Shillford
| Shillford | |
|---|---|
 A view of the hamlet of Shillford |
|
 Shillford
|
|
| Shillford shown within East Renfrewshire | |
| OS grid reference | NS4472756250 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Dialling code | 01505 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| Scottish Parliament |
|
Shillford or Shilford is a hamlet to the south-west of Barrhead on the Lochlibo Road in East Renfrewshire near Uplawmoor, Scotland in the Parish of Neilston. Glasgow is 11 miles away to the north-east and Irvine 14 miles to the south-west.
The name of the may derive from the word 'ford' and the Scots word 'Shill' meaning cold or chilly; the word is also said to mean 'shallow'.The old ford ceased to exist after the building of the railway that runs beside Loch Libo as the nearby cutting resulted in the Thorter Burn being diverted to run into the loch.
In 1910 the hamlet had a population of 46. The shallow ford at the hamlet was formed by the Thorter Burn that ran into a hollow on the old road. Shillford Mill was a substantial grain and sawmill, still operating in the 1960's. It was located close to the present day Shillford Garage. (datum 2012) The site is now used as a lorry park. The old smithy is now a roofless ruin and the site of the old toll house is an overgrown plot. Shillford Mill's office building still stands as a private dwelling named 'Shilford Mill' (sic) (datum 2012). Shillford once had two inns, however the licences were revoked prior to 1912.
An 1821 map shows the name Shillford at the site of the present day Shillford Cottage. The 1826 map shows Shillford Toll on the Lochlibo turnpike and the crossroads with a probable toll keeper's house.
In 1856 the toll gate is still shown with a group of buildings opposite the toll keepers house and another building at the site of the Shillford Mill, probably one of the inns. Two quarries are located in the woods near Shillford Cottage, one disused. In 1895 Shillford Quarry is somewhat enlarged and a smithy is marked on Lochlibo Road next to the inn. The Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway, is shown with a signal box on this the double track section. A small quarry is also marked at Taphead.
By 1912 a large sawmill and a smaller meal mill are located near to the smithy and farrier. The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway is shown for the first time with sidings running into Shillford Quarry. The buildings marked as 'Lagavulin' on the edge of the quarry wood are first shown in 1898. By 1967 the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway is shown as closed and lifted, Shillford Quarry disused, the old toll keeper's house demolished, the mill used as a storage depot, and only one house remaining, 'Viewfield' near the Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway on which the signal box has been closed. A Smithy Cottage is marked.
...
Wikipedia