Linwood
Encyclopedia
Linwood is a small town in Renfrewshire
, Scotland
, 14 miles south-west of Glasgow
.
Linwood is a commuter town
, with proximity to Glasgow International Airport
and the M8 motorway to Glasgow
and Edinburgh
. There are frequent daily bus services to Paisley, Johnstone
and Glasgow.
Shopping and entertainment needs are supplied by the Phoenix retail park and easily accessible Paisley and Glasgow.
then Peugeot Talbot
, car plant and the Pressed Steel Company
, both of which ceased production in 1981, leaving mass unemployment
in their wake. It is estimated that 13,000 workers were left jobless as both direct and indirect consequences of these closures.
Construction of the car factory began in 1961 to produce the Hillman Imp
, a revolutionary small car which went into production when the factory was opened on 2 May 1963 and was not discontinued until 1976. The factory, opened by the Duke of Edinburgh
, had the advantage of a direct rail link, which allowed cars to be transported by rail to places all over Britain. It later produced the Chrysler Avenger and the Imp's successor, the Sunbeam
, and when both models finished production in late 1981, factory production ended after less than 20 years. Most of the factory was demolished soon afterwards, but the final part of the factory wasn't demolished until 1996.http://www.imps4ever.info/linwood/linwood.html
From 1980 to 1995 Linwood had one of the highest unemployment rates in Scotland. A new retail and leisure park development opened in 1996. Linwood is a deprived area and many buildings have fallen into disrepair. New council houses are being developed in place of the old high rise flats.
, one non-denominational; Linwood High School
, newly rebuilt on its former site.
For a small town Linwood has many bus services linking the local areas with Paisley and Glasgow.
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, 14 miles south-west of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
Linwood is a commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
, with proximity to Glasgow International Airport
Glasgow International Airport
Glasgow International Airport is an international airport in Scotland, located west of Glasgow city centre, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew in Renfrewshire...
and the M8 motorway to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. There are frequent daily bus services to Paisley, Johnstone
Johnstone
Johnstone is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire and larger historic county of the same name in the west central Lowlands of Scotland.The town lies three miles west of neighbouring Paisley and twelve miles west of the centre of the city of Glasgow...
and Glasgow.
Shopping and entertainment needs are supplied by the Phoenix retail park and easily accessible Paisley and Glasgow.
History
The Linwood economy relied heavily on the Rootes, later ChryslerChrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
then Peugeot Talbot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
, car plant and the Pressed Steel Company
Pressed Steel Company
The Pressed Steel Company Limited was a British car body manufacturing company founded at Cowley near Oxford in 1926 as a joint venture between William Morris, the Budd Corporation and an American bank. Today at what was the company's Cowley plant, the BMW new MINI is assembled, this site is...
, both of which ceased production in 1981, leaving mass unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
in their wake. It is estimated that 13,000 workers were left jobless as both direct and indirect consequences of these closures.
Construction of the car factory began in 1961 to produce the Hillman Imp
Hillman Imp
The Hillman Imp is a compact, rear-engined saloon car that was manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group from 1963 to 1976...
, a revolutionary small car which went into production when the factory was opened on 2 May 1963 and was not discontinued until 1976. The factory, opened by the Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
, had the advantage of a direct rail link, which allowed cars to be transported by rail to places all over Britain. It later produced the Chrysler Avenger and the Imp's successor, the Sunbeam
Chrysler Sunbeam
The Chrysler Sunbeam is a small supermini 3-door hatchback manufactured by Chrysler Europe at the former Rootes Group factory in Linwood in Scotland. The Sunbeam's development was funded by a British government grant with the aim to keep the Linwood plant running, and the small car was based on the...
, and when both models finished production in late 1981, factory production ended after less than 20 years. Most of the factory was demolished soon afterwards, but the final part of the factory wasn't demolished until 1996.http://www.imps4ever.info/linwood/linwood.html
From 1980 to 1995 Linwood had one of the highest unemployment rates in Scotland. A new retail and leisure park development opened in 1996. Linwood is a deprived area and many buildings have fallen into disrepair. New council houses are being developed in place of the old high rise flats.
Education
There are three primary schools, two non-denominational; Woodlands Primary School, and East Fulton Primary School and one Roman Catholic; Our Lady of Peace, and by two nearby secondary schools; one Roman Catholic, St BenedictsSt Benedict's RC High School
St Benedict's High School is a Roman Catholic High School in Linwood, Renfrewshire, in the west of Scotland.-The school:St Benedict's High School was formed by the amalgamation of St Cuthbert's High School in Johnstone and St Brendan's High School in Linwood...
, one non-denominational; Linwood High School
Linwood High School
Linwood High School is a non-denominational comprehensive state secondary school in Linwood, Renfrewshire.The original school building was constructed in 1965 and demolished in 2006 for a new school to be constructed on the same site....
, newly rebuilt on its former site.
Transport
Linwood is linked to Glasgow via the A737 which also links Linwood to Ayrshire via Garnock ValleyFor a small town Linwood has many bus services linking the local areas with Paisley and Glasgow.
Famous people
- Paul LambertPaul LambertPaul Christopher Lambert is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the manager of Norwich City. He won numerous trophies as a player, winning the Scottish Cup with St...
: Former ScotlandScotland national football teamThe Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, CelticCeltic F.C.Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, Borussia DortmundBorussia DortmundBallspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
and St. Mirren midfielder and former LivingstonLivingston F.C.Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
manager. He held the captaincy for both ScotlandScotland national football teamThe Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and CelticCeltic F.C.Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. He was also manager of Wycombe Wanderers FC until recently. Currently manager of Norwich City. - Billy ThomsonBilly ThomsonWilliam 'Billy' Marshall Thomson is a Scottish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper and is a goalkeeping coach with Kilmarnock.-Career:...
: Former ScotlandScotland national football teamThe Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, RangersRangers F.C.Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, Dundee United and St. Mirren goalkeeper. He is the current RangersRangers F.C.Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
Goalkeeping coach.. - Darryl DuffyDarryl DuffyDarryl Alexander Duffy is a Scottish footballer who is currently playing for Cheltenham Town as a striker.-Club career:...
: Current Swansea City and Scotland Under 21Scotland national under-21 football teamThe Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
Striker. - John HillcoatJohn Hillcoat (footballer)John Hillcoat is a Scottish professional football goalkeeper.-Playing:Hillcoat is a former Dunfermline Athletic, Clyde, Hamilton Academical, Partick Thistle, Clydebank, Morton, Queen of the South, St. Mirren, Dumbarton, Stranraer, Ayr, Brechin City and Stenhousemuir goalkeeper.In November 2008,...
: Current Alloa AthleticAlloa Athletic F.C.Alloa Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division....
goalkeeping coach and former Goalkeeper. - David LowingDavid LowingDavid Lowing is a Scottish footballer currently with Irvine Meadow F.C in the Stagecoach Super League Premier Division of the Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region.-External links:...
: AyrAyr United F.C.Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
footballer