The Gift of the Cowan Park
HISTORY OF THE COWAN PARK – The park was opened in 1911, and was a legacy gift to the towns people of Barrhead www.barrhead-scotland.com/ from Mr James Cowan of Rosshall (now a hospital), he was a successful businessman who was originally from Barrhead, born in the town in 1830. As a native of Barrhead, he began his working life as a saddler but soon branched out into the haulage business. He became extremely successful in business as the owner of a large firm of railway contractors. Although he lived away from the town for many years he was always interested in it. He left £10,000 in his will to provide a public park and bandstand for the town. The park was officially opened on King George V’s Coronation Day. The ground used for the park was from the estate of John and Joseph Turner and for the opening of the park they provided gifts of trees and shrubs to beautify the site. They also gave commemoration medals to the towns’ children with other gifts given to the Provost and other dignitaries on that day. An avenue of lime trees to the left of the bandstand was gifted by Provost Andrew Shanks to mark the Coronation in 1953. The War memorial in the park grounds was unveiled in 1922. The memorial carries the names of 294 men who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War. It also mentions one woman, Rebecca McFarlane, daughter of the Gateside Laundry manager and nurse, during the War. The playing field was once Barrhead Aerodrome (1909-1911) and beyond is farmland, once a Maxwell possession for 560 years.
Video History of Old Barrhead
Video History of Old Barrhead