Erskine
Encyclopedia
Erskine is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire
, and historic county
of the same name
, in the west central Lowlands
of Scotland
.
It lies on the southern bank of the River Clyde
, providing the lowest crossing to the north bank of the river at Erskine Bridge
connecting the town to Old Kilpatrick
in West Dunbartonshire
. Erskine is a commuter town
at the western extent of the Greater Glasgow
conurbation, bordering Bishopton
to the north and Renfrew, Inchinnan
, Glasgow International Airport
and Paisley
to the south.
Originally a small village settlement, the town has expanded since the 1970s as a new town
, boosting the population to over 15,000.
.
In the late 18th century, the town of Erskine was a hamlet
. During this time, stone quays were constructed to support a ferry service to Old Kilpatrick
and Dumbartonshire. This replaced the river ford
which had been in place since Medieval times. In light of increased industry and infrastructure in the surrounding area, it gradually became a village in the following century. The small church community grew to having 3,000 residents in 1961, when Renfrewshire County Council
unveiled its "New Community" plan for the town's development which involved the Scottish Special Housing Association.
The development began in 1971 with the building of both privately-owned and rented accommodation which boosted the town's population by around 10,000. Having established itself as a thriving commuter town
, the 1990s saw the building of larger and more expensive housing, aimed at more affluent property buyers. Due to apprehension about further expansion of the town, several proposals for further large housing developments have been rejected. This is largely because the town has only one secondary school.
Private housing is mostly found in the West part of the town Garnieland, Flures Drive, Hawthorn, Parkvale, Parkinch, St. Annes, West Freelands. Many house builders that have been attracted to the area include Miller, Avonside, Beazer, Cala, Kier and Tay Homes. Due to the fact there is only one high school in the proximity, there has been no further housing development in the late 2000s
The town borders a number of nearby settlements, some separated by a rural hinterland.
restaurant, a pub with a dining area, a Chinese takeaway, an optician, a chemist, a doctor's surgery, hardware store, bookmakers, salon, an estate agency, a dry-cleaner and key cutting service, a swimming pool, funeral parlour, bank and a public library. There is also a smaller retail area in the Bargarran and Mains Hill areas, where there are a few shops and restaurants as well as a community centre.
On the riverside, there are several recently built office blocks. Erskine has one hotel on the banks of the Clyde, the Erskine Bridge
(formerly Crest) hotel. There is also a private golf club, Erskine Golf Club, located on the borders between Bishopton.
In addition to a number of local playing fields, the area has two recently constructed sporting facilities: the Erskine Community Sports Centre and the astroturf
at Park Mains High School. The community centre hosts the local karate club, a group for new mothers and various dance clubs and youth projects.
towering high over the western limit of the town, the Erskine Bridge
. The bridge is the furthest west crossing point on the river and it soon expands to become the Firth of Clyde
estuary.
The town is home to the Erskine Hospital, a facility providing long-term care for veterans of the British Armed Forces
. The hospital opened in 1916 and, in 2000, moved to two new purpose built sites within the town.
Erskine also boasts the unique natural habitat of Newshot Island Nature Reserve, a salt marsh
which juts out into the River Clyde. Contrary to its name, it is now a peninsula
,created from silt left over from the widening and deepening of the river in the 1930s, connected the island to Erskine. The nature reserve acts as a feeding and resting point for a wide array of migratory birds traveling to and from regions such as North America
, Siberia
and West Africa
.
, which is located 4 km south of the town.
Old Greenock Road connects Erskine to the M8 motorway, the M898 and the A898 (Erskine Bridge), and to Bishopton. The last tip at the northern side of the A726 also connects to the Erskine bridge, cuts through the centre of Erskine itself and is also the primary road for traveling into the Paisley Area. Erskine is serviced by the Arriva Scotland West bus company and also McGills bus company. Buses operate to Glasgow, Paisley, Renfrew, Inchinnan, Clydebank, Glasgow Airport.
There is no railway station in Erskine, but a bus service operates Mon-Sat every hour to its nearest station, Bishopton
, from where trains operate to Glasgow Central and to Gourock
.
