Strathgryffe facts for kids
Strathgryffe or Gryffe Valley is a beautiful valley in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It is named after the River Gryffe, which flows right through its middle. The river starts in a place called Kilmacolm. It then travels through the areas of Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. Finally, it joins another river called the Black Cart Water, near the towns of Houston and Inchinnan.
Long ago, Strathgryffe was a very important area. It was part of what became the historic county of Renfrewshire. The name "Strathgryffe" was even used for a much larger region that covered all of Renfrewshire in ancient times.
Contents
History of Strathgryffe
The lands of Strathgryffe were given to a man named Walter fitz Alan. This happened around the 1150s by King David I of Scotland. Walter fitz Alan was the first High Steward of Scotland. He was also the founder of the famous Stewart family in Scotland. The Stewart family lived in Strathgryffe for many centuries after that.
Later, new officials called Sheriffs were introduced. They brought more political power to Strathgryffe. In the mid-1800s, local government rules changed. The old regions were replaced by new counties, also called 'shires'. These new counties matched the areas where the Sheriffs worked. Because the Sheriff for Strathgryffe was based in Renfrew, the county became known as the county of Renfrew.
What Does 'Strathgryffe' Mean?
A 'strath' is a wide valley. You can find this word in Scottish Gaelic as 'Srath' and in ancient Welsh as 'Ystrad'.
The name 'Stragrif' was first written down in a document from 1169. This document was about Paisley Abbey. It said that the churches in the area would be controlled by the new abbey. Later, the name 'Gryff' was seen on old maps made between 1747 and 1755. These maps were created by William Roy, who helped start the Ordnance Survey maps of Great Britain. For a long time, 'Gryfe' was the most common way to spell the name.
Today, 'Gryffe' is becoming the most popular spelling in the area. You can see it on new road signs for the river. Many local groups also use this spelling, like the Gryffe Valley Rotary Club and Gryffe High School in Houston.
Villages in Strathgryffe
There are several villages located in Strathgryffe. They are different sizes. These villages are either right next to the River Gryffe or very close to it:
- Kilmacolm
- Quarrier's Village (which is part of Kilmacolm)
- Bridge of Weir
- Houston (this includes a small area called Craigends)
- Crosslee (which is part of Houston and Killellan)
Geography of the Valley
The landscape of Strathgryffe is quite varied. Around the river, you will see many green fields. In the higher areas, the land changes to rough moorland. A large part of this moorland is within the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.
Images for kids
-
The River Gryffe in Renfrewshire
