Kilbarchan brings together a distinctive hand-weaving tradition, historical landmarks spanning several centuries, and the Lilias Day procession. Weaver’s Cottage puts weaving centre stage; church ruins, a famous grave and the designated Steeple Buildings add to the picture of the village’s history. There is also information about a bus route and a public car park for getting to the cottage.

Hand weaving at Weaver’s Cottage

At Weaver’s Cottage, hand weaving can be understood through the building, its equipment and the living conditions of the time. The house was built in 1723 and gives a vivid picture of the living and working conditions of a typical handloom weaver. The cottage also houses the village’s last working handloom. This brings the work at the loom together with the everyday life in which home and work were intertwined. If you are interested in traditional occupations, this offers a tangible way into local history: the craft is not presented in isolation, but in the context of a handloom weaver’s life.

Church and architectural history

The grounds of Kilbarchan Parish Church contain the ruins of the former 15th-century church of St Katherine. The grave of the famous 16th-century piper Robert “Habbie” Simpson is also located there. The village’s residents are named “Habbies” in his honour. The foundation stone of Kilbarchan Parish Church was laid in 1787. These details point to different periods: the older church ruins, Simpson, and the construction of the Parish Church.

Kilbarchan Steeple and Steeple Buildings is designated as a Category A listed building. This complements the dates associated with the Parish Church with a different kind of classification: the dates provide points of reference in time, while Category A denotes listed status. If you want to explore local history through buildings and their classifications, this distinction is a useful guide.

Lilias Day and the procession route

The Lilias Day procession is one of the oldest in Scotland. It passes through the village of Kilbarchan and then continues into Kilbarchan Public Park. This makes Lilias Day different in focus from the history of individual buildings and people: here, the event and its route take centre stage. If you want to plan your trip around the procession, check the event dates before making plans. This lets you distinguish a date-specific occasion from a more general interest in local history.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

There are two specific points of reference for getting to Weaver’s Cottage. The frequent No. 38 bus from Paisley and Glasgow, as well as from Johnstone station, passes directly by the cottage. A free public car park is 100 metres away. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable before setting off to make sure the service suits your travel date.

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: hand weaving and architectural history, or a trip timed to coincide with Lilias Day. In the latter case, take the event dates into account when planning your timing; for a focus on local history, the cottage, Parish Church and Steeple offer different points of interest. This way, you can choose Kilbarchan to suit your interests and plan your journey accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Johnstone, Giffnock, Lochwinnoch, Elderslie, Uplawmoor, Clarkston, Bridge Of Weir, Bishopton

For the wider travel overview: Renfrewshire.