Renfrew was formerly a Royal Burgh with it's own provost, bailies and councilors.    However with the reorganization of local government in 1975 it ceased to have these privileges and became part of the newly formed Renfrew District Council.



The town of Renfrew lies close to the south bank of the River Clyde.    It is three miles north-east of Paisley and five miles west of Glasgow.    Renfrew means "point of the current".    This refers to the confluence of the rivers Gryffe and Clyde.    The last official population figures given in 1986 showed that there were 21,300 people living in the town.    Renfrew was formerly a Royal Burgh with it's own provost, bailies and councilors.    However with the reorganization of local government in 1975 it ceased to have these privileges and became part of the newly formed Renfrew District Council.


The Burgh of Renfrew was founded circa 1124 by King David I.    The parish of Renfrew is distinguished because of its connection with the ancient house of Stewart.    The lands of Renfrew were first mentioned in the estates specified in the charter granted by King Malcolm IV in 1157 in favor of Walter Fitz Alan, the first High Steward of Scotland.    Walter, the sixth High Steward of Scotland, married Princess Marjory Bruce, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, in 1315.    Their son, King Robert II, became the first monarch in the Stewart line.    The present British Royal Family is descended from the Stewarts.    H.R.H the Prince of Wales is Great Steward of Scotland.    He is also the Baron of Renfrew, which the title originally granted to the heir to the Scottish throne by the Burgh of Renfrew in 1404.


Renfrew was made a Royal Burgh in 1396 after having received a charter from King Robert III.    This bestowed centain rights concerning foreign trade and also permitted annual fairs to be held.    Subsequently confirmatory charters were granted by King James VI in 1575 and also in 1614 when the monarch had become King James I of the United Kingdoms of Scotland and England.    In 1614 the burgh was the principal port on the Clyde.


Here is an outside link to a Map of Renfrew.     At the bottom right side of Queen Street is where old 64 High Street once stood.

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