86-534: Paisley Museum and Art Galleries is a museum in Paisley , Scotland . It is currently closed for refurbishment and is due to reopen in 2025 with the title of Paisley Museum. It is located in the town of Paisley and is run by Renfrewshire Council . When it had art galleries, it housed one of the largest municipal art collections in Scotland , including over 800 paintings. The Museum and Art Galleries were gifted to
172-658: A Church of Scotland parish church. One of Scotland's major religious houses, Paisley Abbey was much favoured by the Bruce and Stewart royal families. King Robert III (1390–1406) was buried in the Abbey. His tomb has not survived, but that of Princess Marjorie Bruce (1296–1316), ancestor of the Stewarts, is one of Scotland 's few royal monuments to survive the Reformation . Paisley coalesced under James II's wish that
258-430: A 19th-century dispute between weavers and employers over payment for "sma' shot" – a small cotton thread which, although unseen, was necessary in holding together garments. A permanent military presence was established in the town with the completion of Paisley Barracks in 1822. The economic crisis of 1841–43 hit Paisley hard as most of the mills shut down. Among the mill owners, 67 of 112 went bankrupt. A quarter of
344-522: A business centre. As the administrative centre of the county of Renfrewshire , Renfrew District and, currently, Renfrewshire council area , Paisley is home to many significant civic buildings. Paisley Town Hall , adjacent to the Abbey, was funded by the will of George Aitken Clark , one of the Clark family, owners of the Anchor Mills. In competition, Sir Peter Coats funded the construction of
430-555: A former Cluniac monastery . Following the Reformation in the 16th century, it became a Church of Scotland parish kirk . It is believed that Saint Mirin (or Saint Mirren) founded a community on this site in 7th century. Sometime after his death a shrine to the Saint was established, becoming a popular site of pilgrimage and veneration. The name Paisley may derive from the Brythonic ( Cumbric ) Passeleg, 'basilica' (derived from
516-534: A grocer whose wife started making marmalade from oranges in 1860. This product was successful and a factory was opened in Storie Street, Paisley, to produce it in 1866 and additional factories were later opened in Manchester, London and Bristol. The company was taken over by Rank Hovis McDougall who closed its Stevenson Street factory and transferred production to England in the 1970s. Brown and Polson
602-566: A major religious centre of the Kingdom of Strathclyde . A priory was established in 1163 from the Cluniac priory at Wenlock in Shropshire, England at the behest of Walter fitz Alan, Steward of Scotland (died 1177). In 1245 this was raised to the status of an abbey. The restored Abbey and adjacent 'Place' (palace), constructed out of part of the medieval claustral buildings, survive as
688-615: A number of "decoy ponds" (mock airfields) used by the RAF after the Battle of Britain as part of a project code-named "Starfish Decoy" designed to confuse German spies. Paisley, as with other areas in Renfrewshire, was at one time famous for its weaving and textile industries. As a consequence, the Paisley pattern has long symbolic associations with the town. Until the Jacquard loom
774-514: A precedent was established that manufacturers (and other "neighbours" or fellow citizens) owe a duty not to do foreseeable harm to others by negligence, regardless of contractual obligations, which paved the way for modern tort law. The case is often called the "Paisley snail". Owing to its industrial roots, Paisley, like many industrial towns in Renfrewshire , became a target for German Luftwaffe bombers during World War II . Although it
860-620: A precise location of manufacture. Therefore, in 1973, John Irwin published an update of his book, named as The Kashmir Shawl, in which he removed all the images of the shawls related to a European manufacturing. Monique Lévi-Strauss clearly states that her research led her to focus on the shawls creative industries in France in the 19th century, for the reason that the shawl industries in the United Kingdom (Paisley), Austria (Vienna), Germany (Elberfeld) were inspired by France (Paris) and never
946-531: A significant collection of the original shawls in this design, and it has been used, for example, in the modern logo of Renfrewshire Council , the local authority. According to Monique Lévi-Strauss, information on the history of Kashmir shawls' weaving techniques had been described in books, but in a very unintelligible language. John Irwin published a book named Shawls, a Study in Indo-European Influences, in 1955, in which he relates
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#17327768824631032-595: Is a large town situated in the west central Lowlands of Scotland . Located north of the Gleniffer Braes , the town borders the city of Glasgow to the east, and straddles the banks of the White Cart Water , a tributary of the River Clyde . Paisley serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area , and is the largest town in the historic county of the same name . It
