Bridge of Weir

Bridge of Weir
Part of Bridge of Weir's Main Street
Bridge of Weir Location within Renfrewshire
Population	4,920 (mid-2020 est.)[1]
OS grid reference	NS387655
Council area	Renfrewshire
Lieutenancy area	Renfrewshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRIDGE OF WEIR
Postcode district	PA11
Dialling code	01505
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Scottish Parliament	Renfrewshire North and West
List of places UK Scotland 55°51′23″N 4°34′40″W / 55.856511°N 4.577666°W / 55.856511; -4.577666

Bridge of Weir is a village within the

The name of Bridge of Weir (Scots: Brig o Weir) is first recorded in the early 18th century before a significant settlement was constructed in the area.^[2] The 'weir' is a reference to a salmon weir which used to be located on the Gryffe. An older name provided for the village is "Port o'Weir", implying a river crossing; this name remained in some use even after the current name had been adopted.^[3]

Early history

Bridge of Weir was historically a rural area divided between the parishes of neighbouring

The earliest economy of the village was centred on the Renfrewshire cotton industry. From the late 18th century, the River Gryffe was exploited to power cotton mills. The bridge at Bridge of Weir was constructed at Burngill around 1770 and was considerably upgraded and widened in 1892 to allow for two-way traffic. It was finally demolished in 1964, with a more modern structure created. The bridge owes its construction to being on the route between the significant towns of Greenock and Paisley, with a Great Road constructed between the two in 1794.

Leather also emerged as a local product, with the village supporting three tanneries. The leather industry survives to this day, now on a single site, in the form of a highly successful, modern facility with five Queen's Awards for International Business.

Later expansion

The

From the 18th century, the waulking mill was used in the production of leather with the Burngill Mill having been recorded in 1770. It was purchased by Andrew Muirhead in 1870 whose family had been in the leather industry in Glasgow for several generations. In 1905, Arthur Muirhead set up a further leather mill at the Laigh Mill (renamed the Clydesdale Works) and founded the Bridge of Weir Leather Company. Despite having several premises in the past, since the beginning of the 21st century, the company's business has been consolidated at the Locher and Baltic Works.^[6]

The leather works continue to serve as a large employer in the area and trade their goods across the world. Some notable customers include:

• In 1989, the benches of the
  British Parliament's House of Commons and House of Lords chambers in Westminster were reupholstered using Bridge of Weir leather.^[7]
• Bridge of Weir leather has upholstered many famous ocean liners, including Cunard's Queens Mary, Elizabeth, Elizabeth 2 and Victoria. Azimut Yachts and Sunseeker are also customers of Bridge of Weir Tannery.
• The Old Bailey
  , and many other notable public buildings around the world feature their leather.
• Several major airlines, including British Airways (including the Concorde), Virgin, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas
• Automobile customers of Bridge of Weir leather include
  Model T
  (that were UK built) were upholstered with Bridge of Weir leather.

Governance

Bridge of Weir is part of the

Bridge of Weir also has one of Renfrewshire's twenty-seven community councils representing the village.^[10]

Culture and community

Recreation

Bisected by the

The village is also known for its golf history. At one point there were five golf courses in the vicinity; today there are two remaining: the Old Course Ranfurly and the Ranfurly Castle golf clubs. There was a thriving ice hockey team from around 1895 and in 1935 were Scottish National League Champions.

Notable people

• Leslie Green, jurisprudential theorist, was born here.
• William Quarrier Kennedy, geologist, was born here in 1903
• John Lyle, educated here, in 1843 migrated to Wisconsin, where he became a farmer and politician, serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly
  and as "Chairman" (analogous to mayor) of his township
• Sheila Reid, actress, was born in the town in 1937, but spent much of her youth in England.
• Patrick Gallacher, was born in the town in 1909. With Sunderland AFC, he won the English First Division League Championship in 1936 and the FA Cup in 1937. He made one appearance for Scotland in 1934.

See also

• Ranfurly

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bridge of Weir.

• Bridge of Weir Community Council Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine