Things you didn't know about... Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire nurtured kings and warriors
Perhaps Renfrewshire's most famous son is William "Braveheart" Wallace, leader of the 13th-century rebellion against English rule. Renfrewshire is also known as "The Cradle of the Stewarts" because it is the county in which Robert II, the first of the Stewart monarchs was born.

Renfrewshire allowed the UK to bridge the gap
Renfrewshire son Sir William Arrol built the Forth Rail Bridge and the replacement for the original Tay Bridge, as well as London's landmark Tower Bridge.

Rock and role in druid justice
Renfrewshire is home to the famous Clochoderick Stone, a huge boulder that sits in a field south-west of Kilbarchan. According to geographers the stone is a "glacial erratic," a huge piece of rock deposited by a retreating glacier. But according to legend, the stone marks the burial place of one of the ancient kings of Strathclyde and was used by the druids in religious ceremonies and the dispensation of justice.

Politicians polish Renfrewshire leather
Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and David Cameron have all parked their behinds on Renfrewshire leather while debating the future of the country. In 1989 the seats of the House of Commons and the House of Lords were re-upholstered with green and red leather from tanneries in the Renfrewshire town of Bridge of Weir.

Renfrewshire carpeted the Titanic
Renfrewshire hasn't just upholstered the House of Parliament—throughout the years, carpets produced by the Elderslie-based Stoddard's carpet factory have graced the ill-fated Titanic, Concorde and Westminster Abbey for the Queen's wedding.

Renfrewshire, the home of marmalade and British communism
James Robertson, founder of Robertson's, manufacturer of the world famous Golden Shred marmalade, was born in Renfrewshire. And so was William Gallacher, one of the founding members of the British Communist Party.

Renfrewshire—the Scottish Salem
In the late 17th century, Renfrewshire was convulsed by a series of witch trials. Christian Shaw of Bargarran was famous for her involvement in these trials—at the age of 11 she accused a number of people of having bewitched her. Shaw later went on to found the thread industry in Renfrewshire.

Renfrewshire—from witches to Imps
Linwood in Renfrewshire used to build the famously chic little Hillman Imp motor car. High production costs, industrial disputes and poor sales saw the Linwood factory pass from Rootes Motors Ltd to Chrysler and finally to Peugot-Citröen, before the gates closed for the last time in May 1981.