Bridge of Weir. A village in Kilbarchan and Houston parishes, on the river Gryfe, 3 1/4 miles NW of Johnstone, 7 W by N of Paisley, and 14 W from Glasgow, on the Glasgow and South-Western railway. Owing its existence to the establishment of two large cotton mills in its vicinity in 1792 and 1793, it is rapidly growing in favour as a country residence for the merchants of the west, a large number of villas having been erected. It has a post office with money order, savings bank, and telegraph departments, a railway station, a branch of the Clydesdale Bank, several hotels, a water supply of 1881, a gaswork, a bowling-green, a golf club, a public school, a thread mill, a calico printing work, a saw mill, an Established church, a Free church, (1826, formerly Original Burgher), and a U.P. church. The Established church, erected in 1879 as a chapel of ease, was raised to quoad sacra status in 1887. Ranfurly Castle is a picturesque ruin about half a mile from the village, and gives the title of Earl to the Knox family; while near it stands Castle Hill, an artificial mound said to have been a Roman military work. Situated about a mile and a half from the village are the Orphan Homes of Scotland, inaugurated by Mr. William Quarrier in a back street in Glasgow in 1871, and then accommodating 30 children, but removed hither in 1876. From this time home after home has been added, until now there is accommodation for some 1100 boys and girls, with church, school, workshops, laundry, storerooms, and gardens. There is also a training ship for such lads as avow a desire to follow the life of a sailor--the chief object being to equip them for taking positions as missionary seamen in the mercantile navy, and also for becoming teachers of navigation. The length of the ship is 120 feet by 23, and the depth between decks 9 feet. The vessel is firmly fixed on solid land. The ground on which the homes are built--formerly the farm of Nittingshill, and bought by Mr. Quarrier for £3560--extends to about 40 acres, and belongs in perpetuity to the homes in connection with which there is neither directorate nor committee, all the property being vested in trustees. Donors of money are asked to state how they wish their gift to be applied--whether to maintenance, the emigration scheme, or the building-fund. The homes have been built and are supported by voluntary contributions. Only £12 is required for the maintenance, schooling, etc., of each child annually. Very many children, since the beginning of the work, have been taken to Canada and placed in carefully selected situations. Mr. Quarrier's latest undertaking is the erection of an hospital for the treatment of cases of consumption. In all his schemes he is generously supported by the public. Pop. (1861) 1443, (1871) 1315, (1881) 1267, (1891) 1646, of whom 1089 were in Kilbarchan.--Ord. Sur. sh. 30 1866.
Broadfield. An estate, with a handsome modern mansion, in Kilmalcolm parish.
Broadley. A seat of manufacture near Neilston village, in Neilston parish.
Brock. A burn in the E of Renfrewshire. It rises in Mearns parish, near the boundary with Ayrshire; receives soon the effluence from Brother Loch; runs northward to Balgray, Ryat-Linn, and Glen reservoirs, on the mutual boundary of Mearns, Neilston, and Eastwood parishes; proceeds northward, partly along the boundary between Neilston and Eastwood, partly within Eastwood; and falls into the Levern, nearly 2 miles W of Pollokshaws. Its length of course, inclusive of nearly a mile through the reservoirs, is about 6 1/2 miles.
Brother. A loch in Mearns parish, 2 3/4 miles SW of Newton-Mearns village. It has an extreme length and breadth of 3 1/4 and 3 furlongs, and it contains perch and trout.
Brownside. A place in Neilston parish. A cascade on the river Levern and a large quarry of trap rock are here.
Buckinch. A quondam island in the river Clyde, within Renfrew parish. It now forms part of the lands of Scotstoun.
Burnbrae. A modern mansion in Abbey Paisley parish, 1 1/2 mile ENE of Johnstone. It is a seat of Rt. Tho. Napier Speir, Esq. (b. 1841; suc. 1853), who owns in the shire 1527 acres, valued at £6487 per annum (£2736 of it for minerals).
Burnfoot. A hamlet, with a long-established bleachfield, in Lochwinnoch parish.
Busby. A manufacturing town, partly in the Lanarkshire parish of East Kilbride, but chiefly in Mearns and Cathcart parishes, Renfrewshire, 5 1/2 miles S of Glasgow by road, or 7 1/4 by a line (incorporated 1863) that diverges at Pollokshaws from the Barrhead railway, and has a length thence of 4 1/4 miles to Busby and 8 3/4 to East Kilbride. Standing on White Cart Water, and surrounded by charming scenery, it is a pleasant, well-built place, and has a post office under Glasgow with money order, savings bank and telegraph departments, a print-field, a cotton-mill (established 1780), a bleachfield, and chemical and starch works. There are an Established church, a Free church, a U.P. church (1836; 400 sittings), and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church (1880; 400 sittings). The town was in 1889 erected into the quoad sacra parish of Greenbank, comprising portions of Cathcart, Eastwood, and Mearns parishes. A public school, with accommodation for 540 children, had (1891) an average attendance of 314, and a grant of £311, 10s. Pop. (1841) 902, (1861) 1778, (1871) 2137, (1881) 2155, (1891) 1943, of whom 625 belonged to Lanarkshire; pop. of q. s. parish 2226.--Ord. Sur., sh. 22, 1865.