Newton Mearns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newton Mearns
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| Town | |
 Mearns Cross |
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 Newton Mearns
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| Population | 28,210 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NS536556 |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLASGOW |
| Postcode district | G77 |
| Dialling code | 0141 |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Newton Mearns is a town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. Its name comes from being a "new town" in the area called Mearns. The word maoirne in Scottish Gaelic means a place managed by a steward.
The town is about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Glasgow city centre. It sits about 410 feet (125 metres) above sea level. Newton Mearns has a population of around 26,993 people. It is part of the larger Greater Glasgow area.
Contents
History
For a long time, the land around Newton Mearns was mostly used for farming. Over the centuries, different families owned the land. These included the Pollocks, Maxwells, and Stewarts.
In 1832, a new main road, called a turnpike road, was built. This road helped connect the town better. By the late 1700s, people started quarrying stone here. Many textile mills also opened, using water from the local rivers and lochs.
An old book from 1893 described Newton Mearns as being "pleasantly situated." It also said it was a "burgh of barony." This meant it had the right to hold a weekly market and two yearly fairs. At that time, the village was mainly just "a single street."
In the early 1900s, better roads and railways made Newton Mearns a popular place to live for people working in Glasgow. Many new houses were built in the 1930s and 1950s.
Sadly, the old village centre became run down after World War II. In the 1960s, it was bought and turned into a shopping centre. This centre later became 'The Avenue at Mearns' in 1990.
Some important old buildings in the area include:
- The 15th-century Mearns Castle.
- Greenbank House, which is looked after by the National Trust for Scotland.
- The Mearns Kirk, built in 1813.
Pollok Castle
Glasgow University experts studied the Pollock Castle site in 2000. Maps from the 1500s show that a castle was here.
The castle was pulled down and rebuilt as a large house in 1686. Then, in 1882, it was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt again soon after in a Scottish Baronial style.
The castle was left empty in the 1940s and became a ruin. Some parts were blown up in the 1970s. A new house was built on the old castle foundations. This house was removed in the early 1990s.
Finally, the castle was rebuilt again in 2003. It was designed in the Scottish Adam style. Some of the original castle walls and foundations are still there.
Governance
Newton Mearns is part of the East Renfrewshire area for the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This is where Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to represent the area in the UK government.
For the Scottish Parliament, Newton Mearns is part of the Eastwood area. This is where Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are elected.
Since 1996, Newton Mearns has been part of the East Renfrewshire Council area. This local council manages services for the community.
Councillors
Newton Mearns is divided into two areas for local council elections. These areas are called wards. Each ward elects several councillors to represent the local people.
Newton Mearns North and Neilston
| Councillor | Party |
|---|---|
| Andrew Morrison | Conservative |
| Tony Buchanan | Scottish National Party |
| Owen O'Donnell | Labour |
Newton Mearns South and Eaglesham
| Councillor | Party |
|---|---|
| Caroline Bamforth | Scottish National Party |
| Paul Edlin | Conservative |
| Andrew Anderson | Labour |
| Jim McLean | Conservative |
Economy
Newton Mearns is mostly a place where people live. Many residents travel to Glasgow for work and shopping. However, there are also local businesses and a shopping centre in the town.
The Avenue Shopping Centre is the main place to shop. It has 44 stores, including supermarkets, banks, clothing shops, and restaurants. The shopping area follows the path of the old Mearns Main Street.
Other shopping areas and restaurants can be found at Broom, Broomburn, and Crookfur. The newer Greenlaw Village also has supermarkets, a hotel, and restaurants.
Some homes in the Hugh Fraser Retirement Estate have smart technology. Residents can control heating, lighting, and doorbells using voice commands. This was the first time such technology was used in a Scottish retirement community.
Farming is still important south of Mearns Cross. There was once a large textile finishing centre at Netherplace. The empty building was taken down in 2016.
Transport
Traffic through the town's main road (A77) became much less busy after the M77 motorway opened in 1997. Transport links got even better in 2006 with the opening of the Glasgow Southern Orbital dual carriageway.
The town has bus services connecting it to Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr. Newton Mearns also has two train stations: Patterton and Whitecraigs. These stations offer trains to Glasgow Central station.
Education
Newton Mearns has nine primary schools and four high schools. One of these is a Private school. The nearby town of Giffnock has St Ninian's High School, a Roman Catholic high school.
- Primary schools
- Kirkhill Primary School
- St. Cadoc's RC Primary School
- St Clare's Primary School and Calderwood Lodge Primary School (shared campus)
- Crookfur Primary School
- Mearns Primary School
- Maidenhill Primary School
- Belmont House School (private school)
- Isobel Mair School for children with special needs
- Secondary schools
- Eastwood High School
- Mearns Castle High School
- Belmont House School (private school)
- Isobel Mair School for children with special needs
Religion
Newton Mearns has several places of worship. These include:
- Four Church of Scotland churches.
- A Baptist church.
- A Catholic church.
- Two synagogues.
- A mosque.
In November 2023, a new church called Newton Mearns Free Church was formed. This happened when many people from Maxwell Mearns Parish Church decided to create a new church.
About 25% of all Jewish people in Scotland live in Newton Mearns.
Leisure
Newton Mearns has many parks, such as Broom/Broomburn Park and Mearns/Shawwood Park. The town is also next to Rouken Glen Park, which has a boating pond and gardens.
There are many golf clubs, a golf academy, a tennis club, a bowling club, and a rugby club. A public swimming pool and leisure centre are located nearby in Giffnock. The swimming pool and sports centre at Eastwood High School are also open to the public.
The former reservoirs of the Gorbals Water Works are between Mearns and Barrhead. These reservoirs and the land around them now form the Dams to Darnley Country Park.
Local football clubs include Pollok F.C. and Arthurlie F.C.. A local team called St Cadoc's Y.C. has also joined the West of Scotland setup. Newton Mearns also has an amateur football club, Newton Mearns Rovers AFC, which started in 1962.
Literature
Newton Mearns has been mentioned in books and plays. It appeared briefly in John McGrath's play Little Red Hen (1975).
More recently, the town was the setting for the thriller novel Aztec Love Song (2009). The author, Marty Ross, grew up in Newton Mearns and went to Mearns Castle High School.
See also
In Spanish: Newton Mearns para niños
