Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Renfrewshire

This page summarises the local government organisation of Renfrewshire since 1890.

  • Renfrewshire was one of Scotland's 34 traditional counties and was unaffected by the reorganisation to 33 counties in 1890.
  • In 1890 Dunbartonshire had the following Burghs: Renfrew (a royal burgh), Barrhead, Gourock, Govan, Greenock, Johnstone, Paisley, Pollokshaws, Port Glasgow. Govan and Pollokshaws were absorbed by Glasgow in 1912.
  • In 1975 there was major reorganisation as the counties were abolished and replaced by 12 Regions. Renfrewshire was merged with Ayrshire, most of Argyll, Bute, Dunbartonshire and Lanarkshire to form Strathclyde Region.
  • Beneath the region in a three-tier structure were 6 sub-regions, to some extent based on the old counties. These were: Argyll, Ayr, Dunbarton, Glasgow, Lanark, and Renfrew.
  • Most sub-regions were further divided into districts. Renfrew was divided into 3 district councils: Eastwood, Inverclyde and Renfrew.
  • In 1996 there was further reorganisation as the Regions were abolished and replaced by 32 Unitary councils. The large Strathclyde was split up into 12 unitary councils: Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, City of Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, and West Dunbartonshire. The name Strathclyde was retained for some bodies, such as the fire brigade.
  • From 1996 Eastwood became the basis of the new East Renfrewshire unitary council. The adminiustrative centre is Giffnock.
  • Inverclyde became the new Inverclyde unitary council. It includes Gourock, Greenock, Port Glasgow and Wemyss Bay.
  • Renfrewshire became the new Renfrew unitary council. It includes Barrhead, Johnstone, Paisley and Renfrew.
  • For a list of Renfrewshire maps go to the Renfrewshire page. For a full list of Scottish maps, return to the Scotland page
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    The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 11 November 2016