Sun 20 May
Twisted Willow Show of Wedding Work
Prieston Road, Bridge of Weir
12noon - 4pm Come along and have some fun buying flowers for your big day - all washed down with a glass of bubbly! See main advert on page 49.
Sun 20 May
Scotland’s Garden Scheme - Open of New Garden in Inverkip
Hill Cottage, Spey Road, Inverkip PA16 0DA 2pm to 5pm Tucked up behind the village, signposted from the main road, a garden of nearly an acre with formal, herbaceous and cottage style areas and a large pond, it offers an interesting array of plants. Open from 2-5pm, there will be a plant sale on the day. Entry £3 with proceeds to Callum’s Cabin, Teenage Cancer Trust and SG’s charities.
Fri 25 May the History Spot by Renfrewshire Local History Forum
THE BARR LOCH MYSTERY A walker or cyclist travelling on a winter’s day along the cycle track from Lochwinnoch to Kilbirnie may see on the left of the track (just after it passes Hole Farm, about 2km. From Lochwinnoch) a tall chimney, standing in isolation as if stranded among the encroaching trees near the edge of the loch. What was the building? What was it used for?
The first known building on the site appears on the 1857 Ordnance Survey map. The accompanying notes described it as a strong stone building supporting a large waterwheel which helped to pump water from the then- drained Barr Loch. It was built at the expense of Colonel McDowall, owner of the Castle Semple Estate from 1841, so it probably dated from the late 1840s.
When McDowall inherited the estate (which included Barr Loch), the loch was used as meadows for oats and hay. Successive owners of the estate from the 17th century had attempted to drain the loch, but with patchy and often short-lived success. The most elaborate scheme (and that inherited by McDowall) was carried out by James Adam between 1813 and 1815. The waterwheel and pump were McDowall’s attempt to make Adam’s system more effective.
By the time of the next Ordnance Survey map in 1897, the large waterwheel was taken down, probably because of problems with the water supply. It was replaced by a steam engine, and the present high chimney was built. The existing buildings were modified and extended to accommodate these changes. The purpose of the building was still the same – to help keep the loch drained – although the pumping mechanism was changed to a more efficient one.
The other change shown on the 1897 map was the addition of a completely new structure at the corner of the pumping-house. This was a sawmill, with its own source of power (a small, water- driven turbine). It can never have been more than a small estate sawmill, possibly supplying the furniture-manufacturing firms of Lochwinnoch.
The sawmill continued in use until after the Second World War, eventually closing in the late 1940s. The fate of the pumping engine is less certain: Barr Loch continued in its drained state until 1946 (albeit as rough grazing), but then flooded suddenly, to become a loch again. Did the pumping engine survive until 1946 or was it abandoned earlier?
© 2012 Ian Brough 14 |MAY 2012 | your LOCAL news every month - in print and online |
St Vincent’s Hospice Glitter Ball Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow Tickets for this event are £60 and you will be treated to a glamour evening to help raise funds for St Vincent’s Hospice. For more information and to book tickets contact Lorraine Valentine at the Hospice on 01505 705635 or email
Lorraine.valentine@
svh.co.uk
Fri 25 May
Kingsley Wood Estate Agents Open Day
1 Gryffe Place, Bridge of Weir Call in for an informal chat about selling or renting your property or other legal issues. Call 01505 874114 or 874000 for further information.
Fri 25 - Sat 26 May New Start Scotland Exhibition
Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh 10am to 4pm If you’re looking to get your new business idea up and running the New Start Scotland Exhibition has everything you need under one roof. In addition to face to face advice from more than 100 exhibitors you can take part in the extensive range of free seminars, workshops and live features all designed to ensure your business not only survives but flourishes.
Sat 26 May
Woodlands Nursery Open Day Houston Road, Houston
12noon - 4pm Our exciting new building will be open offering more quality childcare places. See main advert on page 53.
Sun 27 May
Erskine Motorbike Meet Erskine Home, Bishopton PA7 5PU
1pm to 5pm Join in this annual family fundraiser for Erskine with a BBQ, live music, bouncy castles, aqua balls, stalls and much more. The fun begins with a parade of motorbikes from Park Mains High School in Erskine, departing at 12.40pm and arriving at the Erskine Home at 1pm. Come along and enjoy the fun!
Fri 1 - Sun 3 June
Drystone walling run by the West of Scotland branch
Ingliston Country Club, Bishopton A demonstration of drystone walling techniques will be taking part in the Gardening Scotland Show at Ingliston on June 1-3rd. Local projects this year will include a continuation of the sandstone feature build at Ocean Terminal at Greenock as well as a bridge build at Lennox Golf Course, and the finishing touches to the Listed barn at Auchendrain Museum at Inverary. Further information and details can be found on the website
http://www.wsdswa.
org.uk/#/training/4550429337
Sat 2 June Kilmacolm Farmers’ Market
The Square, Kilmacolm Community Centre 10am to 2pm A regular on the farmers market circuit now. Come along to see wonderful foods on offer.
Sat 2 June Houston & Killellan Show
Houston Public Park Schedules for the Craft and Baking section are available from the Paper Shop, the Post Office and Strawberryfields Nursery Houston. They are also available from committee members and secretary Isabelle Stuart 01505 613479 or e-mail
issistuart@fsmail.net
Sun 3 June
St Vincent’s Hospice 5-a-side Charity Event
Pro Life Fitness Centre, Paisley St Vincent’s Hospice is running a new sporting event for all the footballers out there, this year in the form of a 5-a-Sides Charity Tournament. Entry is £75 per team with optional sponsorship available. For more information and to book a place for your team please contact Ashley Moran in the Fundraising Team on 01505 705635 or email
ashley.moran@
svh.co.uk.
Mon 4 - Tue 5 June
Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday There will be an extra bank holiday in June this year to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Monday 4th June will replace the late May bank holiday and, to form a long weekend of celebration, there will be an extra bank holiday on Tuesday 5th June - enjoy!
regular events
every Tuesday Birkmyre Park Running Club
Birkmyre Park Gym, Kilmacolm 7pm Join us for an enjoyable and invigorating run in and around Kilmacolm. Tel: 01475 715750.
every Thursday
Kilmacolm Walkers Birkmyre Park Pavilion, Kilmacolm
10am Join us for an enjoyable health walk in and around Kilmacolm Tel: David Goddard 01505 874192 or email kilmacolmwalkers@
talktalk.net
first Sunday monthly
Car Boot Sale Bridge of Weir Car Park
9am to 1pm Set up from 8am - £5 per car. Call 01505 615992 for more details.
second Wednesday monthly
Inverclyde Carers Outreach Surgery
Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm
11am - 2pm For further information email enquiries@
inverclydecarerscentre.org.uk or call: 01475 735180.
second Saturday monthly
‘Brunch & Browse’ St Fillan’s Hall, Moss Road,
Kilmacolm 10am to 2pm Home made soups, home baking, tea, coffee, books & lots of stalls. Great value! Disabled Access. £4.
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