Barrhead

   BARRHEAD, lately a quoad sacra parish, including the villages of Cross-Arthurlee, Grahamstown, Newton Ralston, and Barrhead, in the parish of Neilston, Upperward of the county of Renfrew, 4 miles (S. by E.) from Paisley; the whole containing 5337 inhabitants. This place is situated on the stream of the Levern, on which are a number of fine waterfalls that have contributed much to the manufactures of the district, consisting of cotton spinning and weaving, and printing, bleaching, and dyeing, all extensively carried on, principally for the Glasgow and Paisley markets. Coal is abundant, and three mines are at present in operation. A fair is held, chiefly for pleasure, on the last Friday in June, when a horse-race also takes place. The village, situated on the road from Glasgow to Irvine, is of considerable size, and, for the most part, inhabited by persons engaged in the various works; it has a postoffice, with a daily delivery. The parish is in the presbytery of Paisley and synod of Glasgow and Ayr: the church, a neat structure, was built by subscription, in 1839; the minister is elected by the male communicants. There is a good school, of which the teacher has a room rent-free, and affords instruction to a considerable number of the children of the place; also a mechanics' subscription library.