Rising in the moors of Eaglesham to its confluence with the Black Cart Water at Inchinnan bridge and onwards to the River Clyde, the White Cart Water is a focus of local social and industrial history and the natural heritage of this its most highly urbanised section.
“Its upper and middle reaches, particularly in
Cathcart parish, and thence to the neighbourhood of Paisley, exhibit
beautiful scenery, sung by Burns, Campbell, Tannahill, and Graham; and
its waters drive a vast amount of machinery, particularly at
Pollokshaws and Paisley......
Once everywhere a noble angling water for trout, perch, and braise, the
Cart, both in its main body and in much of its upper streams, has been
foully polluted by the discharges of public works.”
(Gazeteer for Scotland, 1880s)
