Hillington, Scotland

Hillington is a residential suburb on the southwestern edge of the Scottish city of Glasgow. While the residential area is wholly within Glasgow, the greater part of the industrial estate with the same name falls under the jurisdiction of neighbouring Renfrew, although for business purposes, the area uses a Glasgow postcode.HistoryWorld War II shadow factoryWith the developing political situation in Europe in the mid-1930s, the British Government set up a plan to treble the output of the British aircraft industry. Under a plan managed by the Air Ministry, the Shadow factory plan was managed by industrialist Herbert Austin, with the aim to create nine new factories, and invest in enabling existing motor vehicle manufacturing plants to expand capacity and make the switch to aircraft production more easy.Rolls-Royce were key to the plan, and specifically production of their Merlin engine. Having developed a new facility themselves in Crewe, production director Ernest Hives was looking for a northern-based greenfield site with easy transport access, an available skilled workforce, and a local authority willing to build the required associated housing: Rolls had been let down in Crewe, and didn't want to repeat the experience. With its ready-built housing areas, easy access to the Glasgow to Paisley railway line, and in need of commercial activity, Hillington proved an opportunity not to be missed.