How were tenement buildings numbered in Glasgow?

[Matt R]

Hi all,

I am starting this thread so that I can hope to gage a better understanding of a subject that has often had me wondering whilst doing research for a book I am writing. I also hope that, if completed, this question can also assist others who might wonder the same.

I am trying to find someone who may remember the tenement housing systems in Glasgow city, and more importantly, anybody who has information on the numbering of these tenements. My research lies in the 1880-1895 period but I am wondering if address were numbered by apartments or buildings. I have relations who lived at number 41, 44 and 45 Richard Street, Anderston and I am wondering if apartments were individually numbered (i.e one room is 41, the next room is 42, etc) or if each building was given the number and apartments contained within that number. I'm hoping this aids me in finding out if my relatives lived in the same building or numbers 41, 44 and 45 were "next door" as opposed to "next room".

On a record I have also seen "45 Richard Street LowL" as a place of address and I'd like someone to please confirm or advise on whether or not this meant all apartments in this building were numbered 44 with "LowL" referring to my family's particular apartment being on the ground floor on the left hand side. I've also seen "41 Richard Street 2 up" in my research.

I hope I have been clear in my...umm...confusion and would be grateful for any help with this.

Cheers,

Matt.

[Ann Baker]

Tenements were numbered by building in pretty much same way as streets are numbered now - odds one side and evens the other.

The appartments within didn't usually have separate numbers tho it is possible for them to say no 45 lowL for example. That would refer to the bottom left house as you went in the close. - the close being the entrace way and stairwells to the upper floors.

Most closes within a tenement had a house either side of the stairs on each level and a middle house - also known as a single end.

Ann

[Matt R]

Thanks Ann,

I am just trying to get it straight so that I can be as accurate as possible. I'd probably do well to visit the Tenement Museum next time I am up in Glasgow to get more of a feel for the layout of the buildings. I think I'll also try and contact The Mitchell to see if they have any blueprints or plans for the interior of an individual tenement, although that might be more of a longshot.

Thanks again,

Matt.

[Ann Baker]

No problem. Just imagine Dave's place - you've been there - that's how they're laid out inside tho some bigger than others. His has big rooms!

he'd be ****TopR or *** 3 floors up!

Ann

[Matt R]

I was going to go with that but thought due to him being in a different part of Glasgow, it would be wise not to assume all were the same. Somehow I reckon the rooms there are bigger than what my lot would have had...and their were a dozen of them!

I get the drift though, I was just a bit confused regarding numbers. From what you have said it is more than likely that 41 and 45 were literally on the other side of the street, directly opposite number 44. They must have simply wandered over the street to each other and come and gone as they pleased.

Conjurs up all sorts of images you'd expect to find in a Catherine Cookson novel!

Cheers,

Matt.

[Ann Baker]

The layout tends to be the same. Dave's close same as one I grew up in and I was in Paisley. Often they moved from one to the one next door, down the road or across the road. Same street just different houses - very often overcrowded!



Ann

[Skoosh]

Matt,  the Tenement House is a very posh example compared to the bog standard house I was born in, that had a pair of "Two Apartments" to eack landing, with, as Ann said, a single-end in the middle. There was a "Sterrheid Lavy" on the half landing for each of the three floors. The two flats in the close shared a toilet in the back-close. Halcyon days!
 The Tenement House has several rooms opening off a lobby, with a bathroom and also had a servant. The gas lighting there is a bit of a con', what they have is caravan lighting, not the bigger No.3 mantle used before the electric came in.
 It's interesting nevertheless. I made them some "Paper Sticks" for lighting the fires, the examples they had were pretty feeble.

Skoosh.

[Ann Baker]

Bathroom? We never had one of them. Stairhead Lavvy!

And you had take it turns to hang your washing out and scrub the bit of the close and stairs that you lived on.

Coal bunkers out the back beside the wash-hoose! Happy days!

Ann

[Ann Baker]

Some had tiles on the ground floor as you go in the close up to a dado level type arrangement. they were posh - ours didn;t have tiles. They were known as waaly closes .