Barrhead: Difference between revisions
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'''Barrhead''' ('''''Ceann a' Bhàirr''''' in [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic] although Gaelic is not spoken by natives of this part of Scotland] or '''''Baurheid''''' by some locals |
'''Barrhead''' ('''''Ceann a' Bhàirr''''' in [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]] although Gaelic is not spoken by natives of this part of Scotland] or '''''Baurheid''''' by some locals) is a small town in [[East Renfrewshire]], [[Scotland]], 8 miles southwest of [[Glasgow]] on the edge of the [[Gleniffer Braes]], population approx. 20,000. |
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== The Town == |
== The Town == |
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Barrhead is also home to the following Bowling Clubs: Barrhead, Arthurlie, Shanks, and St John's, and also the [[Fereneze Golf Club]] and the Arthurlie Tennis Club. Barrhead Boxing Club has produced several contenders at Scottish Amateur level. |
Barrhead is also home to the following Bowling Clubs: Barrhead, Arthurlie, Shanks, and St John's, and also the [[Fereneze Golf Club]] and the Arthurlie Tennis Club. Barrhead Boxing Club has produced several contenders at Scottish Amateur level. |
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There are several public houses in Barrhead. These include: Cross Stobbs; The Kelburn; The Arthurlie Inns; The Fereneze Inn and The Brig Inn. |
There are several public houses in Barrhead. These include: Cross Stobbs; The Kelburn; The Arthurlie Inns; The Dovecote; The Fereneze Inn and The Brig Inn. |
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On 8th March 2006 for the first time in 31 years, a Council meeting was held in Barrhead. |
On 8th March 2006 for the first time in 31 years, a Council meeting was held in Barrhead. |
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East Renfrewshire Credit Union is based in Barrhead. |
East Renfrewshire Credit Union is based in Barrhead. |
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There is some confusion over the pronunciation of the word Barrhead. |
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The correct pronunciation is as it phonetically appears, ie. barr head. Barr in this context was an agricultural term. The original hamlet or village of Barrhead was literally situated at the head of a barr and thus derived its name. |
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This proper pronunciation is used by Barrheadonians of long familial connection. |
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In recent decades, however, the high influx into the town of people who employ slovenly Glaswegian dialects has led to the usage of 'Borrheid'. This latter pronunciation is lamentable and has directly contributed to Barrhead's poor image. However, it can be used as a failsafe means of identifying a ned. |
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== Schools == |
== Schools == |
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Revision as of 17:44, 4 January 2007
- For the Canadian town, see Barrhead, Alberta.
Template:GBthumb Barrhead (Ceann a' Bhàirr in Scottish Gaelic although Gaelic is not spoken by natives of this part of Scotland] or Baurheid by some locals) is a small town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, 8 miles southwest of Glasgow on the edge of the Gleniffer Braes, population approx. 20,000.
The Town
The town was formed when a series of small textile villages (Barrhead, Arthurlie, Grahamston and Gateside) gradually grew into one-another to form one contiguous town. Other industries associated with the town included an iron foundry, tannery and Armitage Shanks, manufacturers of porcelainware, and Gaskell's carpet factory. The decline of these industries caused a fall in local population and employment throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1894 Barrhead became a Burgh, meaning that it had its own town Council. This status was withdrawn in 1975 at the time of the institution of Strathclyde Regional Council and Renfrew District Council. Subsequent reorganisation (to a single tier local authority) places Barrhead in East Renfrewshire. In 2002, part of the administration of East Renfrewshire Council relocated from Eastwood Park to Barrhead Main Street.
However, in recent years, Barrhead has become a popular residential commuter town for nearby Paisley and Glasgow. An active junior football team called Arthurlie still thrives in Barrhead, with a previous club of the same name having played in the town as members of the Scottish Football League.
Barrhead is also home to the following Bowling Clubs: Barrhead, Arthurlie, Shanks, and St John's, and also the Fereneze Golf Club and the Arthurlie Tennis Club. Barrhead Boxing Club has produced several contenders at Scottish Amateur level.
There are several public houses in Barrhead. These include: Cross Stobbs; The Kelburn; The Arthurlie Inns; The Dovecote; The Fereneze Inn and The Brig Inn.
On 8th March 2006 for the first time in 31 years, a Council meeting was held in Barrhead.
East Renfrewshire Credit Union is based in Barrhead.
Schools
The town has two secondary schools: St Luke's and Barrhead High, and six primary schools: Auchenback, Carlibar, Cross Arthurlie, Springhill, St. John's and St. Mark's.
People
Natives of Barrhead are known as Barrheadonians.
Famous Barrheadonians include author Christopher Brookmyre, actors Douglas Henshall and Gregor Fisher, Alex McLeish, former manager of Rangers, former Celtic F.C. captain and European Cup winner Paul Lambert, former Scotland football manager and current Technical Director of UEFA Andy Roxburgh (peviously Headmaster of Carlibar Primary, -1975), folk star Dougie Pincock of The Battlefield Band, who is now Director of the Scottish National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music, and Christine McGourty BBC Science correspondent (Henshall and McGourty were exact contemporaries at Barrhead High School).
Going back a little further, Barrhead also produced Gordon Murray, Scottish Amateur Golf Champion in the 1970s and member of the British Walker Cup team, and Gilbert Nichol, a 1950s Olympic speedskater.
An adoptive Barrheadonian is dancer Darrien Wright (born Darlington) winner of the 2006 BBC Strictly Dance Fever competition (with Hollie Robertson). The family of pop singer Paolo Nutini had a newsagents shop in Barrhead for many years on the corner of Victoria Road and Paisley Road.
James Maxton the Scottish socialist politician, and leader of the Independent Labour Party lived in Barrhead from the age of 5, where his father was headmaster of Grahamston School. In the 1960s, Maxton's second wife Madeline gifted a plot of land to the people of Barrhead on which the local council built a memorial garden as a tribute to Maxton.
Churches
At the bottom end of Cowan Park lies St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church (usually referred to as "St. John's") which serves approximately 5300 Catholics (average weekly attendance 1800) in Barrhead. The Church of Scotland has the following parish churches: Bourock, Arthurlie and South & Levern. There is also a Methodist Church and several small evangelical churches.