Lochwinnoch

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Lochwinnoch
gaelic_name=
scots_name=
os_grid_reference= NS353586
map_type= Scotland
latitude=55.79255
longitude=-4.62856
population= 2628 [ [http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/Navigation-ce-Lochwinnoch(TownsandVillages) Renfrewshire Community Website - Lochwinnoch ] ]
unitary_scotland=Renfrewshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Renfrewshire
post_town= JOHNSTONE|postcode_district = PA12
postcode_area= PA |dial_code= 01505
constituency_westminster= Douglas Alexander (Lab), Paisley & Renfrewshire South
constituency_scottish_parliament= Trish Godman (Lab), West Renfrewshire West of Scotland

Lochwinnoch is a village in Renfrewshire, Scotland, located on the banks of Castle Semple Loch and the River Calder. It is a mainly residential dormitory village. [ [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/towns/townfirst382.html Overview of Lochwinnoch ] ]

The village also lends its name to a civil parish of some fifty square miles of the surrounding countryside, including the nearby village of Howwood. The parish borders seven others: Beith, Kilbarchan, Kilbirnie, Kilmacolm, Largs, Neilston and Paisley. [ [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/parishes/parfirst799.html Overview of Parish of Lochwinnoch ] ]

History

Its name derives either from the Gaelic "innis" meaning 'island', or from St Winnoc, to whom a nearby chapel was dedicated.

In 1795, there were nine mills located in Lochwinnoch and the village was developed mainly to accommodate the work force. [ [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/towns/townhistory382.html Historical perspective for Lochwinnoch ] ] As such, the village is largely a planned community, rather than one evolving over time. [http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/Navigation-pt-Lochwinnoch(VisitingRenfrewshire) Renfrewshire Community Website - Lochwinnoch ] ] Today, it chiefly serves as a residential village. In 1972, a number of buildings in the village were brought within a Lochwinnoch convervation area administered by the local authority. [ [http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/PT-AB-LochwinnochConservationArea Renfrewshire Community Website - Lochwinnoch Conservation Area ] ]

Places of interest

The loch plays host to a variety of watersports, being part of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and an RSPB bird sanctuary is nearby. There are three public houses in Lochwinnoch; the Corner Bar, the Brown Bull and the Garthland Arms. There is also one restaurant, the Junction Bistro. Lochwinnoch Golf Club (eighteen holes) is on Burnfoot Rd.

There are three places of worship in the village. Lochwinnoch Parish Church (Church of Scotland) is located on Church Street and meets on Sunday at 11.00am, as does the Calder United Free Church also of Church Street. Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church meets at 10.00am in its building on the High Street.

Transport

The village is served by Lochwinnoch railway station on the Ayrshire Coast Line. Opened in 1840 it lies to the south east of the village, and is unstaffed.

A second Lochwinnoch railway station was opened in 1905 as part of the Dalry and North Johnstone Line, with the first station being renamed Lochside, until reverting to its original name when the second closed in 1966. The former railway line serving this second station has been converted into a cyclepath and is now part of the National Cycle Network's National Cycle Route Number 7. running from Glasgow to Gretna.

chools

Lochwinnoch Primary School, the village's only school, is situated on Calder Street. [ [http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/els-ps-Lochwinnoch-Primary-School Renfrewshire Community Website - Lochwinnoch Primary School ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.lochwinnoch.info Lochwinnoch Website]