, Park Mains High School
, is the largest school in Renfrewshire and one of the biggest in Scotland
with over 1,400 students. It is a non-denominational state school. A new Park Mains High School complex is now being built and is currently in construction and will finish in 2011. For Roman Catholic denomination state education, the town falls within the catchment area
of Trinity High School in nearby Renfrew
.
Erskine has five primary schools. All are state schools, with Rashielea, Bargarran and Barsail providing non-denominational education and St John Bosco and St Anne's providing Roman Catholic denomination education.
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...
, and historic county
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of the same name
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,...
, 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...
.
It lies on the southern bank of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, providing the lowest crossing to the north bank of the river at Erskine Bridge
Erskine Bridge
The Erskine Bridge is a cable-stayed box girder bridge spanning the River Clyde in west central Scotland, connecting West Dunbartonshire with Renfrewshire....
connecting the town to Old Kilpatrick
Old Kilpatrick
Old Kilpatrick is a village in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.The village is on the north bank of the River Clyde immediately to the north of the Forth and Clyde Canal, three miles from Clydebank on the road to Dumbarton. The Great Western Road runs through Old Kilpatrick, and the next village to...
in West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. Bordering onto the west of the City of Glasgow, containing many of Glasgow's commuter towns and villages as well as the city's suburbs, West Dunbartonshire also borders onto Argyll and Bute, Stirling, East...
. Erskine is a commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
at the western extent of the Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow is an urban settlement in Scotland consisting of all localities which are physically attached to the city of Glasgow, forming with it a single contiguous urban area...
conurbation, bordering Bishopton
Bishopton, Renfrewshire
Bishopton is a large village in Renfrewshire, Scotland, a few miles west of Erskine.-Transport links:Bishopton sits a couple of miles from the southern end of the Erskine Bridge, which spans the River Clyde between Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. Part way along the B815 road is a computer...
to the north and Renfrew, Inchinnan
Inchinnan
Inchinnan is a small village in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The village is located on the main A8 road between Renfrew and Greenock, just southeast of the town of Erskine.-History:...
, Glasgow International Airport
Glasgow International Airport
Glasgow International Airport is an international airport in Scotland, located west of Glasgow city centre, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew in Renfrewshire...
and 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...
to the south.
Originally a small village settlement, the town has expanded since the 1970s as a new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
, boosting the population to over 15,000.
History
Archeological evidence states that agricultural activity took place within the area as far back as 3000 BC and that it has been inhabited by humans since 1000 BC. The name "Erskine" derives from the Scottish Gaelic phrase "Ard Sescenn", meaning "High Marsh". The area was first identified as "Erskin" in 1225. The land around the town was first part of the estate of Henry de Erskine in the 13th century. Sir John Hamilton of Orbiston held the estate in the 17th century until 1703 when it was acquired by the Lords BlantyreLord Blantyre
The title of Lord Blantyre was a title in the Peerage of Scotland; it was created in 1606 and became extinct in 1900.-Lords Blantyre :*Walter Stewart, 1st Lord Blantyre *William Stewart, 2nd Lord Blantyre...
.
In the late 18th century, the town of Erskine was a hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
. During this time, stone quays were constructed to support a ferry service to Old Kilpatrick
Old Kilpatrick
Old Kilpatrick is a village in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.The village is on the north bank of the River Clyde immediately to the north of the Forth and Clyde Canal, three miles from Clydebank on the road to Dumbarton. The Great Western Road runs through Old Kilpatrick, and the next village to...
and Dumbartonshire. This replaced the river ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
which had been in place since Medieval times. In light of increased industry and infrastructure in the surrounding area, it gradually became a village in the following century. The small church community grew to having 3,000 residents in 1961, when Renfrewshire County Council
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,...
unveiled its "New Community" plan for the town's development which involved the Scottish Special Housing Association.
