John Anderson

John Anderson was an Edinburgh-born slater and slate merchant, who first appears in the Glasgow Post Office Directory in 1852. He lived in East Bath Lane and then Holmhead Street, Glasgow, with his young family. His first yard was in Killermont Street, Cowcaddens, immediately north of the city centre, and he remained there until 1865–6, when he removed to nearby Parliamentary Road in Townhead. 1

In 1868, Anderson was joined by his son and namesake (born c. 1850), who lived with him. According to the 1871 census, Anderson the elder employed six men, one labourer and one boy. 2 Father and son continued to share working premises, but advertised separately, until the father retired in 1880. 3 He died in 1898, aged 85, the business being continued by his son. 4

Unusually for a small tradesman at this time, Anderson Junior personally owned the property at 362 Parliamentary Road. 5 He also had two different telephone lines, operated by different companies, in 1905 – presumably for better contactability. He left central Glasgow in the early 20th century, and moved to a succession of large stone villas set in the tree-lined, wealthy suburb of Giffnock. 6 The firm was still in existence in 1913.