguishing apparatus has been placed on each landing.

The ground floor contains a sitting and eating room, meeting hall, kitchen, lavatories, footbaths, water-closets, ticket office, and grocery. The sleeping rooms are on the floors above. The laundries and drying apparatus are in the basement. The sitting room is provided with chairs, benches, and tables, where men can take their meals, read books and newspapers, and amuse themselves at their leisure. Various games are provided without cost. Lodgers can remain here until 10.30 p. m., the gas being kept lighted until that time. In the sitting room there have also been placed lockers, one of which is of sufficient size to hold the belongings of each inmate. By depositing 6d. (12 cents) for a key a man can store away his effects and keep them safe. As the men spend most of their leisure time in the sitting room, it is considered preferable to have the lockers there to having them in the sleeping rooms.

The meeting hall is used for religious exercises on Sundays and sometimes during the week, as well as for free entertainments given by philanthropic societies or by the inmates. A neatly carpeted platform, with a piano, is placed at one end of the hall. Chairs and tables are distributed around the room. The entertainments and religious meetings are generally well attended. The office adjoins the entrance and corridor. Adjoining the office is the grocery, where provisions may be bought for meals. There is, however, no restriction as to purchase, and lodgers may buy elsewhere if they prefer. The grocery and office are supervised by the resident superintendent and his wife, and profits from sales belong to the superintendent. The scale of prices is fixed, and articles are inspected by the proprietor.

Adjoining the eating room is the kitchen. Here the men obtain such utensils as they may require for the preparation of their meals. A large range, shaped like a horseshoe, affords sufficient space for a number of men to stand and cook simultaneously. Four hundred persons may be occupied at one time in the kitchen and eating room. To facilitate cooking hot water is always ready. Wash basins are close by, so that the men may wash their hands before eating. Plates and bowls are provided, and the prepared food is then carried to the eating room tables. No meals are cooked by employees of the proprietor.

Before going to the sleeping rooms or kitchen the men are expected to wash and clean themselves. If their clothes are in any way filthy they are compelled to thoroughly wash them before using the beds. The lavatories are supplied with hot and cold water, soap, and other necessaries, and running along one wall is a row of footbaths. These are very popular, and men who have been standing or walking much during the day often spend hours in this room with their feet immersed in the soothing water. The bathrooms are close at hand and may be used without cost. Here, also, hot and cold water are furnished. Water-closets for use during the day are on the ground floor and are of the latest improved style, having an overhead tank with a 2-gallon flush. They are regularly disinfected.

The laundry is provided with a number of bowls or sinks of galvanized iron ware, having a cold water faucet immediately above them. The water is heated by means of a steam pipe, which is so arranged that it may be connected with any one of the bowls and the steam turned on under the surface of the water. By this means water can be heated in about ten minutes. A large saving of hot water from the boilers is thus effected. Clothes are dried in a hot chamber, which is heated to a high temperature by means of steam pipes. The men usually do their own washing, but they may have it done by paying 2d. (4 cents).

The stories above the ground floor are all used for sleeping purposes. The house contains 512 beds. On the average there are 400 regular inmates, and about 50 occasional or transient lodgers. When fairly filled the house pays a net profit of about £500 ($2,433.25) per year. There are four grades of accommodation, namely, beds for 3½d., 4d., 4½d., and 6d. (7 cents, 8 cents, 9 cents, and 12 cents) per night. The first three named are in cubicles, arranged in large airy rooms with ceilings from 12 to 15 feet high. The partitions separating the cubicles from one another are made of wood, neatly painted, as a rule 7 feet high, and leaving a clear space of about 5 feet above for the free circulation of air. The temperature and ventilation of the rooms are regulated by the watchman, who patrols the floors during the entire night. In the winter steam heat is introduced. The sleeping rooms are cleaned and scrubbed once every day, and after beds are vacated in the morning the clothing is well aired and all odors removed. All the beds have hair mattresses and clean sheets. The beds for 3½d. and 4d. (7 cents and 8 cents) are provided with one clean sheet every night, and the beds for 4½d. (9 cents) with two clean sheets every night. The latter grade of beds has spring mattresses. The beds for 4d. and 4½d. (8 cents and 9 cents) are more conveniently located than the cheaper ones. To economize space many of the cubicles are so arranged that the bed in one cell is above the bed in the other, the cells, however, being entirely distinct from each other. The model for this disposition was most probably found in certain staterooms of large sea-going passenger vessels, but, of course, each cubicle is meant for one person only. Each man can bolt his door when he retires, and thus be completely isolated from all his fellows. A wire screen is stretched across that portion of the top of the cubicle where clothes hooks are placed, to prevent lodgers stealing their neighbors' clothing and belongings during the night. A strip of carpet covers a large part of the floor space of each cubicle, a little attention which seems to add to the homelikeness of the place in the minds of lodgers, comment being frequently made upon this simple feature. Beds letting at 6d. (12 cents) per night are in separate rooms instead of cubicles. They have superior mattresses and are furnished with two clean sheets every night. Each bedroom has an average of 400 cubic feet of air space.

About twelve persons are constantly employed in each home. The superintendent has complete charge of the house, and all other employees are under his orders. He is responsible for the cleanliness and sanitary condition of the house, takes in all money, and keeps the accounts. In this there is no system of automatic registration or other appliance to prevent fraud. It is Mr. Burns' belief that by paying good salaries to his employees and trusting them much better results may be obtained. The superintendent receives £80 ($389.32) per annum and enjoys the use of two rooms and a kitchen for himself and family, free fuel, and the profits accruing from the grocery. Only married men are taken, and their wives are expected to assist in the management. They are not permitted to live outside the buildings. There is considerable emulation among the superintendents of the different homes, each trying to outdo the other in cleanliness and general good management. Three or four men are employed for police service, as watchmen and general workers, and about eight women are constantly occupied in scrubbing, washing, and general cleaning.

