The Mitchell Library in Glasgow is huge — like, ridiculously huge. It’s got over 1.2 million volumes, making it the largest reference library in Western Europe.
Among it’s collections are numerous photographs, and many of them have been scanned and placed on the internet in recent years.
And that gives us what they call the “Virtual Mitchell” which allows you to search through about a century and a half of photography about the streets, people and places of Glasgow.
So, obviously, I searched for “Great Hamilton Street” (okay, I browsed, but the name kind of did attract me, when I came across it).
In 1898, above, Great Hamilton Street was home to a pub: “Old Burnt Barns.” By 1925, unfortunately, the pub had closed, replaced by a pawn shop.
Not long after that, the road was attached and somewhat straightened, and Great Hamilton Street was no longer — subsumed as part of the London Road. It just doesn’t have the same ring.
Happily, though, I’m pleased to note, thanks to the magic of Google Maps’ Street View, that the corner of London Road and Green Street, which used to be the Great Hamilton Street home of Old Burnt Barns, now appears to house The Carlton Bar.
And that calls for a drink.
Grant Hamilton
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