1118-517: Is also the site of Dykebar Hospital , a secure psychiatric hospital. Local parks include Fountain Gardens and Barshaw Park . On the outskirts of the town are a number of settlements such as Ralston , a residential area in the far east bordering the city of Glasgow . Ralston was outside the Paisley burgh boundary when constructed in the 1930s, but as a result of local authority reorganisation in
1204-574: Is by John Clark. The Abbey organ is reputedly one of the finest in Scotland, and was originally built by the most distinguished of all 19th-century organ builders, Cavaillé-Coll of Paris in 1874. This is one of only six in the UK. Since 1874 it has been rebuilt and extended four times. The organ as rebuilt by Walker in 1968 has 4 manuals, 65 stops and 5448 pipes.(National Pipe Organ Register; "The Organ at Paisley Abbey", booklet pub. Paisley Abbey) In 2009
1290-611: Is divided into five community policing areas: Paisley North-west (incorporating Glasgow Airport); Paisley South-west; Paisley East and Ralston; Paisley South; Gallowhill (as part of Renfrew and Gallowhill). Gallowhill is covered by the Renfrew Area Command. For judicial purposes, the area forms part of the sheriffdom of North Strathclyde and public prosecutions are directed by the Procurator Fiscal for Argyll and Clyde . NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1376-473: Is listed by the conservation organisation DoCoMoMo as one of the sixty key Scottish monuments of the post-war period. Other civic buildings of interest include the Russell Institute , an art deco building constructed in 1926. Most noticeable among the buildings of Paisley is its medieval Abbey in the centre of the town dating from the 12th century. The earliest surviving architecture
1462-422: Is located within the airport complex. Scotch whisky blenders and bottlers Chivas Brothers , now a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard , are also located in the town. The site of the former Rootes/Chrysler/Talbot on the western outskirts of the town is now home to Phoenix Retail Park. Numerous private developers have invested, creating various retail outlets, vehicle showrooms, restaurants, a cinema complex, hotel and
1548-515: Is often cited as "Scotland's largest town" and is the fifth largest settlement in the country , although it does not have city status. The town became prominent in the 12th century, with the establishment of Paisley Abbey , an important religious hub which formerly had control over other local churches. Paisley expanded significantly during the Industrial Revolution as a result of its location beside White Cart Water, with access to
1634-528: Is still used today as the congregating point for the annual Sma' Shot parade which takes place on the first Saturday in July. Paisley Abbey Paisley Abbey is a parish church of the Church of Scotland on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire , about 7 miles (11 kilometres) west of Glasgow , in Scotland . Its origins date from the 12th century, based on
1720-652: Is the National Health Service Board serving Paisley and the town's main hospital with accident and emergency facilities is the Royal Alexandra Hospital . Strathclyde Fire and Rescue is the statutory fire and rescue service covering Paisley, with one community fire station on the town's Canal Street. Water and sewerage is provided in Paisley by Scottish Water , a public body, and water and sewerage charges are collected alongside council tax by Renfrewshire Council ,
1806-575: Is the Category A listed Anchor Mills, built in 1886. The building was converted in 2005 into residential flats. Textiles have a longer history in Paisley, represented by the Sma' Shot cottages complex on Shuttle Street: a small public museum of weaving from its 18th-century origins as a cottage industry . Another landmark connected with the textile industry is the Dooslan Stane or Stone. The stone
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#17327768824631892-430: Is the south-east doorway in the nave from the cloister, which has a round arched doorway typical of Romanesque architecture which was the prevalent architectural style before the adoption of Gothic. The choir (east end) and tower date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are examples of Gothic Revival architecture . They were reconstructed in three main phases of restorations with the tower and choir conforming to
1978-601: The Glasgow School and the Scottish Colourists . In addition there is a contemporary collection which includes work by artists such as Steven Campbell and John Byrne , who was born in Paisley. The museum houses a collection of objects and documents covering the local history of Paisley and Renfrewshire, especially the importance of the textiles industry, tracing the history of the luxury shawl industry which developed in Paisley. The museum has recreated
2064-566: The Greek ), i.e. 'major church', recalling an early, though undocumented, ecclesiastical importance. In 1163, Walter fitz Alan , the first High Steward of Scotland issued a charter for a priory to be set up on land owned by him in Paisley. It was dedicated to SS. Mary , James , Mirin and Milburga . Around 13 monks came from the Cluniac priory at Much Wenlock in Shropshire to found
