Elderslie

   ELDERSLIE, lately an ecclesiastical district, in the Abbey parish of the town of Paisley, Upper ward of the county of Renfrew, 2½ miles (W. by S.) from Paisley; containing 1086 inhabitants. The village, which is on the road from Paisley to Beith, is distinguished as the birthplace of the celebrated Sir William Wallace, who was born in an ancient house near its western extremity. In the garden of the house, close to the foundation of the wall, a stone was dug up, bearing the inscription W. W. W., with the legend "Christ is only my Redeemer," and which is preserved in the cabinet of Alexander Speirs, Esq., of Elderslie; and on the opposite side of the road is an old tree called Wallace's tree, in which that hero concealed himself when pursued by his enemies. The village is pleasantly situated, and is abundantly supplied with water from numerous fine springs, of which one, discovered while boring for coal, is called the Bore. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in weaving, and also in the spinning of cotton, for which two extensive mills have been erected, affording employment to about 400 persons. The Glasgow, Paisley, and Johnstone canal, and the Glasgow, Paisley, and Ayr railway, which pass in the vicinity, afford ample facilities of communication. The ecclesiastical district included also the villages of Quarrelton and Thorn, and was about three miles in length, and one mile in average breadth: the church is a neat structure in the later English style of architecture, erected by subscription, and containing about 800 sittings.