Counties > Renfrewshire > 1832-1833 - Historical and descriptive sketches of the towns and principal villages in the Upper Ward of Renfrewshire

SKETCH OF PAISLEY. II
AN
HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OP
JOHNSTONE.
Few places in Britain, exhibit so striking an illustration of
the effect of manufactures in originating and increasing towns,
in attracting, condensing, and augmenting population, as does
this thriving seat of business. Forty-six years ago, ntar that
bridge over the Black Cart, which, till lately, gave to the
place the popular appellation, " Brig of Johnstone," merely
a few cottages were to be seen, where now is a town, consist-
ing of two large squares, many considerable streets, and nu-
merous public works — with a population of about 7,000 souls.
It is probable that the town of Johnstone never would
have existed, or at most been confined to the few cottages
that stuck upon the ground near to the Brig, had not the
late public-spirited Laird of Johnstone, by his influence and
example, excited a spiritof industry among its inhabitants, and
cherished and supported it by his fatherly care and protection,
and, we are happy to say, that the seed has been sown in good
ground, as it continues to manifest itself by the increasing
wealth and prosperity of the enlightened and enterprising
merchants and traders belonging to the place.
Towards the end of October, 1782. nine houses of the New
Town of Johnstone had been built, two others were building,
and ground on which forty-two more were* to be built, had
been feued. In 1792. the inhabitants were 1434 in number;
in 1811, 3,647; in 1818, by computation 5,000. As the in-
troduction of the manufacture of cotton yarn by mill-ma-
chinery, led to the founding of Johnstone, so has the exten-
sion of the same manufacture caused its rapid increase, and
present prosperity. There are now, within the precincts of
the place, 17 cotton mills of varied extent, some propelled by
water, others by steam ; also, Elderslie, Cartside, and Lin-
wood mills, in the neighbourhood of Johnstone, making in
all 20 mills. Total amount of spindles in these mills, 151,203.
There are also in the town, two brass founderies, and two
extensive iron founderies ; five machine manufactories, and
a public gas work.