Bishopton, Renfrewshire

History

Bishopton was originally in the Parish of Erskine. It was two hamlets that combined to make the village of Bishopton in 1840. The hamlets were called Blackstown and Easter Rossland. The name Bishopton came from a nearby house known as Bishopton House. A famous family called the Brisbanes lived here. The house became a convent known as Good Shepherd Centre and latterly Cora Foundation.

The former ROF site

A large explosive manufacturing factory was once sited in Bishopton. The Royal Ordnance Factory Bishopton (ROF), was opened during World War II on farm land, acquired by compulsory purchase order. It was situated on the western side of the railway line running through Bishopton. Over 2,000 acres (8 km²) of land from up to seven farms was used to build the factory. The land included Dargavel House. The southern end of the site included the majority of the land formerly used by the First World War National Filling Factory, Georgetown. The ROF was privatised in 1984, being sold to British Aerospace (now BAE Systems). It has since scaled down and shut most of the site.

After privatisation the MOD Police moved out and the former MOD Police Social Club at HolmPark, and its adjoining sports field, became part of Bishopton. The former MOD Police houses at both HolmPark and Rossland Crescent were sold off to private buyers. Bishopton's Medical Centre was built in a corner of the sports field, opposite the shops.

BAE Systems and Redrow have submitted controversial proposals to use a large part of the site for building new housing which would, at least, double the size of Bishopton. Local residents have indicated their concern at the proposals by voting in a local referendum, held on the 4 April 2005. It was organised by local action groups and council. The results showed that out of the 1485 who voted, (6.7%) were for the development, (91.6%) were against it, (1.3%) were not concerned and there were (0.3%) spoiled votes. The major concerns they have are with the size of the expansion - with the associated knock-on effects to the local infrastructure - and fears of the high levels of contamination that are likely to be found on the site. In December 2008 Renfrewshire Council granted outline planning consent for the development and detailed planning consent for a related motorway junction off the A8/M8. As of early 2016 a significant portion of the new construction is complete, with the remainder in varying levels of completion, with a number of the houses currently inhabited.

Transport

Bishopton is served by Bishopton railway station. The station opened in 1841. The line is called Inverclyde railway line (formerly Caledonian Railway). It is a double track, electrified railway line. There are five services per hour (off-peak): four to/from Gourock, and one to/from Wemyss Bay with four per hour in the other direction to and from Glasgow Central. Evenings and Sundays there are two trains per hour to Glasgow Central and hourly services to both Wemyss Bay and Gourock. A link connected the line to the ROF factory. It is now disused.

Bishopton is situated a couple of miles from the southern end of the Erskine Bridge, which spans the River Clyde between Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. Before the bridge was built the Erskine Ferry transported vehicles across the Clyde. The A8 road passes through Bishopton. The M8 motorway runs parallel to the A8, with access to Bishopton from both junctions 30 and 31.

Bishopton is served by Glasgow International Airport, which is located 4 km south east of the village. Bishopton is also serviced by McGill's buses. Buses operate to Clydebank, Greenock and Erskine.

Geography

Bishopton is situated in the north east of Renfrewshire. It lies to the south of the River Clyde. The village borders a number of nearby settlements, some separated by a rural hinterland.

Education

Bishopton Primary school is the only school within the village. It is a non-denominational state school. For secondary education the village falls within the catchment area of Park Mains High School in Erskine. For Roman Catholic denomination education, the nearest primary school is St. John Bosco Primary in Erskine and Trinity High School in Renfrew is the nearest secondary school.

Trivia

Bishopton actually has no 'streets'. All of the roads have names such as 'road' and 'crescent' but there are currently no streets.