Historic fire engine finds a new home

A 300-year-old fire engine has found a new home thanks to the Kilbarchan General Society.

- EMYLIE HOWIE

The organisation - which has been supporting local charities and good causes since 1765 - has arranged for the antique to be put on display at the Donald Malcolm Heritage Centre in Linwood.

And that means an important part of the village's history will be preserved.

Members of the Kilbarchan General Society and Andrew Malcolm, chief executive officer of The Malcolm Group, were joined by Tom Arthur - MSP for Renfrewshire South and the minister for social care and mental wellbeing - to unveil the recently-refurbished and restored historic village fire engine.

The fire engine was built in London in 1723 and gifted to the village from the estate of the Laird of Milliken in 1765 where it operated until 1892.