A NEW book will shed light on how the landscape of Barrhead and Neilston has changed over the past century.

Author and photographer Keith Fergus joined forces with local historian Matt Drennan to produce ‘Barrhead and Neilston: Then & Now.’

The book features modern day images from the two towns alongside 100-year-old snaps of the same locations.

Inspiration for the project came from a collection of postcards and old photographs Matt came across while working for the Neilston War Memorial Association.

Among the historic photos were various scenes of Barrhead and Neilston from the time of the First World War.

Teaming up with his friend Keith, they decided to create a ‘then and now’ collection of images, alongside details of how the area has changed over the decades.

And, to keep the project as close to home as possible, the book is being published by the Inchinnan-based Homework Diary Company.

It will be launched next month.
Keith, who took all of the up-to-date snaps, told the Barrhead News: “There was a lot of surprises for me when taking the photographs.

“Some areas were almost exactly the same as they were 100 years ago, while others have changed massively.”

Matt said that, although the images partially speak for themselves, a lot of research was carried out to provide relevant information alongside them.

He added: “A great deal of research went into finding out about the names of places and where these originated from and it was really interesting to see all that we have lost throughout time as a result of modernisation.

“Some of the old images create this romantic, almost chocolate box feel but, in reality, the little houses with thatched roofs were probably horrible and damp to live in.”

The book, priced at £10, is available for pre-order ahead of the official launch event at The Travellers Rest, in Neilston, on Saturday, December 8.

Matt said: “We have had a lot of orders from ex-pats who now live in the likes of the United States, New Zealand or Australia but still have a connection to Barrhead and Neilston.

“Many people who grew up here but then moved away are still interested in the area. It shows the love they have for the place they once called home.”