top of page
PB the Cairn
Lochwinnoch
The purpose of the site is to help those new to the village to connect with its past and for those who have left for pastures new to remember what was left behind
A STROLL DOWN LOCHWINNOCH'S OLD STREETS
by
GORMAN McGHEE
I was sitting one day, meditating on the shops that served Lochwinnoch in my childhood. Very interesting it was too.
In my imagination I strolled along the pavements attempting to recall the shops which served the Village in the late 30’s and early 40’s. My memory wandered something like this: Let's start at near the top of the Johnshill coming down the hill towards the village,
Gorman and his pals
Mr. Tam Hailey was the man (part-tine) to mend the buckled bicycle wheels.
I was born in No.4 Johnshill, where Mrs.Graham’s bungalow now sits. I can recall the two bungalows over the road being built, and being drawn to the building site to watch the workmen carrying out their tasks.
Down to the bend at Auld Simon, across the road, we went along the drive to old Mrs. Armstrong's [Proctor?] door to purchase apples, pears and plums. Down to the foot of the brae, no Mansefield Road then. We came to the Corner Bar, I can't recall if that was the name at that time, I don't think so. Semple's comes to mind. My principle memory is of a white horse statuette which was displayed in the window.
Let's turn left down Factory Street, and find McAvoy's shop on our right. We'll go right at the bottom and travel along Harvey Terrace towards the War Memorial and the "Big Kirk". Left down Church Street passing Struthers then Garage and Lemonade Factory, now Lemonade produced only.
Under the Railway Bridge, passing by the tiled subway to Lochwinnoch Station, we turn in to the public park, we had a drink of water at the fountain, all watched over keenly by Mr. Calderwood the park keeper.
We come back via Church Street past the "Big Kirk" and the West Kirk to White's Paper Shop, next door is Duncan's the Draper, then the pend and wee shop which were
part of the business of "Walker the Plumber.” Carrying on past Walkers we
come to Jeannie Jamieson's, then the close then Miss Wylies, Jeannie Jamieson's could maybe be regarded as a "Jenny a’ Things". I’m not too sure of that. Miss Wylie could probably be called a Haberdashery. Next port of call was Nancy Guy's Fish Shop. The next place, although
it had what you would call a shop window,was a store as it is to this day, then it was part of Jimmy White’s Grocery whose frontage and entrance was around the corner in Main Street.
It used to be a source of amusement to visitors to see Jimmy White's on one corner of the Cross and John Black's
on the other. This wee stroll now brings us to the Cross where we take a left turn past White's Main Door to Miss Houston's fancy goods shop.
Passing Miss Houston's we reach Jimmy Speirs the Butchers, on to the Co-op always the largest shop in the Village, with its tokens and a girl in a small kiosk, collecting the cash or the tokens, or both?
Next is the Co-op Butchers, with the Bake House down the Pend on the left, with Jimmy Lawrie in command. Past the Garage to Jimmy Kennedy's
who was the local stockist of "Tizer" along the road we go a few yards to reach Connell’s Bakery then the "Brown Bull", and down yet another Pend, "Love the Joiners”. The last business here would be "Andrews Chair Frame Makers". I cannot recall what title they would trade under.
Next the Big House where the Johnstones of Cabinet Work fame lived, not of course forgetting the Stable where "Dick" the Cart Horse was faithfully looked after by old Archie Dale.
We travel along then cross the road to the Lane which leads to the Bowling Green, and the Silk Mill, now converted to Flats, 50 yards along we reach the Main Gate to Jas. Hunters Calder Cabinet and Chair Works. Going along, the McKillop Institute is on our left as we cross the road to the Bank. Next we come to Bryson the Drapers, then Auld Dom the tallies, Alfresco Cafe, Dom had in fact two shops, the Cafe, and the Chip Shop. I can recall with relish his delicious ice cream, unfortunately, his chips never did excite my friends or myself.
.jpeg)
Next door to the Chip Shop was the domain of Jules Boullait, the baker and
confectioner, I'm quite sure thats not the way to spell his name, however I do recall him dressed in white with the magnificent tall hat, which I suppose was his badge of office. There was a small Tea Room through the back, entered through a Bead Curtained door. I never ever penetrated to the tea room.
Next was the Ironmongers, where you could get your accumulator for your wireless charged. Mary Kincaid ruled here. Next we reach the Gas Company Showroom, I think the Registrars was somehow involved here, but I am not sure.
.jpeg)
Next we come to the Co. Pend where Paddy the Co’s white horse was stabled.
Along we go to Campbell's Drapery Store, past the wee “School” over the road at Crow Place to Robert Baird the grocer, I have particular Happy Memories of this shop, as I was employed for a time as the Message Boy, pushing a big heavy message bike with the basket carrier on the front. I recall Mr. Baird as a gruff but kindly man, though he tried hard to camouflage his kind disposition.
Had we turned left before Bairds we would have reached Willie Glens small Dairy Farm, where it was literally from the Coo to you.