2150-530: The Paisley seat . For the House of Commons of the United Kingdom the town is divided between two constituencies covering the whole of Renfrewshire: Paisley and Renfrewshire North ( Alison Taylor MP ) and Paisley and Renfrewshire South ( Johanna Baxter MP ). Paisley lies within the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division of the Scottish police service and is one of three Area Commands in that division. Paisley
2236-531: The Paisley shawl and the Paisley pattern . However, industrial decline followed in the 20th century. By 1993, all of Paisley's mills had closed, although they are memorialised in the town's museums and civic history. The town now functions as a regional centre for local governance and services as well as a residential commuting area within the Greater Glasgow urban region. Formerly and variously known as Paislay , Passelet , Passeleth , and Passelay
2322-566: The textile mills of Paisley. The mills in 1861 had a stock of cotton in reserve, but by 1862 there were large-scale shortages and shutdowns. There were no alternative jobs for the workers, and local authorities refused to provide relief. Voluntary relief efforts were inadequate, and the unemployed workers refused to go to workhouses. Workers blamed not the United States, but rather the officials in London for their hardship and did not support
2408-618: The 12th century, it is uncertain whether the name of Paisley is of Cumbric or Gaelic origin, due to the linguistic shift that occurred around this time. The Roman name for Paisley was Vanduara. Paisley has monastic origins. A chapel is said to have been established by the 6th / 7th-century Irish monk, Saint Mirin , at a site near a waterfall on the White Cart Water known as the Hammils. Though Paisley lacks contemporary documentation it may have been, along with Glasgow and Govan ,
2494-466: The 1930s, there were 28,000 people employed in the huge Anchor and Ferguslie mills of J & P Coats Ltd , said to be the largest of their kind in the world at that time. In the 1950s, the mills diversified into the production of synthetic threads but production diminished rapidly as a result of less expensive imports from overseas and the establishment of mills in India and Brazil by J & P Coats. By
2580-574: The 1990s, it is now a suburb of Paisley. Public sector organisations in Paisley include the headquarters of Renfrewshire Council , the largest campus of the University of the West of Scotland , the Paisley campus of West College Scotland and the Royal Alexandra Hospital . Glasgow Airport , located on the northern edge of Paisley, is also a significant employer and part of the area's transport infrastructure. The airline Loganair 's registered office
2666-529: The Clyde and nearby ore, mineral and agricultural resources. Factories and mills developed leading to an increase in the town's population. The town's associations with political radicalism were highlighted by its involvement in the Radical War of 1820, with striking weavers being instrumental in the protests. By the late 19th century, Paisley was a global centre of the weaving industry, giving its name to
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2752-688: The Coats family, Archibald. This missal is the only extant pre Reformation missal ( liturgical book ) of the Scottish Use and in 2007 it was awarded a prestigious top award in the British Library 's Hidden Treasures Brought to Life competition. The museum is currently closed to the public. [REDACTED] List of Scottish artists Paisley, Renfrewshire Paisley ( / ˈ p eɪ z l i / PAYZ -lee ; Scots : Paisley ; Scottish Gaelic : Pàislig [ˈpʰaːʃlɪkʲ] )
2838-598: The Gallow Green. Their remains were buried at Maxwelton Cross in the west end of the town. This was the last mass execution for witchcraft in western Europe. A horse shoe was placed on top of the site to lock in the evil. A horse shoe is still visible in the middle of this busy road junction today—though not the original. The modern shoe is made of bronze and bears the inscription, "Pain Inflicted, Suffering Endured, Injustice Done". The Industrial Revolution , based on
2924-644: The Kashmir shawl's history and how these shawls spread on the European market during the 19th century. The book showed images of shawls woven in India and also fifteen images of shawls woven in United Kingdom, amongst which is one assigned to a Paisley manufacture, circa 1850. But according to Monique Lévi-Strauss, it resembles by many details a shawl designed by a French designer named Antony Berrus, born in 1815 at Nîmes-France and died in 1883. The designer studied at
3010-558: The abbey to the White Cart. The drain is thought to date from AD 1350-1400 and is up to 2m wide and up to 2.2m high. The drain contains stonemasons marks on the walls, and marks where gates used to be. Before accessing the drain, water has to be pumped out. Paisley Abbey Drain is designated by Historic Environment Scotland as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and has similarities to other monastery drains, such as Fountains Abbey , Dundrennan Abbey and Melrose Abbey . A virtual tour of
