Home Report Houston

Houston is an attractive village in Renfrewshire with a countryside feeling yet isn’t too far away from larger settlements like Paisley or even Glasgow city centre. It lies within the scenic Gryffe Valley on the banks of the River Gryff, just a couple of miles east of Bridge of Weir, and roughly 6 miles west of Paisley. Glasgow city centre is just over 16 miles away. The settlement of Houston and surrounding lands have a long history going back further than the 12th century. Houston as we know it today was a planned settlement that took shape between the 17th and 19th century when weaving and cotton spinning was the primary industry powered by the River Gryffe.

Today though, the town is a desirable dormitory settlement for people mostly working in Paisley, and Glasgow. Though there is still a local agricultural sector. For commuters a car is essential as the main transport links are by road only which are thankfully well developed. With no delays residents can reach the A737 trunk road and M8 motorway in about 10 – 15 minutes. There are some local bus services, but for a wider range of services residents would have to drive to Johnstone or Paisley. The nearest train station for instance is Johnston train station approximately 3.5 miles to the south though it does have a large car park and regular services.

In terms of amenities and things to do, Houston has a fair amount going for it. There are several popular local pubs including The Houston Inn, The Cross Keys and The Fox and Hounds. There are also the usual array of takeaways and other local services like newsagents and similar. Additionally, the village’s Mercat Cross dates back to the 14th century and does attract a fair number of visitors to see the old cross and local architecture. Houston’s location in rural Renfrewshire makes it a great place for visitors and residents alike who love getting out into nature whether just walking, out with the dog, or more active pursuits like fishing, camping and cycling. The village also has a lawn bowls club, as well as a tennis, squash and fitness club.

There’s a sense of community in Houston and this is reflected in the community organisations and events that take place in the village. Houston Public Park for instance is the venue for the village’s annual agricultural show, taking place in the summer and organised by the Houston and Killellan Agricultural Society. Another significant local event is the Kirk Carnival, organised by the parish church in the church hall and Carrick Centre on Main Street, which involves a parade and a number of stalls and entertainments and including children from the local primary schools.

There are two primary schools in Houston. Houston Primary School and St Fillan’s Primary School. Gryffe High School and St. Benedict’s High School are the nearby secondary schools. Gryffe High School has a strong academic reputation, and in 2009 was ranked as the seventh best-performing state secondary school in Scotland by The Times newspaper’s league tables. Also in 2009, the school was praised in a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education.