Getting back to the High Street passing Bairds we reach "Nell Trains", I recall a legend on the entrance door saying something like "Furnish Your Home Free By Drinking Mavara Tea.” I am struggling now to recall the order of the shops, we had Freddie Jacques wee shop, where Foyles Lending Library was to be found. Archie McIntyre the Cobbler was also to be found in one of these shops.
I know where I am next though, at Hallowfaulds Dairy where Bob Murray was El Supremo, it is the second low building along the street on the right. On to the last shop on this side, which was of course Miss Wilsons Sweetie Shop which can be seen on the right of this photograph. Wonder if the wee girl got a penny carmel or sherbit dip.
Back across the road we g0. The Liberal Club, during the war was a canteen for the Armed Forces. During our meander down Church Street I should have re-called the “Klondyke” which accommodated a battery of the Maritime Royal Artillery. These lads manned the guns on the
Armed Merchant Ships, which carried out the deadly dangerous job of crossing the Atlantic to bring much needed supplies to beleaguered Britain. They were also on the Murmansk convoys these voyages defy description. The Klondyke was Hamilton & Crawfords Cabinet Works which I cannot recall employing anyone.
Next is Bob Thomson's the butcher ’s with yet another pend besides, then the Post Office where the formidable "Liza Logan" held sway.Next was Watson's Drysalters, followed by Johnnie Grant's Paper Shop, then Lamont's Store, yet another Grocers taking us to the previously mentioned John Black's Licensed Grocers.
We turn left around the Co-op and arrive at Drumond's Shop, then the Garthland Arms, owned by Donald Gordon, then Willie Stories Hair Dressing Establishment, where you could also purchase cycle equipment, then the Court Hall, where the Local Athletic Club later met, on to the Police Station, at that time the Local Bobby, was the well known "Willie Murray”.
Let us next go back over the Cross, past the Bank to Dan Morrison’s Eagle Garage, with the Eagle Inn Hall over where the Local L. D. V. later to become the Home Guard did their training, then to Ferguson’s Paper Shop, keeping going over past McConnell the Joiner and
Undertaker, to reach Jimmy Kerr the coalman’s yard.George Patterson yet another coalman was situated across the road with his yard running back parallel to “Joe’s Opening.” If we turn right at the top of Joe’s opening we go into the
Gas Works, where Mr. McGillivary and Mr. Blair laboured nightly to keep the Gas flowing. This place was a magnet to small boys.
Joe's opening led to Joseph Johnstone & Sons Viewfield Cabinet Works, this factory along with, Jas. Hunter's employed a few hundred people, I can recall when the horn blew at lunch time, that the streets were crowded with workmen hurrying home for a quick lunch.
Let’s come back to travel up Mill Brae, to Jimmy Ward's Sweetie Shop cheek by Jowl with Beanie Arthur’s Home Bakery then Smith's Livestock Delivery Co. where the Cattle Floats were garaged. If we travel up past the Bridgend, into the Glen Road, we would have found Whitton’s Mill powered by a water wheel.
I must stress that the foregoing was written entirely from memory, with no recourse whatever to my contemporaries of that period. However if it has made you think, and you have spotted an error or oversight by all means let me know, or perhaps you could enlarge on it yourself.
However if it has made you think, and you have spotted an error or oversight by all means let me know, or perhaps you could enlarge on it yourself.
Would you believe it? I forgot Johnny Mander's "Palace Picture House" how could I forget that place of Happy memories, too numerous to recall. Here again visitors to the village used to look on in amazement when old Johnny came to the edge of the pavement to call out the attractions, in the manner of an old Fairground Barker. Photo of The Palace in its heyday.
Old Johnny, as he was always known to us, was assisted by Young Johnny, who could be designated as Manager and Billy who was the Projectionist.
Below is the sad end to the Palace. Across what was then vacant frontage to McKinlay's Sweet Shop. It is the bungalow with the two dormer windows. As you would imagine they seemed to do very little trading throughout the war years.
Just as I suspected I missed a few, one was the wee shop next to the Co-Drapers, also owned by the Co-op, which housed a Shoe Shop and a small Savings Bank, another
Tommy Ross's Chemist Shop, Willie Guy the painter also had a shop selling Wallpaper and Paint.
I also managed to miss Willie Brown the Blacksmiths Forge, which was another magnet for small boys, I can well remember the distinctive smell of the burning horse's hoofs as Willie pressed the hot shoe on it to ensure a snug fit.
Bob “Tip Top" Marshall had his Joiners Shop in the same yard, Tip Top was so named because of his habit of saying "A nail here and a nail there, and it's a Tip Top Job." Luckily we just happened to have a photograph of Bob in action with hammer and nail.
Appendix 1
Changes over time to streets Gorman writes about
Johnshill
Factory Close, Factory Street, St Winnoch Road
Church Street
Calder Street
High Street
Main Street
.jpg)
Harvey Terrace & Square
.jpg)
Appendix 2
Gorman mentioned more shops than we could incorporate photographs of in the body of the document. Below is a gallery of all the shops mentioned. If I have got any wrong just let me know. As with all galleries on the site click on a photograph to get an enlarged image.
bottom of page