Braehead

Ever wondered what lies beneath a shopping mall? Braehead in Renfrew, once an island called King’s Inch, holds a history as layered as a good lasagna. Braehead’s story begins long before the shopping centre. This very spot was once an island in the Clyde, a strategic location chosen for Renfrew’s first castle in the 12th century. Imagine Walter Fitz-Alan, High Steward of Scotland, surveying his newly built fortress. This island stronghold was later abandoned, replaced by a stone castle in what is now Renfrew’s centre. But King’s Inch wasn’t forgotten. In the 15th century, Sir John Ross built Inch Castle here, a three-story testament to the island’s enduring importance. Centuries passed, and King’s Inch transformed again. In 1769, tobacco merchant Alexander Speirs acquired the land. He demolished Inch Castle to make way for Elderslie House, a grand mansion designed by Robert Adam. Can you picture the elegant gatherings that must have taken place within its walls? But progress marches on. The mansion met its end in 1924, making way for Braehead Power Station. The power station, initially coal-fired, then oil-fired, hummed with industry until the 1980s. Its demolition in the 1990s cleared the path for the Braehead we know today. But even amidst this transformation, a dramatic event shook the area. On January 4, 1977, a warehouse explosion rocked Braehead. Three boys, seeking warmth in a makeshift den, accidentally ignited 70 tonnes of weedkiller. The blast, equivalent to 820kg of TNT, shattered windows across Renfrew and Clydebank. Thankfully, due to the Hogmanay holiday, no lives were lost. Braehead shopping centre, opened in 1999, now dominates the landscape. It houses over 100 shops, including Scotland’s largest IKEA. The centre brought an economic boom, generating millions for the local economy. But even in the modern era, echoes of the past remain. A boundary dispute arose, with the shopping centre straddling the line between Glasgow and Renfrewshire. Finally, in 2002, Braehead was officially declared part of Renfrewshire, returning it to its historical roots. From island fortress to bustling commercial hub, Braehead’s journey reflects the ever-changing currents of history.