Houston - About the Area

The village was originally named Hews town after Hugo de Padvinan, who is recorded as one of the witnesses to the foundation charter of the Abbey of Paisley in 1160 granted by Walter, Hugh Steward of Scotland. Hugo's heirs and successors came to be known as Houstoun and many generations of the family are recorded in Houston Church. There were two churches in the area, one at Kilallan, founded by St Fillan, who is believed to have died there in 749 and the other probably on or near the site of the present Kirk of Houston, dedicated to St Peter and also tracing its foundation back to the eighth century. In 1771 these two parishes were united to form the Parish of Houston and Killellan. The Manse and Glebe at Kilallan were sold and a new and larger church was built at Houston to accommodate the combined congregation. Houston has expanded well beyond these humble beginnings and spreads from the outskirts of Linwood to the edge of Bridge of Weir.