Johnstone

Johnstone is an industrial town in Renfrewshire, Scotland, sitting roughly 19 kilometers from Glasgow along the Black Cart Water. Streets fan out from the central square and the railway station, forming the backbone of the town layout.

The town began in 1782 when George Houstoun commissioned street plans around the Easter Cochrane estate, followed soon after by the building of a six-floor cotton mill. That mill drew workers and set the foundation for the industrial growth of the following century.

The Johnstone History Museum keeps records and objects from local textile works, including papers from William Paton Ltd and the manufacturers Clifton and Baird. Visitors see tools and documents from a time when weaving and spinning shaped the daily routines of workers across the town.

Two railway stations, Johnstone and Milliken Park, link the town to Glasgow with regular train services throughout the day. McGill's buses run to neighboring communities across Renfrewshire, adding to the transport network.

The Johnstone History Museum sits inside a Morrison's supermarket and is considered the first museum worldwide to operate within a grocery store. Visitors can browse local archives and textile displays between shopping trips.

Location: Renfrewshire

Shares border with: Linwood

GPS coordinates: 55.83333,-4.50000

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:30