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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: GeriK64 on Thursday 27 October 11 10:34 BST (UK)

Title: War Office
Post by: GeriK64 on Thursday 27 October 11 10:34 BST (UK)

Hello, Does anyone have any idea how the War Office Pub in Motherwell got its name?

Title: Re: War Office
Post by: sancti on Thursday 27 October 11 10:57 BST (UK)

The name change was fairly recent i.e. in the past 5-10 years

It used to be the Milton Vaults

Title: Re: War Office
Post by: GeriK64 on Thursday 27 October 11 11:12 BST (UK)

Thanks Sancti, :)

I just wondered if it was anything to do with the war years, as many locals named it this even when it was the Milton Vaults.

Title: Re: War Office
Post by: sancti on Thursday 27 October 11 11:26 BST (UK)

It looks a bit modern for that but it may have replaced another building

http://www.jakeybam.co.uk/MOTHERWELL/waroffice/waroffice.html

Title: Re: War Office
Post by: GeriK64 on Thursday 27 October 11 11:33 BST (UK)

Sancti, Thanks for the link you have been very helpful. (my son is studying world war 1 in history hence the curiosity)  :D

Title: Re: War Office
Post by: Lodger on Thursday 27 October 11 12:27 BST (UK)

Officially, it was always called the Milton Vaults but, unofficially it was always know as The War Office. I think it was used as a recruiting office during WWI and the name just stuck over the years. I remember going to a stag party there about 1967 and it was the Milton Vaults/War Office then.
A subscriber to this List had an aunt who had the little "Jennie a' thing" shop next door to it.
I don't think that its proximity to the Orange Hall had any bearing on the by-name!!

Title: Re: War Office
Post by: GeriK64 on Thursday 27 October 11 12:31 BST (UK)

Thanks Lodger.  :)

Title: Re: War Office
Post by: DavidTG on Thursday 29 June 17 10:25 BST (UK)

The War Office was formerly called the Milton Vaults and was first opened by my Great Great Grandfather at the start of the 20th Century. His name was Charles Thour and he was originally from London but moved to Glasgow in his late teens with his father and siblings. The pub was indeed one of a few venues in Motherwell where local could enlist to fight in the First World War, hence the unofficial name change (until relatively recently). What makes the story more interesting is that Charles' father (also Charles) was a German national living in Motherwell at this time. Germans were being deported from the UK during the war, so he lied about his nationality to the locals in his son's pub and declared himself to be Dutch and became known as the 'Dutchman'.

After Chalres jnr died, his sons (Charles and Stephen) opted not to take over the running of Tehran vaults and instead it was passed over to his son-in-law Walter

Hope this helps



I have photographs of the original building when it opened which are fascinating.

Title: Re: War Office
Post by: GeriK64 on Thursday 31 August 17 12:55 BST (UK)

Thank you for this interesting information David.  :)