Renfrew

Renfrew, an ancient royal, parliamentary, and municipal burgh, the county town of Renfrewshire, stands on the south bank of the Clyde, 6 miles below Glasgow. Its charter of regality dates from 1396, but it was a burgh at least as early as the reign of David I. (1124-53). A knoll called Castlehill commemorates the site of Renfrew castle, the original seat of the royal house of Stewart. Anciently the chief port on the Clyde, it has still a small wharf, but the trade is unimportant. The principal industries are shipbuilding and weaving. It forms one of the Kilmarnock group of burghs, which return one member to parliament. Pop. (1841) 2013; (1881) 5503; (1891) 6777.