Arthurlie

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Arthurlie is an area in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. In medieval times the lands were held by the Stewart family, later passing to Allan Pollock and then Gavin Ralston of Woodside in Beith. The name means “Arthur’s meadow,” and the area has long been linked to legends of King Arthur. It was a large barony, and in 1818 Henry Dunlop bought it from Gavin Ralston. The Dunlop family ran Gateside Cotton Mill, and Arthurlie House was built that year, with the gardens expanded and remodelled. The estate stayed with the Dunlops until about 1938.

An ancient cross, known as the Arthurlee Cross, was found by Mr. Charles Taylor being used as a gatepost. He persuaded Henry Dunlop to rescue it. The cross is a ninth- to tenth-century sandstone shaft, linked to the Govan School of carving, and stands by the roadside in a modern base with railings. It is about 2.2 metres tall and one face is worn. It is believed to have stood at Cross-stane-park and was used as a footbridge over Colinbar Glen in the late 1700s before being moved to Arthurlie House grounds around 1870, and then moved again to its present position by Barrhead Council before 1942. Locally, people think it marks Arthur’s grave or a great leader named Arthur.