Quarriers Village - About the Area

Following a childhood of poverty in Glasgow, William Quarrier resolved never to forget the squalor of his own youth and decided to devote himself to helping the many orphans he found roaming the streets of Glasgow.  He opened his first orphanage in the city of Glasgow in 1871. However, Quarrier felt that the facilities offered by large orphanages was inadequate and set about developing the concept of Cottage Homes.  These would house small numbers of children who could live together under the care of a housemother and housefather.  As a result the first Cottage Home was opened near Bridge of Weir in 1878 and by the 1980s the complex contained more that 50 cottages along with a school, church, dairy, poultry farm and workshops. The village is no longer an orphanage and the Quarriers Organisation now provides a diverse range of services offering practical support and care for children, adults and families through more than 85 projects around Scotland and England.