HOUSTON-AND-KILLALLAN, a parish, in the
Upper ward of the county of Renfrew; including the
village of Crosslee and part of the late quoad sacra district
of Bridge-of-Weir, and containing '2818 inhabitants,
of whom 623 are in the village of Houston, 14
miles (S. W.) from Glasgow. This place consists of
two parishes which were united in the year 1760, when
the population of both of them was scarcely more than
one-third of the present number. The principal resident
proprietor is W. M. Fleming, Esq., whose ancestor,
Peter Fleming, held the estate of Barochan, in this
parish, and being celebrated for his skill in falconry,
received from James IV. the hood of his favourite hawk,
richly studded with gems, as a reward for his dexterity:
this hood, though many of the jewels have been lost,
and among them a ruby of great value, is still preserved
in the house at Barochan, the residence of his descendant.
Houston parish is supposed to have derived its
name from Hugo de Padvinan, who obtained a grant of
the barony of Kelpeter from Baldwin, sheriff of Lanark,
and who substituted his own name for that by which the
barony had been previously called. The name of the
other parish is thought to be a corruption of Killfillan,
an appellation said to have been obtained from Fillanus,
its tutelary saint.
The united parish is about six miles in length and
three in breadth. It is bounded on the north and east
by the parish of Erskine; on the south by the river
Gryfe, which separates it from the parish of Kilbarchan;
and on the west by the parish of Kilmalcolm.
The river Gryfe has its source in the upland moors and
high hills between Kilmalcolm and Largs, the latter
place situated on the coast of the Firth of Clyde; and,
augmented by numerous streams that meet near Duchal,
it enters the parish, and pursues a rapid course towards
the low lands at Fulwood, in its progress to which it is
precipitated over several rocky heights. Thence it winds
its way into the Clyde, first receiving the river Black Cart
at Walkinshaw, and the White Cart near the bridge of
Inchinnan. The surface is irregular, and in many parts
beautifully diversified. In the lands of Houston is an
extensive wood, consisting chiefly of oak, ash, birch,
and plane trees, many of which are of venerable growth:
there is a similar wood of natural growth, with extensive
and thriving plantations, at Barochan. The high
grounds in the district of Killallan, likewise, are largely
planted with oak, ash, beech, and Scotch fir; and the
mosses have been covered with trees which appear to
be thriving well. Agriculture forms but a secondary
pursuit in the parish, and comparatively only a small
portion of land is in cultivation; the greater number of
the inhabitants being employed in the various manufactures
that have been established. Improvements
have been made in draining the grounds, and many of
the mosses have been reclaimed, and produce abundant
crops; the farm-buildings are substantial and commodious,
and are all roofed with slate. The scarcity of
common manure has led to the introduction of a compost
of moss prepared with oil, which, under proper
management, has been found to answer well. The substratum
is chiefly clay, covered in some parts with moss
six feet in depth. In the higher districts, granite of
good quality is prevalent; and in the lower parts,
sandstone and limestone are quarried. Coal exists in
abundance, and mines have been opened for the supply
of the extensive works in the parish, and for fuel in the
neighbouring places. Barochan, the patrimonial seat
of Mr. Fleming, is of considerable antiquity, and has
recently undergone great improvements; it is beautifully
situated, and embellished with ornamental plantations,
forming a conspicuous feature in the landscape.
A subscription library has been established in the village
of Houston. Fairs are held in May, chiefly for milchcows,
young cattle, &c., of the Highland breed. The
annual value of real property in the parish is £11,293.
The chief manufacture is that of cotton, for which
several extensive mills have been erected, mostly on the
banks of the river Gryfe. Among these are the New
mills, near Bridge-of-Weir, in the district of Killallan,
erected in 1792, and at present conducted by Messrs.
Findlay: they contain 6240 mule spindles; are driven
by a water-wheel thirteen feet in diameter, with power
equal to that of twelve horses; and afford employment
to nearly 100 persons. The mill at Gryfe grove,
erected in 1822, contains nearly 1000 mule spindles,
and .600 for water-twist, with the requisite machinery,
set in motion by a cast-iron water-wheel of twelve feet
diameter, and giving occupation to about forty persons:
adjoining is a mill erected by the same proprietor,
for carding wool. A mill has also been erected by
Mr. Shanks, in which are 1400 spindles, driven likewise
by an iron water-wheel twelve feet in diameter. Gryfe
mill, to the east of the Bridge-of-Weir mill, and belonging
to Messrs. John Freeland and Co., was built in 1793,
and contains 18,000 spindles; it is set in motion by a
water-wheel nineteen feet in diameter, and employs
nearly 300 persons. Crosslee mill, conducted by Messrs.
Stevenson and Sons, is driven by a wheel of cast-iron,
twenty-six feet in diameter, and equivalent to seventyhorse
power; it affords constant employment to 300
people. Houston cotton-mills, situated on the burn of
that name, and built in 1793, is driven by a wheel of
eighteen-horse power, about thirty feet in diameter,
and employs 140 persons; attached to this mill is a
steam-engine, by which the machinery is set in motion
when the water of the stream is insufficient for that
purpose. Houston bleachfield, on the same rivulet,
belonging to Messrs. Carlisle, is an extensive establishment,
chiefly employed for the manufacturers of Glasgow
and Paisley: about 4000 pounds of cotton-yarn,
60,000 pounds of linen yarn and thread, and 12,000
pounds of raw silk, are annually bleached in this establishment,
in which fifty persons are engaged. The
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock railway, opened throughout
in 1841, skirts the eastern extremity of the parish,
where a station is fixed. Ecclesiastically the parish is
in the presbytery of Paisley, synod of Glasgow and Ayr,
and in the patronage of Alexander Spiers, Esq. The
minister's stipend is £264, with a manse, and a glebe
valued at £13. 10. per annum. Houston and Killallan
church, erected in 1775, is conveniently situated; it is
in good repair, and is adapted for a congregation of 800
persons. The members of the Free Church have a place
of worship, and there is a Roman Catholic chapel. The
parochial schoolmaster has a salary of £34, with £24 fees,
and a house and garden.