Elderslie
Encyclopedia
Elderslie is a village in the council area and historic county
of Renfrewshire
in the west central Lowlands
of Scotland
. The village is situated midway between the nearby towns of Paisley
and Johnstone
.
Settled in prehistoric times, Elderslie is best known as the traditionally accepted birthplace of Sir William Wallace
, a knight born around 1270 who served as a military leader in the Wars of Scottish Independence
before being captured and executed.
The village was once the home to the world famous Stoddard Carpets which famously made the carpets for the Cunard
liners RMS Queen Mary
, RMS Queen Elizabeth
and RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
which were built by John Brown & Company
in their shipyard in Clydebank
. The firm also produced carpets for Queen Elizabeth II's wedding in Westminster Abbey, the ill-fated ocean liner RMS Titanic and for the Concorde
aircraft. A remaining example of the fine work which was carried out here can still be seen in the circular carpet which covers the floor of the drawing room in Culzean Castle
designed by Robert Adam
.
Today, Elderslie chiefly serves as a dormitory village for nearby urban settlements, most notably Paisley and the city of Glasgow
.
It is widely accepted that William Wallace
was born and grew up in Elderslie. On the site of the ancient Elderslie Castle where there are now information boards, there now stands a monument to commemorate his life. As late as the 1970s remains of the buildings on this site still stood with roofs intact although it is very doubtful how much of that existed in the time of Wallace. Auchenbathie Tower
a few miles to the south is a site associated with William Wallace in an action against the English.
for Castlehead High School, a secondary school
in Paisley. Wallace Primary and Castlehead High work very closely together to ensure the transfer from primary to secondary school is as seamless as possible.
Nearby Roman Catholic state schools include St. Anthony's Primary School in Johnstone and St. Benedict's High School in Linwood.
es of the established Church of Scotland
, Elderslie West and Elderslie East, which amalgamated around 1977. Worshippers now meet in the former West church, renamed Elderslie Kirk.
There is a golf club called Elderslie Golf Club and a bowling club.
Football pitches are located at Old Road and Glenpatrick Road although it appears only the grass pitch is open to local use, the "blaes" pitch out of use now the Stoddard factory has gone, and been replaced by a new grass pitch.
Renfrewshire (historic)
Renfrewshire or the County of Renfrew is a registration county, the Lieutenancy area of the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, and one of the counties of Scotland used for local government until 1975. Renfrewshire is located in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland, south of the River Clyde,...
of Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
in the west central Lowlands
Central Lowlands
The Central Lowlands or Midland Valley is a geologically defined area of relatively low-lying land in southern Scotland. It consists of a rift valley between the Highland Boundary Fault to the north and the Southern Uplands Fault to the south...
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...
. The village is situated midway between the nearby towns of Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
and Johnstone
Johnstone
Johnstone is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire and larger historic county of the same name in the west central Lowlands of Scotland.The town lies three miles west of neighbouring Paisley and twelve miles west of the centre of the city of Glasgow...
.
Settled in prehistoric times, Elderslie is best known as the traditionally accepted birthplace of Sir William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
, a knight born around 1270 who served as a military leader in the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
before being captured and executed.
The village was once the home to the world famous Stoddard Carpets which famously made the carpets for the Cunard
Cunard
Cunard may refer to:* Grace Cunard , American silent film actress* Nancy Cunard , English writer, editor, and publisher* Samuel Cunard , British shipping magnate-Other:...
liners RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
, RMS Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth was an ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line. Plying with her running mate Queen Mary as a luxury liner between Southampton, UK and New York City, USA via Cherbourg, France, she was also contracted for over twenty years to carry the Royal Mail as the second half of the two...
and RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
which were built by John Brown & Company
John Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
in their shipyard in Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
. The firm also produced carpets for Queen Elizabeth II's wedding in Westminster Abbey, the ill-fated ocean liner RMS Titanic and for the Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
aircraft. A remaining example of the fine work which was carried out here can still be seen in the circular carpet which covers the floor of the drawing room in Culzean Castle
Culzean Castle
Culzean Castle is a castle near Maybole, Carrick, on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. It is the former home of the Marquess of Ailsa but is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland...
designed by Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
.
Today, Elderslie chiefly serves as a dormitory village for nearby urban settlements, most notably Paisley and the city of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
History
The area has been settled since prehistoric times as evidenced by the cup and ring marks to be found to the south of the village above the bend on the road to the Peesweep. The stream running through the village is officially the Old Patrick Water but colloquially known as the Brandy Burn. 'The village's name translates into the Scottish Gaelic language as Ach na Feàrna.It is widely accepted that William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
was born and grew up in Elderslie. On the site of the ancient Elderslie Castle where there are now information boards, there now stands a monument to commemorate his life. As late as the 1970s remains of the buildings on this site still stood with roofs intact although it is very doubtful how much of that existed in the time of Wallace. Auchenbathie Tower
Auchenbathie Tower
Auchenbathie, Auchinbathie Tower or rarely Barcraigs Tower is a ruined fortification, a tower house, once held by the Wallace Clan of Elderslie, situated in Renfrewshire, Parish of Lochwinnoch, Scotland. The spelling used varies greatly and 'Auchenbathie' will be used here as the standard spelling...
a few miles to the south is a site associated with William Wallace in an action against the English.
Education
There is one non-denominational state primary school in Elderslie: Wallace Primary School, which is a feeder schoolFeeder school
Feeder school is a name applied to schools, colleges, universities, or other educational institutions that provide a significant number of graduates who intend to continue their studies at specific schools, or even in specific fields....
for Castlehead High School, a secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Paisley. Wallace Primary and Castlehead High work very closely together to ensure the transfer from primary to secondary school is as seamless as possible.
Nearby Roman Catholic state schools include St. Anthony's Primary School in Johnstone and St. Benedict's High School in Linwood.
Religion
Elderslie was once divided between two parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es of the established Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, Elderslie West and Elderslie East, which amalgamated around 1977. Worshippers now meet in the former West church, renamed Elderslie Kirk.
Recreation
The village has a swimming pool located at Stoddart Square; the area was formerly a park.There is a golf club called Elderslie Golf Club and a bowling club.
Football pitches are located at Old Road and Glenpatrick Road although it appears only the grass pitch is open to local use, the "blaes" pitch out of use now the Stoddard factory has gone, and been replaced by a new grass pitch.
Notable people
- George Campbell HayGeorge Campbell HayGeorge Campbell Hay was a Scottish poet and translator, who wrote in Scottish Gaelic, Lowland Scots and English. He used the patronymic Deòrsa Mac Iain Dheòrsa. He also wrote poetry in French, Italian and Norwegian, and translated poetry from many languages into Gaelic.-Life:He was born in...
(1915-1984)- Writer - William WallaceWilliam WallaceSir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
(died 1305) - Dougie VipondDougie VipondDougie Vipond is a Scottish musician and television personality. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 1985. He was one of the founding members of Scottish soft rock / pop band, Deacon Blue.Dougie Vipond is one of the busiest and most versatile broadcasters in...
(1966-present) - Richard MaddenRichard MaddenRichard Madden is a Scottish stage, film, and television actor, known for his work in theatre and for his roles in both film and television.- Background :...
(1986-present)- Actor