Second in a series about Strathbungo’s motor garages.

This is the story of the buildings at 39, 43 and 47 Nithsdale Street, of which the former survive, though not in their original form. No 47 was demolished in 2017.

Regent Park Dairy

Regent Park Dairy, Nithsdale Street, with passing fire appliance. Date and origin unknown

David Imrie ran a dairy and stables from the buildings, using 47 as his house. He was the fourth son, and fifth child, of Alexander Imrie and Janet Millar of Norriestown Farm, Thornhill, but grew up on Birkenshaw Farm (now buried beneath Eastwood Health Centre, near Williamwood Station). He married Barbara Mackie in Crossmyloof in 1865, and then lived in Strathbungo, at Lorne Cottage. However his dairy was in the Gorbals at that time, so we don’t know if that was a name for the house and dairy. The date and architect of the buildings are unknown, but they appear on Bartholomew’s map of 1876, and he was advertising for a dairymaid there in 1883.

Any dairymaids available? First reference to Regent Park Dairy, Glasgow Herald November 1883. Source: British Newspaper Archive

In the 1891 census he is listed at 47 Nithsdale Street with his wife, eight children, and five staff members (a dairymaid, servant, shop keeper and two van drivers). That’s a lot of people for a small house.

David died in 1909. His son Alexander became a dairyman in the Gorbals, but not at Strathbungo, and a David remains listed in the valuation roll until at least 1915, so it isn’t clear who ran the dairy after his death. It might be his second son David, who was a veterinary surgeon and hose shoer in Dennistoun in 1901.

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In the days before cars were routinely kept on the road (and certainly before they were kept on double yellow lines, dropped kerbs and the pavement, but I digress…) the motorist needed somewhere to purchase, service, refuel and store their car, and so the commercial garage came to be.

Historic England has a fine history of the early days of Buildings and Infrastructure for the Motor Car.

The City & Suburban Electric Carriage Company at 6 Denman Street, central London, opened the first multi-storey car park in the UK (and probably the world) in May 1901. The garage had seven floors, 19,000 square feet, space for 100 vehicles and an electric elevator to move the vehicles between floors.

Botanic Gardens Garage in Vinicombe Street was one of the ealiest garages, and the oldest survivor in Glasgow, built between 1906 and 1911. The garage has a distinctive art deco facade, and had ramped access to the second floor. Following an attempt by Arnold Clark to have it demolished and replaced with modern flats in 2008, it has recently been restored as restaurants. Funny Arnold Clark should attempt such a thing…

Botanic Gardens Garage in Glasgow’s West End. Source: Twentieth Century Society

Strathbungo Garages

I was aware of a couple of Strathbungo motor businesses when I started this research. But I didn’t expect twenty. All those listed below were or are in modern Strathbungo, or within 150m. So how many can you pinpoint?

Note each article covers several businesses, as listed.

1. John B Fenwick – Strathbungo Garage
   • Strathbungo Garage
   • J B Fenwick
   • Ride-On Motorcycles
2. Miller and Morrison, Motor Hirers and Undertakers
   • Regent Park Dairy
   • Nithsdale Motor Company
   • John Blair
   • Miller & Morrison
   • Ride-On Motorcycles
3. Thomson Motor Company
   • Thomson Motor Company
   • Southern Cylinder Grinding
   • Southside Housing Association
4. Regent Park Motor Garage Company
   • Regent Park Motor Garage Co
5. Niven’s
   • Titwood Garage
   • AB Robertson & Co
   • H C Niven’s Motor Engineers
6. The Queen’s Garage
   • Queen’s Garage
   • Arnold Clark
   • Blue Line Motor Spirit Company
   • Motatune
   • W & H Packham
7. Southern Motors
   • Southern Motors (Glasgow) Ltd
   • BP Garage, Pollokshaws Road
8. Scottish Cars and the industrial heartland of Titwood Road
   • Scottish Cars
   • Dare & Carter
   • Henry’s
   • Co-operative Wholesale Society (if you include servicing milk floats)

In addition, the research has uncovered some covered tennis courts, boxing arena and indoor bowling green, engineering, a dairy & creamery, a photography laboratory, a catering business, all on Titwood Road (see No. 8 above), and the sporting history of Moray Park.