Houston
Renfrewshire

Cross Keys Inn, Houston
©2011 Gazetteer for Scotland

A large village located 6 miles (9.5 km) northwest of Paisley, the name derives from 'Hew's town', a 13th Century village around the castle of Hugo de Kilpeter. In 1781 the castle was partly demolished and a New Town of 35 houses was erected. The Crosslee Mill (1793, demolished 1986) was used for cotton spinning but in 1916-17 a new factory was constructed for 'spinning cordite fuses'. The Mercat Cross has a sundial from the early 18th century and a shaft which may be 14th century; Houston House (17th century) and Barochan House (17th century and 1896) are other notable buildings.

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