Introduction to Renfrewshire:
Renfrewshire, unitary authority, west-central Scotland, bordered on the north by the Firth of Clyde and by West Dunbartonshire unitary authority, on the east by Glasgow City unitary authority, on the south-east by East Renfrewshire unitary authority, on the south-west by North Ayrshire unitary authority, and on the north-west by Inverclyde unitary authority. Renfrewshire came into existence on April 1, 1996, as a result of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill 1994, which provided for the restructuring of local administration in Scotland: single-tier, all-purpose unitary authorities have replaced the two-tier system of regional and district councils established under the 1975 local government reforms.

It comprises the Renfrew district of the former Strathclyde region, apart from the Barrhead, Neilston, and Uplawmoor areas, which have become part of East Renfrewshire. Although called Renfrewshire, the unitary authority comprises only the central part of the historic county of Renfrewshire. The county was incorporated into Strathclyde region in 1975. The northern part of the north-western area of the county is now part of Inverclyde; the south-eastern part comprises most of East Renfrewshire. Renfrewshire unitary authority has an area of about 261 sq km (101 sq mi).

Places of Interest:
The town of Paisley developed around Paisley Abbey, a Cluniac priory founded in 1163. The abbey underwent extensive restoration work in the early 20th century and an exhibition offering an account of the building’s colourful history and different architectural styles can be found inside. The town’s museum and art galleries are housed together in impressive Neo-Classical buildings and feature a vast collection of Paisley shawls and pattern books, 20th-century pottery, and artwork by 18th- and 19th-century Scottish painters, including Sir Henry Raeburn, Allan Ramsay, and the Glasgow Boys, as well as paintings by contemporary artists. An insight to working conditions and daily life during the Industrial Revolution is offered by Sma’ Shot Cottages, a heritage attraction that includes a renovated 18th-century weaver’s cottage and a 19th-century artisan’s house.

The village of Kilbarchan is a well-preserved example of a traditional weaving settlement and features the restored workshop and living quarters of an 18th-century weaver. Much of the village has been designated an outstanding conservation area and is preserved by the National Trust for Scotland. Located within the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park near the village of Lochwinnoch is Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, an important wetland site and wildfowl sanctuary.

Economy:
Paisley and Renfrew are the unitary authority’s main industrial centres. Paisley is probably best known for the Paisley shawls, produced in the town during the 19th century; textiles are still produced. Renfrew’s former industries include shipbuilding, steel, and engineering. Hillington Park, Scotland’s first industrial estate was opened in the town in 1938 and a number of major engineering and aviation design corporations. A Rolls-Royce plant was opened at Hillington in 1939 to manufacture engine parts for military aircraft, including the Lancaster bomber and Spitfire; the company still operates a factory at the site. The 1970s and 1980s saw decline of the heavy engineering industry and the reduced dominance of the manufacturing sector.

The biggest source of employment in Renfrewshire is the service industries; more than 60 per cent of the unitary authority’s labour force is engaged in this sector. About 50 per cent of the land is in agricultural use, although farming does not make a substantial economic contribution to the region. Unemployment in the region, at 4.8 per cent (2001), is around the average figure for Scotland as a whole. Glasgow International Airport is actually located in Paisley, and not in Glasgow itself. The airport is the busiest of Scotland's three main international airports, handling in excess of 7.8 million passengers per year (2002).