The development began in 1971 with the building of both privately-owned and rented accommodation which boosted the town's population by around 10,000. Having established itself as a thriving commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
, the 1990s saw the building of larger and more expensive housing, aimed at more affluent property buyers. Due to apprehension about further expansion of the town, several proposals for further large housing developments have been rejected. This is largely because the town has only one secondary school.
Geography
The town expanded in the 1970s with the construction of council housing stock. Since that decade, considerable private development has continued. As more private houses were built in the 1980s, Erskine started to become an attractive place to live due to location factors and accessibility to main road and motorways. Due to this there was a major boom in property development in the 80s and 90s. Most ex-council houses are found in the Bargarran, North Barr, Mains Drive and Park Mains areas of the town.Private housing is mostly found in the West part of the town Garnieland, Flures Drive, Hawthorn, Parkvale, Parkinch, St. Annes, West Freelands. Many house builders that have been attracted to the area include Miller, Avonside, Beazer, Cala, Kier and Tay Homes. Due to the fact there is only one high school in the proximity, there has been no further housing development in the late 2000s
| Decade | Area | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | Bargarran, North Barr, Park Mains | Council | Semple Avenue, Rashieburn, Mains Hill |
| 1980s | Linburn, Millfield, West Freelands | Private | Ryat Linn, Millfield Hill, Turnhill Drive |
| 1990s | Park Mains, Garnieland, | Private | Parkinch, Garnie Avenue, Mainscroft |
| 2000s | Park Mains, East Freelands, Barhill Road | Private | St. Annes Wynd, Umachan, Barwood Drive |
| 2010s | Southbar | Private | Southbar Estate |
The town borders a number of nearby settlements, some separated by a rural hinterland.
Economy
The town's Bridgewater complex provides a range of tertiary sector business, chiefly retail and leisure facilities. This includes two supermarkets, a newsagent, a bakery, a butcher, a chip shop, a SubwaySubway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
restaurant, a pub with a dining area, a Chinese takeaway, an optician, a chemist, a doctor's surgery, hardware store, bookmakers, salon, an estate agency, a dry-cleaner and key cutting service, a swimming pool, funeral parlour, bank and a public library. There is also a smaller retail area in the Bargarran and Mains Hill areas, where there are a few shops and restaurants as well as a community centre.
On the riverside, there are several recently built office blocks. Erskine has one hotel on the banks of the Clyde, the Erskine Bridge
Erskine Bridge
The Erskine Bridge is a cable-stayed box girder bridge spanning the River Clyde in west central Scotland, connecting West Dunbartonshire with Renfrewshire....
(formerly Crest) hotel. There is also a private golf club, Erskine Golf Club, located on the borders between Bishopton.
In addition to a number of local playing fields, the area has two recently constructed sporting facilities: the Erskine Community Sports Centre and the astroturf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
at Park Mains High School. The community centre hosts the local karate club, a group for new mothers and various dance clubs and youth projects.
Landmarks
Erskine is generally associated with the suspension bridgeSuspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
towering high over the western limit of the town, the Erskine Bridge
Erskine Bridge
The Erskine Bridge is a cable-stayed box girder bridge spanning the River Clyde in west central Scotland, connecting West Dunbartonshire with Renfrewshire....
. The bridge is the furthest west crossing point on the river and it soon expands to become the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
estuary.
The town is home to the Erskine Hospital, a facility providing long-term care for veterans of the British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
. The hospital opened in 1916 and, in 2000, moved to two new purpose built sites within the town.
Erskine also boasts the unique natural habitat of Newshot Island Nature Reserve, a salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
which juts out into the River Clyde. Contrary to its name, it is now a peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
,created from silt left over from the widening and deepening of the river in the 1930s, connected the island to Erskine. The nature reserve acts as a feeding and resting point for a wide array of migratory birds traveling to and from regions such as North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
and West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
.
Transport
Erskine is served by Glasgow International AirportGlasgow International Airport
Glasgow International Airport is an international airport in Scotland, located west of Glasgow city centre, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew in Renfrewshire...
, which is located 4 km south of the town.
