THIS week’s crawl around Southampton’s lost pubs takes us to an establishment where patrons would have been foolish to cause a disturbance, as the proprietor was an ex-army sergeant major and champion swordsman.

Johnny Walker must have been an imposing figure behind the bar of Southampton’s old Glasgow pub, where he displayed his many trophies and medals, just as a reminder to any would-be trouble makers.

At the height of his athletic prowess Sgt. Major Walker was the winner of the “Best Man at Arms” challenge shield, open to all members of the armed forces for fencing.

In 1905 he went on to become Empire Champion Gold Medallist as well as taking the honours in numerous fencing contests.

It was in 1912 that Johnny left the army and took over the licence of the Victorian-fronted Glasgow, which stood on the corner of Bernard Street and Orchard Lane in Southampton.

For the next 20 years Johnny presided over the popular and well-known public house, which also boasted a restaurant and the “Oyster Grotto”.

A rare photograph of the landlord has emerged from the private collection of well-known Southampton local historian, David Goddard, showing the one time publican and member of the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards pictured in a collage alongside an exterior shot of the pub with waitresses in white caps and aprons together with a chef.

“There was a pub on this site dating back to the 1880s when the Pullinger Hotel first opened, which then changed its name to The Clarendon,” said David.

“In those early days the establishment offered ‘hot and cold vapour baths’ besides quenching the thirst of its clientele.”

During the Second World War blitz on Southampton in 1940, the Glasgow was destroyed by bombing and the pub was forced to continue operation in temporary buildings up to April 1957.

In February of the following year, Watneys the brewers built a new, two-storey pub, together with an “off-sales shop and bottled beer store” on the site.

When the new pub opened its doors for business in February, 1958 the first customer to be served was Urias Neagle, who had used the Glasgow as his local since pre-war days.

The Daily Echo of the time reported: “Several innovations have been incorporated in the saloon bar, which is decorated in contemporary style with two-pattern wallpapers.

“The walls are treated with a special varnish which is resistant to smoke haze and will not stain.

“A hair cream was smeared on the walls as a test and when washed off, no stain was left."

This incarnation of the Glasgow survived until October 1990 when it changed its name to Dixies but it subsequently closed and the premises are now occupied by Martin’s Rubber Manufacturers.