Old Photograph Weavers Cottages Kilbarchan Scotland

Old photograph of Weavers cottages in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, near Glasgow, Scotland. This Scottish village was known for its former weaving industry. At one time there were 800 weavers in this village. Mary Barbour was born on 20 February 1875 at 37 New Street, Kilbarchan to Jean Gavin and James Rough, a handloom carpet weaver. She was the third of seven children. Barbour attended school until she was fourteen years old. In 1887, the family moved to the village of Elderslie and Barbour worked as a thread twister, eventually becoming a carpet printer. On 28 August 1896, Mary Rough married engineer David Barbour, born 2 May 1873, died 13 November 1957, at Wallace Place, Elderslie. By the 1901 census, the couple had settled in Govan at 5 Macleod Street, where they lived with their son James. By the 1911 census, the family, including another son, William, had moved to 43 Ure Street, now Uist Street. Barbour was closely associated with the Red Clydeside movement in the early 20th century and especially for her role as the main organiser of the women of Govan who took part in the rent strikes of 1915. In 1933 Barbour moved to a council house at 34 Cromdale Street in Drumoyne, Glasgow where she lived until her death. Barbour died the year after husband David at the age of 83 in the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, and her funeral was held at Craigton Crematorium in Cardonald near Govan.


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