Overview of Neilston

A former textile village and commuter settlement in East Renfrewshire, Neilston lies on the Levern Water 2 miles (3 km) southwest of Barrhead and 9 miles (14.5 km) southwest of Glasgow. It became a centre for bleaching cotton and calico-printing in the 18th century and continued printing and spinning cotton into the 20th century, with the last mill closing in 1992. John Robertson who built the engine for the steamship Comet in 1811, was born in Neilston in 1782 and there is a memorial to him here. Notable buildings include the Crofthead Mill (1891) and Neilston Parish Church, which was first recorded in 1163. The settlement has two primary schools, a library, leisure centre and a post-office. Once benefiting from two railway stations, it retains one which represents the terminus of a line from Glasgow via Cathcart, a section of the former Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway. The Neilston Curlers Society was founded in 1824 and was recreated as Neilston Curling Club in 1875. An annual agricultural show has been held in the village since 1825. Neilston and District Pipe Band formed in 1971. Neilston Development Trust was formed in 2006 to champion the regeneration of the village and bought the former bank building by invoking community-right-to-buy legislation the same year. This now forms the Trust's offices and a cafe.