This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Lochwinnoch Library


New Opening Hours •Mon: 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm • Tues: 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm • Wed: 2pm - 5pm and 6pm - 8pm • Thur: Closed


• Fri: 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm • Sat: 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm • Sun: Closed


Lochwinnoch Knitting Group


Knit @ The Junction, Lochwinnoch - Mondays from 10am - noon (sometimes longer). All levels and learners welcome. Come and be inspired and partake of Jo and Ivan’s great food. For more info telephone 07809 120577


the History Spot


by Renfrewshire Local History Forum The Milliken Mystery


The old Parish Church in Kilbarchan, now used as the West Parish Church Hall, was rebuilt in 1724 on the site of the former parish church. Two aisles, with burial mausoleums beneath and galleries above, were incorporated in the building. These aisles were owned by the most important landowners in the parish, the Houstons of the old Johnstone Castle and the Cunninghames of Craigends.


In 1733 James Milliken, a plantation owner who had acquired immense wealth in the Caribbean, bought the old Johnstone Castle and its lands from the Houstons. The Milliken family transformed the lands, now known as Milliken Estate, and were soon to become feu superiors of most of Kilbarchan village and patrons of Kilbarchan Parish Church. They also took over the Johnstone aisle, which became known as the Milliken aisle. After three generations the male line of Millikens died out and the Napier family took over through marriage to one of the Milliken daughters.


When the present Kilbarchan Parish Church was built in 1901, the old church was converted into the church hall. The renovation work necessitated the removal of the Milliken mausoleum. This mausoleum, beneath the enclosed gallery above, contained ten coffi ns of the Milliken family and their Napier heirs and descendants. This presented a dilemma! What was to be done with the coffi ns?


Perhaps fortuitously, Mary Milliken Speirs, a direct descendant of the Millikens, died in 1902. When she was buried in the new Kilbarchan Cemetery, these old coffi ns were removed from the old church building and interred with her remains. The names of those interred with her are listed on the reverse of her gravestone. These must be among the oldest interred remains in a modern cemetery.


However, the inscription contains a mystery. Listed above the fi rst Milliken heir, Major James Milliken, is a ‘Sir’ James Milliken who died in the same year as the Major. Strangely, no other record can be found for Sir James. Did he really exist, or was he added to give a pedigree to the Milliken family, who otherwise originated as ordinary seafarers from Irvine?


kilbarchan & lochwinnoch


Kilbarchan West Church


West Life ran a very successful Ladies Lunch at the beginning of May when over a hundred ladies enjoyed a superb buffet prepared by the team and then heard the Rev Lorna Hood give an interesting and witty talk. Jamie McArthur, an up and coming local singer, entertained us.


Sunday 5th June, the Junior Church, Crèche and FEWsion will hold their prizegiving and in the afternoon they will have a Garden Party in the Church grounds. Hope the weather holds!


On Saturday 25th June there will be a Strawberry Tea in the Manse garden from 2 - 4pm. Tickets will be £3 and can be had from any of the West Life Team. So come along and enjoy a feast of strawberries!


Lastly, good luck to the ladies of the West Life Team who are taking part in a "Race for Life” in aid of Cancer Research at the beginning of June.


Agricultural Show Saturday 18th June


The Show will be held on Saturday 18th June at Monklands Farm, Kilbarchan, by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Andrew Malcolm.


Show Schedules will be available mid May from the Show Secretary: Aileen Russell, Rawsley, Barr’s Brae, Kilmacolm, PA13 4DE. 07766 221369. A day out in the countryside which all the family can enjoy.


British Legion Scotland Kilbarchan Branch


We meet four times a year in Kilbarchan Bowling Club. Branch Secretary: A Harrison 01505 702550. E-mail:flemingjohn6@yahoo.com, or contact the Bowling club: 01505 702175.


Kilbarchan New Bus Service


The X5 from McGill’s will run six days a week to Linwood, Braehead and Glasgow City Centre. There will be two early morning commuter journeys arriving in Glasgow before 9am. Thereafter the buses will operate via Braehead.


Saturday 4th June


The parade will leave Tandelhill Road at 1.30pm and proceed through the village to the steeple, then onwards to the public park. The procession will arrive at approximately 2pm when Miss Lilias, this year played by Miss Caitlin McBarron will read the proclamation. Her attendants are Mhairi Gillespie and Alison Fraser.


Mary Milliken Speirs Gravestone Reverse side of gravestone HERE LIE THE NAPIERS OF MILLIKEN


SIR JAMES MILLIKEN B 1666 D 1741 MAJOR JAMES MILLIKEN B 1669 D 1741 JAMES MILLIKEN ESQ B 1710 D 1776 COL WILLIAM NAPIER B 1723 D 1773 COL ROBERT NAPIER B 1758 D 1808 MRS JOHN NAPIER B 1759 D 1835 SIR WILLIAM NAPIER B 1788 D 1852 JAMES STIRLING NAPIER ESQ B 1825 D 1847 ELIZABETH LADY NAPIER B 1785 D 1860


SIR ROBERT NAPIER B 1818 D 1884 © 2011 Helen Calcluth and Stuart Nisbet


Over the course of the afternoon, a number of events will take place in the arena; there is a seven a side football match between Kilbarchan Primary and Bridge of Weir Primary. We have a dog show from 12 noon and there will be a Zumba display in the main arena. There will be a number of local organisations with stalls selling home baking, tombolas and raffl es for great prizes in the park from 1.30pm. This year we are delighted to announce that our arena event at 4pm is Quack Commandos display – this is a fun display where border collies will herd Indian Runner ducks.


Lilias Day is a major fundraiser for all the organisations who take stalls in the park, they really do rely on the support of people from Kilbarchan and other local villages. We ask that you make Lilias Day a date for your diary and come along with your friends and family to support this local community event.


Email liliasday@yahoo.co.uk if you want to fi nd out more. 40 |JUNE 2011 | your LOCAL news every month - in print and online |


Kilbarchan National Women’s Register


The NWR group meets fortnightly on Wednesdays and has a varied programme of speakers and discussion topics. If you’d like to fi nd out more about NWR and the Kilbarchan group, please contact the website: www.nwr.org.


Contact the Elderly


We are currently looking for volunteers to assist with providing the service for older people who can benefi t from a monthly outing. If you can help, please get in touch with: Margaret Oliver, Contact the Elderly, PO Box 5207, Dumbarton, G82 9AP. T: 01389 605915 or email margaret.oliver@contact-the- elderly.org.uk


Bridge Class


Held on Friday afternoons in the Old Library Centre, Kilbarchan. It is a friendly, informative class where Hamish Thomson gives instruction and the group get an opportunity to enjoy a game. Phone 01505 706070 for more details or just come along on Friday afternoon at 2pm.


Kilbarchan Lilias Day


kil


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60