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Kilbarchan
Home > About Renfrewshire > Our history and heritage > Towns and Villages > Kilbarchan
Kilbarchan location map
Kilbarchan is located approximately 6 miles west of Paisley.
Church Street, Kilbarchan c1910
Early history
People have lived in the Kilbarchan area from earliest times. Evidence exists of early settlements from the stone and bronze ages, and traces of a Roman fort have also been found.
The Clochoderick Stone
The huge and ancient Clochoderick Stone which sits in a field south west of Kilbarchan is even older, and is believed by some to have been used in religious ceremonies by Druids, while others believe it may have been the burial place of an early king of Strathclyde.
Kilbarchan village grew up round the church of St Catherine. The church was rebuilt in 1725, and the Steeple Building was built in 1755. The small population expanded rapidly in the 18th century with the growth of the weaving industry.
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Weaving industry
Weaving was the dominant industry in Kilbarchan for about 200 years. In 1695 there were thirty or forty weavers, but the industry grew to include hundreds of weavers. They worked on hand-looms in their own homes or in sheds behind their houses producing fine materials such as gauze, muslin and lawn. By the middle of the 19th century there were about 900 hand-looms in Kilbarchan.
Hand-loom weaving in Kilbarchan, c1920
The development of power-looms reduced the production costs of materials previously handwoven. The Kilbarchan weavers looked for alternatives, and turned to the production of tartans. In spite of their efforts, they struggled to compete with the factory based power-looms in nearby towns and by 1900 only 200 looms remained in Kilbarchan. Gradually all hand-loom weaving ceased.
The Weaver's Cottage, Kilbarchan
An original Kilbarchan weaver's cottage from the 18th century has been preserved as a museum. It is furnished in period style, complete with weaving looms. For more information, including opening times, visit the website of The National Trust for Scotland.
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Habbie Simpson
Habbie Simpson was the town piper in Kilbarchan at the end of the 16th century. He was a well-known character and stories about him have been told throughout the years. In 1822 a wooden statue of him was placed in a niche of the Steeple Building in Kilbarchan; this was replaced with a bronze statue in 1932. This statue is a local landmark, and to this day Kilbarchan people are still called "Habbies".
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Habbie Simpson was the town piper in Kilbarchan at the end of the 16th century. He was a well-known character and stories about him have been told throughout the years. In 1822 a wooden statue of him was placed in a niche of the Steeple Building in Kilbarchan; this was replaced with a bronze statue in 1932. This statue is a local landmark, and to this day Kilbarchan people are still called "Habbies".
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Habbie's statue
Lilias Day
Lilias Day is a Kilbarchan festival said to be named after Lilias Cuninghame, daughter of an 18th century laird. In the past, Lilias Day was celebrated with a cattle market and races, and then with a procession of men from different trades banging drums and waving flags. The Lilias Day tradition died out at the end of the 19th century, but has been restored in recent years. Nowadays there is a fancy dress parade which includes a Festival Queen and her maids.
Lilias Day celebrations in the 1970s
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Finding out more
The Local Studies Library holds a collection of materials relating to the history of Kilbarchan, including books, newspapers and maps. You can contact the Local Studies Library by:
- email: locstuds.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- phone: 0141 889 2360
- fax: 0141 887 6468
- write to:
Reference and Local Studies Library
Central Library
68 High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BB
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