3096-619: The burgh's name is of uncertain origin; some sources suggest a derivation either from the Brittonic word pasgill , "pasture", or from the Cumbric basaleg , "basilica", (i.e. major church), derived from the Greek βασιλική basilika . Some Scottish placename books suggest "Pæssa's wood/clearing", from the Old English personal name Pæssa , "clearing", and leāh , "wood". Pasilege (1182) and Paslie (1214) are recorded previous spellings of
3182-488: The choir incorporating a much-restored female effigy is widely believed to be that of Marjorie Bruce. Although there is no evidence that she is buried at exactly that location, her remains are thought to be within the abbey. The tomb is reconstructed from fragments of different origin - the base, is likely to have originally formed part of the pulpitum of the Abbey (a stone screen separating nave and choir), such as survives at Glasgow Cathedral . Opposite Marjorie Bruce lie
3268-547: The community. Paisley grew so rapidly that it was raised to the status of abbey in 1245. Monks from Paisley founded Crossraguel Abbey in Carrick, Ayrshire , in 1244. In 1307, Edward I of England had the abbey burned down. It was rebuilt later in the 14th century. William Wallace , born in nearby Elderslie, is believed to have been educated in the abbey for some time when he was a boy. In 1316, Marjorie Bruce , daughter of Robert I of Scotland and wife of Walter Stewart ,
3354-513: The designs of Dr Peter MacGregor Chalmers. The roof in the nave is the most recent of restorations with the plaster ceiling by Rev Dr Boog which was added in the 1790s being replaced by a timber roof in 1981. Former Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church , named for the industrialist Thomas Coats (1809–1883), is an example of Gothic Revival architecture . It dominates the town's skyline with its crown spire more than 60 m (197 ft) high. Opened in 1894 and designed by Hippolyte Jean Blanc it
3440-502: The drain is available on YouTube. Archaeological investigations and excavations took place in 1996, 3–16 September 2009, 2–12 September 2011 and 4 September 2013 and many items discovered. Some of these are now on display in the abbey. These include: Events to involve the public in the archaeological investigation of the drain have been held, with the Renfrewshire Local History Forum . A tomb in
3526-676: The drawing School of Nîmes, before settling in Paris and opening in the French capital his own successful design studio, which employed 200 designers. His textile drawings were sold to Lyon in France, in Scotland, in England, in Austria and also in Kashmir. The fact that shawl patterns drawings were made in Europe, sold there and also to India, made the research work extremely difficult, in order to give
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3612-480: The end of the 1993, there was no thread being produced in Paisley. The town also supported a number of engineering works some of which relied on the textile industry, others on shipbuilding . Paisley once had five shipyards including John Fullerton and Company (1866–1928), Bow, McLachlan and Company (1872–1932) and Fleming and Ferguson (1877–1969). A number of food manufacture companies existed in Paisley. The preserve manufacturer Robertsons began in Paisley as
3698-406: The failed Radical War between 1816 and 1820. Through its weaving fraternity, Paisley gained notoriety as being a literate and somewhat radical town. Political intrigue, early trades unionism and reforming zeal came together to produce mass demonstrations, cavalry charges down the high street, public riots and trials for treason. Documentation from the period indicates that overthrow of the government
3784-481: The iconic Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn . The ceiling bosses are designed by Sir Robert Lorimer and carved by James A Young. The choir stalls, with their wealth of carved animals are by William and Alexander Clow. Paisley Abbey has been rebuilt and its original design modified as a result of the building being destroyed in 1307, its tower's collapse in the 16th century, and general disrepair that occurred as
3870-576: The idea of war with the United States. Many of the cotton mills either closed or were converted to thread manufacture which became the main focus of the textile industry in Paisley until the 20th century. Paisley suffered heavy losses in the First World War . Paisley War Memorial was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer (other sources say Harold Tarbolton ) in 1922 and depicts Robert the Bruce going into battle on horseback escorted by footsoldiers dressed as First World War infantry soldiers. It
3956-459: The imitation Kashmir (cashmere) shawls called "Paisley". Under the leadership of Thomas Coats (1809–1893), Paisley became the world centre for thread making. Mills and textile factories grew from the late 18th century, coming to dominate the town in the late Victorian era . These include the Anchor and Seedhill mills, as well as the adjacent Atlantic, Pacific and Mile End mills. Another example
