Barrhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrhead
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 Barrhead from the Fereneze Hills |
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 Barrhead
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| Population | 17,890 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NS505585 |
| • Edinburgh | 48 mi (77 km) |
| • London | 344 mi (554 km) |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLASGOW |
| Postcode district | G78 |
| Dialling code | 0141 |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Barrhead is a town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) southwest of Glasgow city centre. The town is located near the beautiful Gleniffer Braes. In 2011, about 17,268 people lived in Barrhead.
Contents
History of Barrhead
Barrhead started as several small villages that made textiles. These villages, like Arthurlie, Grahamston, and Gateside, slowly grew together. They eventually formed one larger town. The name "Barrhead" was first used around 1750. Glanderston House, a historic building nearby, once belonged to the Stewart kings of Scotland.
In 1851, there was a mining accident at the Victoria Pit colliery. This mine was in nearby Nitshill. Sadly, 63 men and boys died in the accident. Many of them lived in Barrhead. They were buried in a large grave at St John's Church.
By 1890, Barrhead's population was growing fast, reaching almost 10,000 people. Local residents decided to form a town council. In 1894, Barrhead became a "police burgh." This meant it could manage its own local affairs. William Shanks was chosen as the first leader, called a provost.
During the 1800s and early 1900s, Barrhead was a big center for making things.
- There was an iron foundry (where metal is melted and shaped).
- A tannery processed animal hides into leather.
- The Armitage Shanks factory made porcelain products.
- Gaskell's carpet factory also employed many people.
These industries provided jobs for many families in the town.
Later in the 1900s, most of these factories closed down. This caused fewer jobs and a drop in the town's population. But in recent years, Barrhead has become a popular place to live. Many people now live here and travel to work in nearby Paisley and Glasgow.
During World War II, some bombs fell on Barrhead. German planes were flying towards other cities like Clydebank.
How Barrhead is Governed
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In 1894, Barrhead gained its own town council. This council met at the Barrhead Burgh Hall. The town council was replaced in 1975 by larger regional councils. Today, Barrhead is part of East Renfrewshire Council. The town elects four people to represent it on the council.
Barrhead is also part of a larger area that elects a Member of Parliament (MP). This MP represents the town in the UK Parliament in London. Currently, Blair McDougall is the MP for East Renfrewshire.
For the Scottish Parliament, Barrhead is part of the Renfrewshire South area. Tom Arthur represents this area.
Geography of Barrhead
Barrhead is part of the larger Greater Glasgow area. Within the town, you'll find different neighborhoods like Arthurlie, Auchenback, Gateside, and Grahamston.
The town is about 1 kilometer (0.5 miles) from the edge of Glasgow. Farmland and countryside separate the two areas. Much of this land is now part of the Dams to Darnley Country Park. This park includes the Balgray and Waulkmill Glen Reservoirs.
Economy in Barrhead
Barrhead has several important businesses. These include Barrhead Travel and Kelburn Brewing Company. The biggest employer in the town is East Renfrewshire Council.
The council has invested a lot of money to improve Barrhead's economy. They have worked to create new business areas. These include Crossmill Business Park and Blackbyres Court.
There are also four industrial estates in Barrhead. These are places where many businesses and factories are located. They include Robertson Street Industrial Estate and Shanks Industrial Park.
Local businesses created the Barrhead Business Forum in 2005. This group works with the council to help businesses in the town.
In 2016, businesses in Barrhead voted to become a Business Improvement District (BID). This program helps town centers grow and improve. Barrhead's BID is called 'All About Barrhead'.
The town is part of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. The closest hospital for emergencies is the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Getting Around Barrhead
Barrhead is easy to reach by car using the M77 motorway.
Local buses, run by McGill's Bus Services, connect Barrhead to other towns. You can travel to Glasgow, Paisley, Neilston, and Newton Mearns.
Barrhead railway station serves the town. Trains from Barrhead go north to Glasgow Central. They also go south to places like Kilmarnock and Carlisle.
In the early 1900s, many railway lines ran through Barrhead. These lines helped transport goods for the town's factories. You can still see parts of these old railway lines today. For example, there are two old railway bridges, called viaducts. One is near the Tesco store. The other is now a footpath in Upper Auchenback.
Barrhead also used to have tram services. Trams ran from Barrhead to Glasgow and Paisley. The tram system was removed by 1962.
Future Transport Plans
A new railway station called Balgray railway station is planned south of Barrhead. This will provide even more transport options for the town.
Education in Barrhead
Barrhead has five primary schools for younger students:
- Carlibar Primary School
- Cross Arthurlie Primary School
- Hillview School
- St. John's Roman Catholic Primary School
- St. Mark's Roman Catholic Primary School
In 2007, St. Mark's Primary School received an amazing report. It was called one of the best schools in Scotland.
The new Carlibar Primary School opened in 2006. It has a family center and services for young children. It also has a special unit for children with autism.
The town has two secondary schools for older students:
- St. Luke's High School
- Barrhead High
Both schools are in the Auchenback area. A brand new building for Barrhead High opened in 2018. St. Luke's High School was recognized as a "School of Ambition" by the Scottish government.
Culture in Barrhead
The Royal Shakespeare Company has performed in Barrhead several times. They brought their plays, like "The Canterbury Tales" in 2006, to a special mobile theater.
Barrhead also has several public houses, which are like local pubs. These include Cross Stobs, The Kelburn, and The Arthurlie Inns. The Cross Stobs pub has been around since at least 1695!
Sports in Barrhead
Barrhead has an active football team called Arthurlie. They play in the Scottish Junior Football Association. An older team with the same name was famous for beating Celtic in 1897. Johnny Kelly from Arthurlie went on to play for Celtic and for the Scottish national team. Arthurlie won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1998.
Alex McLeish, a famous Scottish football player and coach, went to school in Barrhead. In the early 1900s, three brothers from Barrhead – Alec Logan, James Logan, and Tommy Logan – all played football for Scotland.
Barrhead Boys Club, now called Barrhead Youth Football Club, was started in 1972. It has teams for children as young as 6, all the way up to adults.
Barrhead has four bowling clubs: Barrhead, Arthurlie, Shanks, and St John's. The Fereneze Golf Club, founded in 1904, offers an 18-hole golf course with great views. Barrhead Boxing Club has trained many successful boxers. The town also has several Muay Thai clubs with championship fighters.
A greyhound racing track opened in Barrhead in 1934. It was an independent track, meaning it wasn't part of the main racing organization.
Notable People from Barrhead
- Lee Ashcroft, footballer
- Christopher Brookmyre, author
- Sir Harry Burns, professor of global health
- Ken Currie, artist
- John Davidson, poet
- Ellen Dawson, activist and trade unionist
- Douglas Henshall, actor
- Johnny Kelly, footballer
- Helen Macfarlane, writer
- Barrie McKay footballer
- Alex McLeish ex-footballer and ex-Scotland manager
- Bob McPhail, footballer
- James Maxton, socialist
- David Nish, chief executive of Standard Life
- Mark O'Hara, football player
- Marianne Saliba, Australian mayor
Images for kids
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Barrhead from the Fereneze Hills
