A LITTLE piece of history has emerged on the side of a Barrhead pub.

Renovations at The Arthurlie Inns have exposed a painted advertisement – dating back several decades – on an exterior wall.

The colourful plug promoted a brand of Scotch whisky called Red Hackle, first sold a century ago.

Red Hackle was founded in 1920 by Charles Hepburn and Herbert Ross, who both served with the Black Watch regiment during the First World War.

The whisky took its name from the red feathers worn in the regimental head-dress.

In the early days, Charles and Herbert employed a number of ex-servicemen, at a time when many of them struggled to find work.

The company sponsored the Red Hackle Pipe Band and was known for delivering whisky around the Glasgow area in a Rolls-Royce painted with black and red stripes.

Red Hackle was popular far beyond Barrhead, with drinkers in the USA developing a taste for the tipple.

It was also supplied in bars at RAF bases during the Second World War and Edward VIII reportedly requested a glass in a nightclub while visiting Vienna.

Herbert died in 1957 and Charles continued the business until the death of his wife in 1959, when he sold it to Robertson and Baxter.

Charles then became a benefactor to many causes, including Glasgow University and the city’s zoo.

A donation he made to the Scottish Rugby Union helped Murrayfield become the first international stadium to have underground heating.

Charles gifted works of art to Glasgow University, which gave him an honorary doctorate in 1964.

He died in 1971, at the age of 80.

The re-emergence of the advert on the wall at The Arthurlie Inns has left some Barrhead residents debating the length of time since it was last seen.

John Maxwell, who has lived in Barrhead since the 1980s, said: “I really don’t remember seeing this advert there before but I did a bit of research on the internet and found photos of it on buildings in Glasgow.

“I’m not much of a whisky man myself and I’m not too sure there will be many people in Barrhead who remember drinking Red Hackle but the advert is certainly a blast from the past.”