4042-485: The importance of weavers. Politically the mill owners remained in control of the town. However, other industrial development continued in and around Paisley outside of textiles, including the development of ironstone and oil shale extraction at Inkerman . The town also had numerous other industries, examples include numerous engineering works, as well as a distillery, ironwork, dye works and tanneries. The American Civil War of 1861–1865 cut off cotton supplies to
4128-412: The instrument underwent a major restoration by Harrison and Harrison of Durham. The work included major cleaning and servicing, the provision of a new wind system and the addition of a 32 ft contre bombarde. The latter was part of the 1968 scheme by Ralph Downes but not included in the work actually undertaken. The twelve angel corbels and stone communion table are by Pilkington Jackson , sculptor of
4214-569: The lands should become a single regality and, as a result, markets, trading and commerce began to flourish. In 1488 the town's status was raised by James IV to Burgh of barony . Many trades sprang up and the first school was established in 1577 by the Town Council. The Paisley witches , also known as the Bargarran witches or the Renfrewshire witches, were tried in Paisley in 1697. Seven were convicted and five were hanged and then burnt on
4300-416: The life of St Miren. It was originally brightly painted and may have been part of a rear panel of an altar before being put up as a frieze on the wall. A succession of fires and the collapse of the tower in the 15th and 16th centuries left the building in a partially ruined state. Although the western section was still used for worship, the eastern section was widely plundered for its stone. From 1858 to 1928
4386-500: The local authority, on its behalf. Renfrewshire Council is also responsible for the provision of waste management in the area. Paisley's distribution network operator , the organisation licensed to transmit electricity from the National Grid to consumers, is Scottish Power . Paisley sits primarily on an expanse of low ground around 12 metres (40 ft) above sea level surrounding the White Cart Water , which runs through
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#17327768824634472-851: The loss of almost 5,000 jobs. At one time M&Co. (Mackays) had its head office in Caledonia House in Paisley. Paisley had several cinemas in the town, all of which have since closed, including the Palladium (closed 1960s), the Regal, the La Scala Picture House (the B listed art deco 1912 facade of the cinema is now the entrance to the Paisley Centre) and the Kelburne. In 2015, the town launched its bid to become UK City of Culture in 2021. On 15 July 2017 Paisley
4558-503: The modern Paisley Museum and Central Library (1871), also in a neo-Classical style. The Clarks and Coats families dominated Paisley industry until their companies merged in 1896. Renfrewshire's former County Buildings, Police Station and Jail on County Square were demolished in 1821, and the County Council then met in a newer neo-classical building, completed in 1890, which now houses Paisley Sheriff Court . Renfrewshire House,
4644-553: The modern headquarters of Renfrewshire Council, was constructed as Paisley Civic Centre. Designed by Hutchison, Locke and Monk following a competition, the building was designed to house offices of both the county and town councils. It was intended to become a civic hub for Paisley but the absence of any shops and non-council premises prevented this from happening. It became the home of the Renfrew sub-region of Strathclyde Regional Council in 1975 and of Renfrewshire Council in 1996. It
4730-592: The name. The Gaelic translation is Pàislig . It is worth noting that some sources favour the name of the town as having its roots in the Gaelic word Baisleac , which is, like the Cumbric basaleg , derived from basilika . As Paisley was part of the Cumbric speaking Kingdom of Strathclyde , before being absorbed into the Gaelic speaking Kingdom of Alba in the 11th century, and with Cumbric being considered extinct by
4816-410: The north porch and the eastern choir were reconstructed on the remains of the ruined walls by the architect Macgregor Chalmers. After his death, work on the choir was completed by Sir Robert Lorimer . Paisley Abbey is the burial place of all six High Stewards of Scotland, Marjorie Bruce who was the mother of Robert II , and the wives of Robert II. The Celtic Barochan Cross , once sited near
4902-499: The north of the Abbey, marks the spot where she reputedly fell from her horse. In 1491, absolution was granted by Abbot George Shaw, representing the Pope and in the presence of the relics, to James IV of Scotland and others implicated in the death of James III at the Battle of Sauchieburn . By 1499 Shaw had had built a new, larger pilgrims' chapel and added the sculptured stone frieze which can still be seen today, showing scenes from
4988-453: The opposite. The author then invited textile specialists from these countries to conduct research on their own field. Monique Lévi-Strauss notes the large influence that Kashmir had on the French shawl creative industries, narrowly linking the French history of Kashmir shawls to the Indian ones. The high-status skilled weavers mobilised themselves in radical protests after 1790, culminating in
