FAIFLEY, a village, in that part of the parish of
Old-Kilpatrick which formed the quoad sacra parish
of DuNTOCHER, county of Dumbarton, 2^; miles (E. N.
E.) from Old Kilpatrick; containing 321 inhabitants.
This place is in the vicinity of Duntocher, and is one of
several villages within a mile of each other on the northern
side of the Clyde, owing their prosperity to the
recent introduction of the cotton and woollen manufactures,
and the erection of mills, steam-engines, and other
machinery and facilities for their production, chiefly
through the spirit and enterprise of Mr. "William Dunn, a
resident proprietor of land here. About the year 1812,
Mr. Dunn purchased the mill of the Faifley Spinning
Company, by whom this branch of business had been
carried on for some time previously, but on a limited
scale; and having made large additions to the buildings,
and invited the industry of the inhabitants by the most
liberal encouragement, the village soon increased in extent
and population. Besides the spinning and weaving
of cotton, the chief product of the place, there are ironworks,
in which spades, shovels, and other articles are
made; and some minor manufactures. The principal
stream in the parish, which issues from two lochs behind
the Kilpatrick braes, passes here, and falls into the
Clyde at Dalmuir. There are two small schools.