Estate: Barochan

Barochan, Renfrewshire
from ancient times until the 19th century

The Fleming family held Barochan from ancient times, although few records survive.

The Barochan Cross

The Barochan Cross is an ancient Celtic Christian monument dated to between the 8th and the 11th centuries. It is one of six known Christian crosses remaining from the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde and was originally located on the northside of Barochan burn, about 2 km north of Houston in Renfrewshire. 

The Fleming family had probably owned the Barochan estate before its baronial house was reputedly burnt-down by the English during the 1296 invasion of Scotland. 600 years later the local laird Malcolm Fleming moved the landmark Barochan Cross from its position at the Mill of Barochan, to the top of Corslie Hill, described as some 11 chain lengths (221 m) from its previous position. It remained there for the next 187 years, in an exposed position that caused significant weathering. In 1977, it was taken to Stenhouse Conservation Centre in Edinburgh. After the conservation work was completed in 1981 it was moved to Paisley Abbey to protect it from the elements.

Disposal

The Flemings of Barochan disposed of the estate in the late 19th century.