County of Renfrew (First District)

Reference:GB 3143 F
Dates of Creation:1875 - 1975
Name of Creator:
Language of Material:English
Physical Description:

Scope and Content
Minutes, 1930 - 1974
Clerk's records, 1929 - 1974
Public Assistance records, 1930 - 1948
Special Lighting, Scavenging and Water District records 1888 - 1945
Finance records, 1923 - 1974
Sanitary Inspector's reports, 1920 - 1928
Administrative / Biographical History
Renfrew County Council was established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889, taking over powers from the Commissioners of Supply, County Road Trust and other local authorities. The County Council was abolished in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973, becoming part of Strathclyde Regional Council.
The First District, also known as the "Upper District of the County of Renfrew", was a subdivision of the County. Distaricts were established by the 1929 Local Government (Scotland) Act. They assumed the assets and responsibilities of the former Parish Councils.
N.b.: NOT to be confused with the second tier local authority which existed from 1974 to 1996
The First District covered an area broadly the same as the later Eastwood District, viz. Eaglesham, Williamwood, Giffnock, Netherlee, Stamperland, Thornliebank, Merrylee, Newton Mearns, Whitecraigs, Busby and Clarkston, but also extended into the southern fringes of what is now Glasgow city, inc. Cathcart.
The First District was responsible for a range of functions delegated from the County Council. These included burial grounds, lighting, scavenging (waste disposal), water, sewage, halls, libraries, parks, bridges, rights of way, war memorials, and latterly leisure services, maintenance of bus shelters, etc.
The records listed here also include the records of the County of Renfrew Public Assistance (poor relief) Department's First District.
Arrangement
F
1 Clerk
1.1 Minutes Books
1.2 Signed Minutes
1.3 Minor Committee Records
1.4 District Council motions book
1.5 Letter Books
1.6 Correspondence folder
1.7 Published records
1.8 Town Clerk Misc.
1.9 Photographs
2 Public Assistance Records
2.1 Index
2.2 Historical Registers
2.3 Re-applications
2.4 - 2.6 Other Public Assistance records
3 Special Districts
3.1 Cathcart Lighting
3.2 Cathcart Scavenging
3.3 Clarkston and Busby Lighting
3.4 Clarkston and Busby Scavenging
3.5 Eastwood and Mearns Water
3.6 Eastwood Lighting
3.7 Eastwood Scevenging
3.8 Giffnock Scavenging
3.9 Newton Mearns Water
4 Financial Records
4.1 Annual Reports
4.2 District Accounts
5 Sanitary Inspector
5.1 Annual Reports
Access Information
There is a 75 year closure period on poor relief records
Acquisition Information
The records were transferred to the archives via:
Accession 2006/02 - Neilston Leisure Centre (ERC Libraries) - Minutes, Public Assistance Records;
Accessions 2007/01 and 2007/05 - Bothy, Eastwood Park - Scavenging, Water & Lighting District Records;
Accession 2007/09 - Eastwood HQ collection - framed photographs
Accession 2014/12 - gavel and visitors' book; Cmtee Services
Accession 2017/01 (part) - property records
Note
This description was based on the General International Standard for Archival Description and East Renfrewshire Council's Manual of Listing and Archival Description.
Other Finding Aids
An item level list has been prepared and is searchable on the archives database.
Archivist's Note
Description prepared by Craig Geddes, Council Records Manager. 2014 - 2016
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the Archives
Appraisal Information
All records which transferred to the archives have been retained, except for some minor district committee records, duplicate accounts, and unsorted correspondence.
Custodial History
These archives were held by the successor Council and at some point were transferred to East Renfrewshire Council's Libraries Local Studies Section, where they were held at "the Bothy" in Eastwood Park and at the Neilston Leisure Centre.
Several series, in particular the District Committee records, were held in GCA boxes and were presumably held there for some part of the 1970s and 1980s.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Related Material
The records of the County of Renfrew are at Glasgow City Archives.