Barrhead's Story
The aim of the Better Barrhead initiative is to ensure a prosperous future for the town by creating new jobs, constructing new facilities and creating new public spaces. However, for all of the proposed plans to be truly successful, we have to be aware that this is just the the latest in a much longer history of transformation and change within the town. From James Maxton to John Shanks, Barrhead Kid Company to Kate Cranston, the people of Barrhead has seen remarkable individuals and global companies pass through the town.
We want this proud heritage to be reflected and remembered within the Better Barrhead and this page will provide a guide to how we are going to achieve this. It will also provide links and information about other heritage web-pages and information sources that are available for those who would like to learn more about the history of the town.
If you have any questions, queries or suggestions about anything you see on this page, please contact Gavin Russell using the contact details provided on the contact us page.
Barrhead - A Brief History
Alice Grieve is a member of Barrhead Community Council and a dedicated local historian. Alice was generous enough to take the time to provide the Better Barrhead team with a brief history of the town that will guide you through some of the key individuals and moments that have shaped the town. To read this brief history, please click on the link below.
Barrhead - A Brief History by Alice Grieve
If you are interested in getting a more comprehensive written history of the town, there are two books available that can be bought at Barrhead Library. 'Mine Ain Grey Toon' by James McWhirter is the story of Barrhead from pre-historic times right through to 1914 while 'The Annals of Barrhead' by Robert Murray was originally published in 1942 and provides invaluable information about the local people, events and buildings that have played a prominent role in the town's history.
Historic Barrhead
Historic Barrhead: Archaeology and Development is the latest book in the Scottish Burgh Survey series, designed to identify the archaeological potential of Scotland’s historic towns, to guide development and set questions to be answered by further investigation.
The book, by E. Patricia Dennison, Simon Stronach and Russel Coleman, is published by Historic Scotland in association with the University of Edinburgh and the Council for British Archaeology and with the support of East Renfrewshire Council.
The book shows how Barrhead grew rapidly in the late 18th century because it was in the right place at the right time. It was close to the emerging commercial centres of Glasgow and Paisley and would rely on the Levern Water to power a booming textile industry. The valley in which the town grew also has a rich earlier history.
It identifies medieval sites and charts the development of the town from the scatter of small settlements shown on early maps. It goes on to sketch the social history of a community shaped by the industrial revolution.
Barrhead gained Burgh status as recently as 1893/4. By then the textile industry had diversified into other activities that give Barrhead its distinctive profile; iron and brass working and sanitary engineering.
The authors look at the history and archaeological potential of key sites in the town to inform the future local management of Barrhead’s historic environment.
The Barrhead burgh book will be available to buy from Historic Scotland and in Barrhead library.
Picture (left to right): Launching the Barrhead Burgh book at the site of the Arthurlie Cross in Barrhead are Cllr Douglas Yates, Simon Stronach, Headline Archaeology; Pat Dennison, Scottish School of Urban Studies, University of Strathclyde; Mark Watson, inspector Historic Scotland.
Better Barrhead Projects
The Better Barrhead team has already developed the Barrhead Heritage Trail (see Heritage Websites and Groups section of this website), a walking route that will guide you through some of the key historical sites in Barrhead. In addition to the heritage trail we are also involved in the following projects that include a focus on identifying and retaining local history.
Public Spaces - There are three major public space projects within the Better Barrhead Masterplan. These include environmental improvements to Main Street and Cross Arthurlie Street, the creation of a new civic square on Main Street and improvement to the Levern Walkway. These projects are being developed in partnership with the community. In terms of heritage and history, one of the key aims of the partnership will be to ensure that the designs of each of the public spaces reflects the incidents and people that have shaped the town. For more information on this project and how to get involved, click the link provided or visit the Community Places page.
The Better Barrhead team is always open to new ideas so if you have any suggestions for heritage based projects in the area, please contact Gavin Russell using the information provided on the contact us page.
Heritage Websites and Groups
There are a number of heritage based websites available for those who are interested.
Portal to the Past is East Renfrewshire Council's archive page and should be the first port of call for any budding historians.
The Barrhead Heritage Trail allows local walkers to pick one of three routes that will lead them around some of the key sites and landmarks in the town.
Barrhead Scotland.com is the towns dedicated community information source. As well as local news updates and weather forecasts you can find more information about the history and heritage of Barrhead
It's Funny Whit Ye Remember is the website for a locally produced CD and book that captures memories of life in the town between the 1920's and 1950's
Barrhead also has its own Wikipedia page that is full of local knowledge and history