spw042498 SCOTLAND (1933). Renfrew, general view, showing Babcock and Wilcox Co. Boiler Works, Porterfield Road and River Clyde. An oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.

RMS Queen Mary, not yet launched

French Street

Inchinnan Bridge (A8)

Blytheswood House, Blytheswood Estate, Renfrew

Argyle Stone, Inchinnan Road Renfrew (Grounds of Normandy Hotel) The following extract is from the Renfrewshire Council walking leaflet "Renfrew and its rivers". Legends of the St Conval and Argyll Stones According to tradition, one of these weighty stones floated out to sea from Ireland in the sixth century AD when St Conval was resting on it, having decided to found a new church. He and the stone floated up the Firth of Clyde and came to a stop at Renfrew. St Conval then went on to found his church just across the River Cart at Inchinnan. Such was the power of the legend that the stone became a shrine for pilgrims and sick people. Rainwater collected from the hollow on top of the stone was believed to have healing powers. More recently, but still over 300 years ago, somebody else took a rest at the stones - with even more fateful consequences. The 9th Earl of Argyll, part of the failed rebellion against the new King James VII and II in 1685, had fled and was making his way incognito to Renfrew from Inchinnan. Like St Conval a thousand years earlier, he stopped for a rest on the stone. The stone didn’t float away this time. Even worse, Argyll was snatched by two militiamen, taken to Edinburgh and then beheaded at the Mercat Cross. Tradition says the stone was disfigured with the red stains of the Earl’s blood for decades after…You have been warned. Don’t rest here for too long!

Inchinnan Parish Church (Old)- Inchinnan parish church (dedicated to St Conval) was given to the Knights Templar by David I (1124-53). It was demolished in 1828 and replaced by another which in turn was demolished and replaced in 1900 by All Hallows Church. In 1965, this church was demolished to allow the extension of the airfield at Abbotsinch. In the churchyard are four tombstones with sloping sides, sculptured with swords, locally called the Templar's Graves.

John Brown Shipbuilders

Bascule Bridge Inchinnan Road, Renfrew,designed and built by Sir William Arrol & Co Ltd, Engineers & Contractors, Glasgow and completed 1923/4