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RenfrewshireErskine.png Erskine's location locally and nationally
Demographics
Population:	15,347 (2001 Census)
Administration
Local Government Region:	Renfrewshire
Nation:	Scotland
Geography
Traditional County:	Renfrewshire
Former Region:	Strathclyde
Post Office and Telephone
Post Town:	Erskine
Postcode:	PA8
Dialling Code:	0141

'Erskine' (''Arasgain'' in Scottish Gaelic) is a commuter town in Renfrewshire, Scotland, located on the southern bank of the River Clyde at the western extent of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. It neighbours are Renfrew, Bishopton, Inchinnan and Paisley and it is located near Glasgow International Airport.
Erskine was first developed in the 1970s for council housing to accommodate new arrivals to the area, mostly from Glasgow. The 1990s saw an increase in the provision of larger private housing. The town had a restriction on house building for five years, but this was later removed due to an influx of home buyers to the area.
The town consists of five main residential areas, Park Mains (built in the 1970s), Bargarran (built in the 1970s), Linburn (built in the 1970s), Garnieland (built in the 1990s) and Millfield (built in the 1990s).
Erskine is probably best known for the suspension bridge towering high over the town which it offers its name to, the Erskine Bridge although it is also well known as the location of Erskine Hospital; a facility for ex-servicemen and women which opened in 1916. This is located in an area of the town known locally as ‘old Erskine’.
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Contents

Schools

Retail/Leisure facilities

Nightlife

Famous residents

Town name (origins)

Schools

Erskine has five primary schools: Rashielea, Bargarran and Barsail and the Catholic schools St John Bosco and St Anne's. The town's high school, Park Mains, is the largest school in Renfrewshire, and one of the largest in Scotland with over 1,500 students. (Park Mains has recently received a grant from a private company which will refurbish the school and pay towards its regeneration. Some of this is already evident with the school having a new floodlit enclosed astro-turf football pitch.) Park Mains is no longer being refurbished under the PPP scheme and is to receive a council refurbishment from 2008 onwards.

Retail/Leisure facilities

The majority of Erskine retail and leisure facilities are located within the town's Bridgewater complex. It is home to a supermarket (Morrisons), bakery, newsagent, two restaurants, optician, doctor's surgery, two hardware stores, bookmakers, salon, a swimming pool, bank and a public library. A new supermarket is being built, replacing the current Morrisons store and is due to open on the 10th September 2007. The older supermarket is to be turned into other shops. There is also a National Lottery-funded Sports Centre.

Nightlife

There is not much available for nightlife directly in Erskine. There are 3 Local Pubs: the Park Mains, the Eriskyne and the Bridgewater Tavern. The Bridgewater Tavern is the most lively venue on weekends and is usually full of 18-24 year olds. The town is a very close and easy link for clubs and pubs in Paisley, Renfrew or Glasgow city centre.

Famous residents

★ Douglas Alexander, Member of Parliament

★ Wendy Alexander, Douglas' sister and Member of Scottish Parliament

★ James Sheridan, another Member of Parliament

★ John Smeaton, airport baggage handler, involved in thwarting the Glasgow terrorist attack

★ Ross Renton, educationalist and student leader

★ John MacKay, Journalist

★ Ian Ferguson, footballer

★ Dougie Vipond, ''Deacon Blue'' drummer and broadcaster

★ Jimmy Reid, journalist and trade union activist

★ John McArthur, Union general during the American Civil War.

★ Eileen Catterson, Miss Scotland 1988

★ Hugh Henry, Member of Scottish Parliament

★ Stewart Ferguson, Police Officer, involved in thwarting the Glasgow terrorist attack

Town name (origins)

The name Erskine derives from ''Eriskyne'', a contraction of the Gaelic ''air an sgian'', meaning ''upon the knife''. It is said that a Scotsman under the command of Malcolm II uttered the phrase after slaying a Danish leader at the Battle of Murthill.