The following article was published by Eddie McRorie on 19th August 2023 on the Johnstone History Facebook page and is reproduced here with his kind permission.
David Crawford was a farmers son from Sproulston Farm in Howwood and attended school in Lochwinnoch. He spent his early years working on the farm until the family started the well known dairy business in Johnstone, Crawford’s Dairies.
Crawford Dairies
While David was growing up on the farm , a girl called Edith Napier was also
growing up on a farm in Perthshire where they met and fell in love at Gleneagles
being there through their interest in golf.
They started off their married life on a farm at Lochwinnoch with Edith
commenting that this was a time in their lives they greatly enjoyed.
Owning to pressure of work in the Crawford’s Dairy business the couple moved to
Johnstone to a house named Dunmore in Thomson Avenue (named after a former
Provost).
Later they moved to the mansion house known as Lynnhurst in Park Road,
Johnstone. (The house was built for ex-provost John Lang Jnr. of Lang Lathes.)
and it was there after being married for ten years that they were blessed with
two daughters Fiona and Catriona.
Edith Crawford’s many interests included curling and the W.R.V.S. She was a
founder member and ex chairman of Johnstone Evening Townswomen’s Guild.
David Crawford is also keen on curling and was a member of St Mirrin Curling
Club in Paisley.
He is also well remembered in Johnstone for his 15 years of service in Johnstone
Town Council. During this time he was convenor of the Housing Management
Committee, and Treasurer, a Bailie and Police Judge.
One of David’s earliest memories is in the 1930’s Major Harold Glen-Coats
decided to have milk from the Crawford Farm at Howwood delivered to his
Ferguslie House. He was a very particular gentleman and his milk was put in
locked containers with the only people having keys being the Crawford and the
Major himself.
He also called at the farm once a month to inspect the cows. When the Glen-Coats
family went to their shooting lodge at Ardrishaig they still had to have
Crawford’s milk which was taken to Gilmour Street Station in Paisley and put on
a train to Gourock. From there it went by the steamer St Columba to Ardrishaig.
In due course the family decided to sell out to Express Dairies which later
merged with Scottish Farmers and David Crawford remained as a director of the
group for a number of years.
Lynnhurst Hotel
During this time the active Edith Crawford
decided to turn Lynnhurst mansion house into a small private hotel. However the
business grew so quickly that David was forced to give up his other work and
manage the hotel.
The Lynnhurst hotel was a success and when Woodlands the mansion next door
became available the Crawfords took it over. The two houses were then joined by
a large extension which coasted of a function suite holding 200 and a new
cocktail bar.
The conjoined hotel now had 34 bedrooms, 14 en-suite and 4 with showers, and the
Crawford’s thoroughly enjoyed their life of dispensing hospitality to visitors,
many of whom come from far away parts of the world.
In spite of the work of running this busy hotel the couple were still involved
with activities around the district and their services were constantly sought by
various organisations.
David Crawford was a founder member and ex-chairman of Ayrshire Young
Farmers Club and together they enjoyed keeping in touch with grass roots farming
of their early lives.
The Lynnhurst Hotel has changed hands more than once since David and Edith
Crawford owned it and is today a well known and liked venue in demand for
weddings and every kind of function.
Edith and David Crawford have left a lasting contribution to the fabric of
Johnstone.
On a personal note my late mother Betty McRorie a founder member of the ladies
bowling section of the Municipal Bowling Greens and my late father a member of
the gents used to retire to the The Bird In Hand at Quarellton for a refreshment
after the wappenshaw found a The new Lynnhurst Hotel a welcome addition in Park
road across from the bowling club. The Crawfords were well known to my parents
and it was no surprise when my mother, never one to miss an opportunity, who was
looking for new a new sponsor and trophy for the Ladies mixed pairs competition
asked Edith about being the sponsor to which Edith readily agreed. My mother
left it to Edith Crawford to pick a trophy and as you can see from the
accompanying photo of the presentation of trophies Edith did not disappoint by
buying the biggest trophy the club had dwarfing all the others. My mother is far
left on back row.
Click the link below to view photographs related to the
Crawford family.
Clicking on individual photographs will display them full size.