Kilmacolm: A History – Secrets of a Renfrewshire Village

The small parish of Kilmacolm in Renfrewshire may not spring immediately to mind as a location of any particular historical significance, but over the centuries the area has born witness to an astounding number of battles, sieges and feuds, and other events of huge national importance, which allegedly include the birth of William Wallace. People used to flock to the village from miles around for the famous ‘Kilmacolm Preachings’, a Burns Holy Fair, a marathon of preaching followed by a marathon of drinking and riotous behaviour. Here in the parish John Knox dispensed what was possibly the first Protestant communion in Scotland. The moors above Kilmacolm were a favoured spot for witches to rendezvous with the devil, and Kilmacolm’s minister was in the forefront of seeking them out.This definitive account of Kilmacolm examines 20th century archaeological findings, historical texts and local records to trace the history of the village and parish from prehistoric times, through the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, and from Roman occupation to the present day. It is a unique insight into a truly fascinating area in the Scottish landscape and history.