The largest of the houses, Watson Street Home (No. 2), accommodates 670 people. The building was originally intended for office purposes, and has quite an attractive outside appearance. The interior arrangements are similar to those already described, except that the hot chamber for drying clothes is replaced by a much smaller one, heated to an extremely high temperature, into which iron clotheshorses slide on rails.

Another of these lodging houses, called the Star Home, though on the same street, is at some distance from the ones just described. It is more private than the others and is used mostly by older men, who like a quiet home. In this inmates pay ½d. (1 cent) more per night. The house is always full. There is accommodation for 118 persons.

A fourth lodging house, the Garscube Road Home, has 693 beds. Nearly all of the lodgers are workingmen regularly employed in the vicinity. This building was opened in January, 1892. It has a more home-like appearance than any of the others. Situated outside of the crowded parts of the city, it has not been so necessary to economize ground space, so a broad lawn has been made to extend along the whole front of the building, and in the rear a space has been left for athletic recreation. Viewed from the outside, the building presents the appearance of a boarding school. It contains two recreation and reading rooms, provided with four daily papers, six periodicals, and games, such as draughts, bagatelle, etc. Quoits are played in the court outside. In addition to lockers, as described in the first house, this house has a parcel room, where clothes and other effects may be left and checked.

A distinguishing feature of all these lodging houses is the great economy in the use of fuel and hot water. Wherever it is possible steam is used for heating. Another important feature is the attention given to providing little conveniences for the men so that there may be nothing wanting to make their lodgings attractive and comfortable. There are thus the free baths, the footbaths, the upstairs corridor closets, the strips of carpet, etc. In some of the houses there is also a room set aside for a barber shop. There is a chemical disinfecting room in each house in which clothes of filthy or suspicious persons are placed for cleansing. The superintendents visit the proprietor daily at 11 o'clock a. m., to give information concerning the buildings and to receive orders. Mr. Burns, himself, makes inspections at irregular intervals, sometimes during the day and often in the middle of the night or early morning, to assure himself that all is going well.

It was stated at the municipal lodging houses that since payment for bathing had been abolished the number of lodgers using the baths had decreased from 30 per cent to 6 per cent. Bathing has always been free in Mr. Burns' homes, and a large number avail themselves of the privilege. It has been suggested that possibly employees are not so assiduous in preparing baths for those requesting them when no financial returns have to be made. Undoubtedly a great deal depends upon employees and their attitude. Mr. Burns insists that his superintendents shall encourage bathing to the greatest possible extent.

The following are the rules and regulations applicable to the Burns homes:

1. Lodgers will be received between the hours of 6 a. m. and 10.30 p. m.
2. No one will be admitted to the halls or kitchen until provided with a ticket, which can be had from the proprietor or his assistant.
3. Lodgers will be admitted to bed at 8,9,10, and 10.30 p. m. on delivering up their tickets to the assistant.
4. No smoking is allowed on the stairs or in the dormitories or dining hall.
5. No spirituous liquors are to be brought into the homes. No gambling, quarreling, profane or indecent language, or noises of any description will be allowed, nor anything calculated to disturb the peace and good order of the place or the comfort of the inmates. Anyone violating this rule will be expelled and his ticket forfeited.
6. Beds must be vacated by 8 o'clock in the morning, except in special cases, to be judged of by the proprietor or his assistant.
7. Doors will be opened each morning at 5 o'clock, and will be closed at 11 p. m. on week days and at 10.30 p. m. on Sundays. Lodgers arranging beforehand with the proprietor or his assistant may, however, be admitted after that hour.
8. All property belonging to lodgers must be considered as under their own care, but each lodger may have a separate token on depositing 6d. (12 cents), this deposit to be returned on redelivery of the key.

It is a significant fact, speaking not a little for the comfort and good order of these establishments, that 80 per cent of the occupants of Mr. Burns' homes are permanent lodgers

Hope that’s interesting,
Alan

[nelmit]

A good chance if he was staying at a model that he applied for poor relief. These applications are usually very informative about the person's family and circumstances that led them there.

If you email The Mitchell Librarywith his Name + year and place of birth they will send you a copy if there is one. It's not too expensive.

If you can wait I will have look, but it may be a while as I'm not getting there as often as I'd like these days.

Regards,
Annette

[joette]

Sounds like Mr Burns was running his Models along a profit making tempered with
philanthropy lines.
Knowing that my Great-Uncle was forced into one of these at the tender age of eighteen after the death of both parents-this one in Agammennon Street in Dalmuir-Benbow which was bombed in the Blitz makes me hope it too was run along these lines.

[emanday]

Not wishing to raise the ugly question of profit, I read Currie's post with great interest.

Even with the extra 6d Mr Burns charged, he seemed to be able to make a decent profit but also provided the "inmates" with an obviously better standard of living than the municipal model lodging houses.

So, I have to ask, exactly how high a profit were the councils making out of these men?

[alimail]

I haven't had internet access for a week and have just read this wealth of information - many thanks to all for delving it all out.
The Burns Homes certainly sound quite cosy and comfortable, a bit like student halls of residence (apart from the ban on alcohol and profane language of course!) I was in Glasgow last week but didn't manage to get to the Mitchell, sadly, or I would have searched for poor relief applications from my relation. I didn't realise you could do it by email, another piece of valuable information which I'll follow up.
Thanks again to all