Home Report Renfrew

About six miles to the West of Glasgow lies Renfrew, a town of roughly 22,000 residents in the Renfrewshire council area. Renfrew has had some form of habitation since the Iron Age, but recorded history began around the 12th century, when lands in the area were granted to Walter Fitz Alan, the High Steward of Scotland.

Before the 19th century, the traditional industries of Renfrewshire were noted for their variety and diversity. Weaving and associated trades were common in the county and nearby Paisley became particularly notable for with “The Paisley Pattern” emerging. However, it was the onset of The Industrial Revolution that saw Renfrew as we know it today take shape, with the emergence of large-scale mills in the area. In the 1930s, around 28,000 people were employed in the Coats mills in the town. Shipbuilding was also a major aspect of the economy until the eventual decline of the industry in the 1950s and early 60s.

Today, that industry is all but gone, yet fantastic remnants and buildings remain, listed, or repurposed for modern services. Due to its location Renfrew primarily serves as a commuter town for residents working in nearby Paisley and Glasgow. However, Hillington Park Industrial Estate, the largest in Scotland, can be found in the town and is a significant employer of local residents, with over 500 businesses employing approximately 8000 people. Renfrew is also home to the engineering company Doosan Babcock (formerly Babcock & Wilcox), King George V Dock and the Braehead retail development.

Transport links for the town are well developed, the M8 motorway intersects Renfrew and two junctions at Arkleston and Braehead provide access to the town, with the neighbouring town of Paisley largely lying on the opposite side. The Renfrew Ferry connects to Yoker on the north bank of the Clyde, with the crossing taking a few minutes to make. The town has no dedicated railway station, but Paisley, Hillington West and East stations are short journeys away. There are however many regular bus services to Glasgow, Paisley, Glasgow Airport, and further afield. The town benefits from close proximity to Glasgow airport which is just a 10-minute drive away.

In terms of amenities, Renfrew has a lot to choose from. Soar Intu and Braehead Shopping Centre contain allow for several types of activities from indoor snow sports to shopping and dining. Other attractions in Renfrew include an indoor go-karting circuit, Renfrew Golf Club, and Robertson Park which offers various amenities and activities including a duck pond, floral gardens, BMX course, skate park, tennis courts, bowling green, sensory garden, cycle tracks, swing parks and a small animal enclosure. The stunning A-listed mid-Victorian Renfrew Town Hall building often referred to as the ‘Disney Castle’ for its distinctive tower, should be your starting point, housing a VisitScotland 4-star-awarded community museum which tells the story of Renfrew’s rich heritage. The Grade ‘B’ listed Victory Baths (Renfrew Victory Baths) are a particularly fine example of an Edwardian 25-yard swimming pool and the King George V Playing Field has six full-sized pitches for playing football, rugby and cricket.

In terms of schools, the town is served by five primary schools, Arkleston Primary school, Newmains Primary, Kirklandneuk, St James Primary, and Inchinnan Primary, and two secondary schools, Renfrew High School, and Trinity High School.