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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: niccymae on Thursday 02 November 23 16:32 GMT (UK)

Title: tea rooms of williamson & co 1921
Post by: niccymae on Thursday 02 November 23 16:32 GMT (UK)

Hi, on the 1921 Census for Scotland, my great grandmother, Catherine Brennan 1897 is listed as working the Tea rooms and the company is Williamson and Co and next to that is says Ship Owners.
 She lived in Stanley Steet, Kinning Park Glasgow and I am assuming she lived near to her place of work. Does anyone have any information on the tea rooms and company please? I cant find any information on the company online.

I have attached the census. Catherine (Cathie) is the last entry.

Title: Re: tea rooms of williamson & co 1921
Post by: Lodger on Friday 03 November 23 11:25 GMT (UK)

My guess would be that she worked as a "tea room barmaid", (not The Tea Rooms) which is what the census entry seems to tell us. Kinning Park was a seafaring and inner-city area, she wouldn't necessarily have to have lived close to her work. There was an excellent and cheap public transport system of tramcars, buses and the underground railway, not forgetting "Shanks' mare".
However, this article may solve the riddle, the use of "barmaid" in the description of her occupation is rather quirky, it may have been her official title but it may also be a clue as to her personal thoughts and inclination when it came to the Demon Drink!

https://www.dalmadan.com/?p=2838

Title: Re: tea rooms of williamson & co 1921
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 03 November 23 11:52 GMT (UK)

Probably John Williamson & Co, 99 Great Clyde Street.

Dinner and tea served on board their pleasure steamers.

This is from September 1921:

Title: Re: tea rooms of williamson & co 1921
Post by: niccymae on Friday 03 November 23 16:10 GMT (UK)

Thank you both. Perhaps this is where my great-grandfather worked assuming the story I've been told is true.

Lodger regarding the link, I think you're right and this is the company she worked for. I cant see the description of her occupation though. Am I looking at the right link?

Title: Re: tea rooms of williamson & co 1921
Post by: Forfarian on Friday 03 November 23 16:49 GMT (UK)

Did Williamson and Co perhaps have a tearoom or canteen for their staff? Or maybe an on-board tearoom on some of the ships?

Title: Re: tea rooms of williamson & co 1921
Post by: niccymae on Friday 03 November 23 16:54 GMT (UK)

Another reader sent an interesting link and it looks like they had tea rooms onboard. It makes sense that Catherine worked there. The following year she gave birth to my grandfather so I suspect a man with the surname Robertson worked there too as we were told the birth father worked at sea.