A bowed end turns this modest early inn neatly around a tight roadside site near Elderslie.
Quick facts
- Date
- Early nineteenth century
- Architect / designer
- Builder and designer not identified
- Type
- Painted-ashlar roadside inn
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB35613)
- OS grid reference
- NS 43634 62903
Architecture and continuing use
The two-storey building is faced in painted ashlar and has a restrained pilastered doorway. Its most distinctive feature is the segmentally curved end, a practical and architectural response to the pointed or gusset-shaped plot.
Its story
The inn dates from the early nineteenth century, when the road through the Johnstone and Elderslie area supported travel, trade and local sociability. Current pub and licensing information continues to identify hospitality use at the Thornhill address.
Why it is included
Category C listing recognises a simple but distinctive roadside building that represents the everyday social and travel infrastructure of the wider settlement.
What to notice
- The curved end following the shape of the site.
- The modest pilasters framing the doorway.
- Smooth painted ashlar set against later roadside development.
Reading the surroundings
Use the premises only during advertised opening hours and follow the operator’s admission rules. View the exterior from safe public space and take care beside road traffic.
Timeline
- Early 1800s The inn was built beside the historic road.
- 1980 Its curved form and simple ashlar frontage received Category C listing.
- 2026 Pub and licensing sources continue to record hospitality use at Thornhill.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The venue name appears as both Thorn Inn and Thornhill Inn. Opening, food and event arrangements can change and should be checked directly.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Thorn Inn, LB35613 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB35613 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- CAMRA: Thornhill Inn — Current venue status, address and operating information, updated in 2026.
- Renfrewshire Licensing Board agenda, January 2026 — Recent official licensing context for the premises.
Location
OS grid reference NS 43634 62903 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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