Linwood

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses of the word see: Linwood (disambiguation)

Linwood
Linwood's location locally and nationally
Demographics
Population:	9,058 (1991 Census)
Administration
Local Government Region:	Renfrewshire
Nation:	Scotland
Geography
Traditional County:	Renfrewshire
Former Region:	Strathclyde
Post Office and Telephone
Post Town:	Paisley
Postcode:	PA3
Dialling Code:	01505

Linwood, a small town in Renfrewshire, Scotland, 14 miles south-west of Glasgow, which saw an explosion in its population during the middle of the 20th century due to the mass exodus of people from the Glasgow slums. At that time the town's economy relied on the Rootes Car plant and the Pressed Steel Company, both of which ceased production in 1981, leaving mass numbers of Linwood's 13,000 industry dependent workers unemployed.

In the period of 1980-1995 Linwood had one of the highest unemployment rates in Scotland. A new development off the M8, opened in 1996 as a dual retail park and leisure park, under a bridge off the slip road, opposite the main entrance to the town. Phoenix is the name of the retail park whose tentants include a 24-hour ASDA store, Currys and a drive-thru McDonalds. The Leisure Park operates a Hollywood Bowl, Burger King restaurant and drive-thru, KFC restaurant and drive-thru, Ashoka Shack and Pizza Hut and a Showcase Cinema. The centre was controversial built for the residents of Paisley, which lents the leisure park its name on the South Side.

Established on the former site of the Rootes Chrysler/Talbot Car Plant and together with the expansion of neighbouring Glasgow Airport, Linwood has become a favoured place to live, because of its easy traveling connections to nearby Glasgow via the M8 motorway and its easy and short traveling distance to Scotland's biggest town Paisley. Local bus links exist between nearby Johnstone, Paisley and Glasgow. They are frequent on a daily basis, and served by chartered bus companies.

Shopping and entertainment are easily accessed pleasures near Linwood. The town boasts a main shopping centre in nearby Paisley as well as easily commutable Glasgow.

Education needs are met by three primary schools, two non-denominational; Woodlands Primary School, and East Fulton Primary School and one Roman Catholic; Our Lady of Peace, and by three nearby high schools; one Roman Catholic High School,St Benedicts, one none-denominational; Linwood High School,temporarily on grounds of the former St Brendans High. and a Private school; St. Columbas. The University of Paisley and University of Glasgow are also within travelling distance, as well as many colleges.

[edit] Professional Footballers

Several footballers come from Linwood:

Billy Thomson: Former Scotland, Rangers, Dundee United and St. Mirren goalkeeper. He is the current Rangers Goalkeeping coach.

Paul Lambert: Former Scotland, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and St. Mirren midfielder and former Livingston manager. He held the captaincy for both Scotland and Celtic.

Darryl Duffy: Current Hull City and Scotland Under 21 Striker, he left Rangers for Falkirk after an unsuccessful apprenticeship. He was then sold to Hull City for a quarter of a million Pounds.

John Hillcoat: Former Dunfermline, Hamilton, Partick Thistle, Clydebank, Morton, Queen of the South, St. Mirren, Dumbarton, Stranraer, Ayr Goalkeeper and a current Brechin Player/Coach. He also writes a column for the Sunday Mail newspaper.

David Lowing: Former St. Mirren and Forfar Defender. He is currently playing for Ayr.

Craig McConnell: Former Dundee United, Hibernian, Coventry and Scotland Under 19 football player.

[edit] Place-name meaning

Linwood comes from the Anglo-Saxon worǒ 'enclosure' (not wood) with an uncertain first element. Other source suggests the following; The village name is a hybrid meaning ‘wood by the pool’ Llyn (Cumbric) ‘pool’; wudu (Anglo-Saxon) ‘wood’. Linwood is located 4.5km (3 miles) west of Paisley just off the A737.

Originally known as ‘The Linwood’, the settlement dates back to the fourteenth century when Linwood consisted of a small collection of farms and dwellings concentrated on the banks of the Black Cart. It was given the collective name The Linwood, with early mails showing it as 'Ye Lynwode'.

FUN FACT: A small town's school in Lincoln, New Hampshire is named Lin-Wood.