Portal to the Past

Although parish and local authority boundaries have changed over time, the areas making up East Renfrewshire since April 1996 are: Barrhead, Busby, Clarkston, Eaglesham, Giffnock, Mearns, Neilston, Netherlee, Thornliebank and Uplawmoor.

Before that the history of these areas goes back many centuries, some of our earliest evidence of settlements are ancient hillforts at Dunwan and Duncarnock, a pre-Roman settlement at Overlee in Clarkston and an iron-age fort at Busby Glen. The fascinating history of the area includes: the patron saint, Conval; the strong links between the Stewart kings; the civil war of the Covenant; and the hectic, industrial era which centred on the Cart and Levern rivers and led to the growth of villages like Busby and Neilston.

The range of resources in our heritage collection can lead anyone interested in local history, from beginner to experienced researcher, to a wealth of information about the area.