Old Greenock Road connects Erskine to the M8 motorway, the M898 and the A898 (Erskine Bridge), and to Bishopton. The last tip at the northern side of the A726 also connects to the Erskine bridge, cuts through the centre of Erskine itself and is also the primary road for traveling into the Paisley Area. Erskine is serviced by the Arriva Scotland West bus company and also McGills bus company. Buses operate to Glasgow, Paisley, Renfrew, Inchinnan, Clydebank, Glasgow Airport.
There is no railway station in Erskine, but a bus service operates Mon-Sat every hour to its nearest station, Bishopton
Bishopton
-United States:* Bishopton , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, from where trains operate to Glasgow Central and to Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
.
Education
The town's secondary schoolSecondary 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...
, Park Mains High School
Park Mains High School
Park Mains High School is Renfrewshire's largest secondary school situated in the Park Mains area of Erskine, taking in students from the town as well as Bishopton, Inchinnan and Langbank....
, is the largest school in Renfrewshire and one of the biggest in 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...
with over 1,400 students. It is a non-denominational state school. A new Park Mains High School complex is now being built and is currently in construction and will finish in 2011. For Roman Catholic denomination state education, the town falls within the catchment area
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of Trinity High School in nearby Renfrew
Renfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
.
Erskine has five primary schools. All are state schools, with Rashielea, Bargarran and Barsail providing non-denominational education and St John Bosco and St Anne's providing Roman Catholic denomination education.
Notable residents
- John MacKayJohn MacKay (journalist)John MacKay is a Scottish broadcast journalist, television presenter and producer, who is currently the chief anchor for the West Central Scotland edition of STV News at Six and a presenter for current affairs programme Scotland Tonight....
, Journalist - 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...
, Deacon BlueDeacon BlueDeacon Blue are a Scottish pop band formed in Glasgow during 1985. Their name was taken from the title of the Steely Dan song "Deacon Blues". The band consists of vocalist Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, keyboard player James Prime and drummer Dougie Vipond....
drummer and broadcaster - Jimmy ReidJimmy ReidJames "Jimmy" Reid was a Scottish trade union activist, orator, politician, and journalist born in Govan, Glasgow. His role as spokesman and one of the leaders in the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Work-in between June 1971 and October 1972 attracted international recognition...
, journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and trade unionTrade unionA trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
activist - John McArthurJohn McArthurJohn McArthur was a Union general during the American Civil War. McArthur became one of the ablest Federal commanders in the Western Theater.-Early life:...
, UnionUnion (American Civil War)During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
general during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... - John SmeatonJohn Smeaton (baggage handler)John Smeaton QGM is a Scottish former baggage handler at Glasgow International Airport. He became involved in thwarting the 2007 Glasgow International Airport Attack. Smeaton lives in Erskine, Renfrewshire, a town outside the city and near the airport. Brought up in Erskine, he was educated at...
, apprehender of terrorists during the Glasgow Airport Attacks2007 Glasgow International Airport attackThe 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack was a terrorist attack which occurred on Saturday 30 June 2007, at 15:11 BST, when a dark green Jeep Cherokee loaded with propane canisters was driven into the glass doors of the Glasgow International Airport terminal and set ablaze... - Eileen Catterson, former Miss ScotlandMiss ScotlandThe Miss Scotland competition is an annual beauty pageant targeted at women aged 18–24 living in Scotland. Entrants must hold a British passport to enter...
- Marcus CampbellMarcus CampbellMarcus Campbell is a Scottish professional snooker player. He lives in Erskine. He has been ranked within the worlds top 64 for 9 consecutive seasons and is currently ranked at 24.-Career:...
, snooker player - Stevie JacksonStevie JacksonStevie Jackson is a Scottish musician and songwriter. He plays lead guitar and sings in the Glasgow based indie band Belle & Sebastian. Jackson's guitar playing is distinctively retrogressive and melodic, with a heavy use of reverb and minimal effects...
, Belle & SebastianBelle & SebastianBelle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...
Erskine born guitarist
External links
- National Library of Scotland: SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE (selection of archive films about Erskine)