Auchinairn is an area within East Dunbartonshire

East Dunbartonshire

This article is about the East Dunbartonshire council area of Scotland. See also East Dunbartonshire .East Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders onto the north-west of the City of Glasgow. It contains many of the suburbs of Glasgow as well as containing many of...

, Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, and shares its southern boundary with the City of Glasgow. The village Auchinairn possibly derives its name from the Gaelic "auch-an-earna" meaning "field of barley" or "auch-an-iarann" meaning “field of iron" (it is believed that iron was once mined there).

There were actually two Auchinairn; Old Auchinairn (The Auld Toon) and New Auchinairn. Old Auchinairn lay to the north side of Auchinairn Road, between what is now Woodhill Road and Letham Drive. It had a school which was built about 1760.

New Auchinairn lay approximately between what is now Montrose Terrace and Springfield Avenue. It had a Primary School which opened in 1876 and is now the Community Centre. The present school stands on what was Auchinairn United football field.

The village was founded by weavers and has housed workers from many different industries around the area, such as mines, railway and quarry.

History

In 1836 Auchinairn Village's population stood at 284 compared with neighbouring Bishopbriggs population which stood at 175, but the opening of the canal brought new industries to the area and as a result of this, housing was required for the workers. For many years Auchinairn was a vibrant community with a Co-operative, a Post Office, several small shops, a public house, a community hall and a mission hall. The Free Church mission which met in that hall was granted full church status in 1865. The members built a church on Springfield Road, Bishopbriggs. It is now part of Springfield Cambridge church. Auchinairn had a Brass Band and a football team. Quoits

Quoits

Quoits is a traditional game which involves the throwing of metal, rope or rubber rings over a set distance, usually to land over or near a spike . The sport of quoits encompasses several distinct variations.-The history of quoits:The history of quoits is disputed...

 was another popular activity. Although in Glasgow, Littlehill Golf course was always considered part of Auchinairn. Harry Varden played there in 1925. Club professional, Tom Wilson, was once overnight leader in the British Open.


There was always a good community spirit in Auchinairn. Although viewed today as part of the town of Bishopbriggs

Bishopbriggs

Bishopbriggs is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The area was once part of the historic parish of Cadder - originally lands granted by King William the Lion to the Bishop of Glasgow, Jocelin, in 1180. It was later part of the county of Lanarkshire and subsequently an independent burgh from...

, Auchinairn still has a strong sense of community and its own identity. It was never considered to be part of Bishopbriggs. Even today no Auchinairn person would refer to Bishopbriggs town centre as “the village.” They would call it “The Briggs.”

Actually, the term “the village” is erroneous. There were five villages; Auchinairn, Bishopbriggs, Cadder, Jellyhill and Mavis Valley. All were separated from one another by farm land. Post Second World War housing development resulted the farm land being built on. In 1964 the district was granted burgh status, and the name ‘Bishopbriggs’ was adopted.

Present day

Auchinairn has several shops, public houses and restaurants, a Primary School and a Bowling Club. A wide range of activities is offered in the Community Centre and in the Community Hall.

Noted Residents

Charles Brown born in Antrim on 23/5/1835, started work when nine years old, had many jobs, was never ill and retired age 91. He was married three times, had 33 children and died on 29/4/1936.

The Agnews lived in a house on the main street in Auchinairn. Agnew's started as as grocers in Hawthorn Street near Ashfield football ground. Mr Agnew was Polish (Grabowski) and used his wife's maiden name. Their son Ricky Agnew started building up the hugely successful off-licence chain 'Agnews Off Licence' when he was only 19. By the time he sold it to Seagrams in 1986, he had 75 shops in Scotland, 18 in England, and a turnover of 30m (sterling pounds).

Famous residents include Average White Band member Onnie McIntyre (born Owen McIntyre, 25 September 1945, Lennoxtown, Scotland - Family moved to Crowhill Road, Auchinairn/Bishopbriggs where he attended Auchinairn Primary) — vocals / rhythm guitar. Mimic and voice over artist Lewis MacLeod

Lewis MacLeod

Euan Lewis MacLeod is a prolific Scottish character actor, who can be heard as the voice of a huge number of television commercials, movie trailers and cartoons in his native UK. He voices characters such as Sebulba from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Postman Pat...

 attended Aucinairn Primary School in the 70's. John Lindsay (footballer) who played for Glasgow Rangers and Everton in the 1940/50's. Joe Kerr who became Scottish lightweight boxing champion on 22/9/1943.