5074-450: The population was on poor relief. The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel decided to act. He secured additional funds for relief and sent his own representative to the town to supervise its distribution. He convinced Queen Victoria to wear Paisley products in order to popularise the products and stimulate demand. Overproduction, the collapse of the shawl market and a general depression in the textile industry led to technical changes that reduced
5160-420: The post-war period. These include portions of Glenburn (south), Foxbar (south west), Ferguslie Park (north west), Gallowhill (North East) and Hunterhill (South East). Gockston in the far north of the town has many terraced houses, and after regeneration has many detached and semi-detached houses as well as several blocks of flats. Dykebar , to the south east of the town centre, is a residential area which
5246-411: The region of the modern manhole leading to the drain. As the significance of this discovery was not realised at the time, access to the hole was quickly covered, and soon forgotten about. That was until 1879, when The Glasgow Herald mentioned the discovery of the subterranean passage. This was also forgotten about, and not ‘re-discovered’ until 1990, when a 90 metre stretch of tunnel was found running from
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#17327768824635332-419: The result of time and weather. During a restoration project that took place in the 1990s, a stonemason from Edinburgh hired to replace twelve crumbling stone gargoyles erected one bearing a strong resemblance to the space creature from the 1979 science fiction film Alien . A picture of the gargoyle went viral in 2013, though a photograph of the statue first surfaced on the internet in 1997. In 2002, it
5418-487: The returns used to pay for the upkeep of the entomological collections and all his books. The museum has been extended on several occasions since it opened. There are plans for a revamp of the Museum to transform it into an "international-class destination" based around the Paisley's heritage story. The art collection concentrates largely on works by late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century Scottish artists, such as
5504-552: The shawls, which bore the Paisley Pattern made fashionable after being worn by a young Queen Victoria . Despite being of a Kashmiri design and manufactured in other parts of Europe, the teardrop-like pattern soon became known by Paisley's name across the western world. Although the shawls dropped out of fashion in the 1870s, the Paisley pattern remains an important symbol of the town: the Paisley Museum maintains
5590-459: The sixth High Steward of Scotland , was out riding near the abbey. During the ride, she fell from her horse and as she was heavily pregnant at the time, she was taken to Paisley Abbey for medical care. There, King Robert II was born by caesarean section , in a time when anaesthesia would not have been available. She was later buried at the abbey. A cairn , at the junction of Dundonald Road and Renfrew Road, approximately 1 mile (2 kilometres) to
5676-504: The surrounding areas to carry out historic building repair and traditional shopfront reinstatement. Paisley is the administrative centre for the council area of Renfrewshire Council , and also lies within the registration county of the same name . The town is divided into Community Councils for representation at the most local level. Paisley in represented in the Scottish Parliament by George Adam MSP , who holds
5762-462: The textile industry, turned Paisley from a small market town to an important industrial town in the late 18th century. Initially beginning with small scale weaving (as took place at the Sma’ Shot cottages located in Shuttle Street), Paisley's location and workforce attracted English mill owners; migrants from Ayrshire and the Highlands poured into a town that offered jobs to women and children until silk fell out of fashion in 1790. The mills switched to
5848-501: The tombs of Robert III of Scotland and Simon fitz Alan . A Latin inscription commemorates the three children of Margaret Seton and Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley who died as infants; Margaret (1577), Henry (1585), and Alexander (1587). Stained glass (removed in the Reformation ) began to be replaced in the 1870s. Major works include a window by Edward Burne-Jones and the huge east window by Douglas Strachan . The dramatic memorial window to James D. D. Shaw dates from 1989 and
5934-426: The town centre. There are some hills and ridges which have been absorbed as the town has expanded. The settlement is historically centred on Oakshaw, an area surrounding a hill to the north of the current High Street. Oakshaw is a conservation area , and on the high ground many of Paisley's significant buildings can be found, such as the High Kirk , the Coats Observatory and the former John Neilson Institution, which
6020-399: The town of Paisley by the industrialist Sir Peter Coats in 1871. The building, which also houses Paisley Library and the Coats Observatory , was designed by Glasgow architect John Honeyman of the firm of Honeyman and Keppie . The first curator of the Museum was the entomologist Morris Young who remained in post until his death in 1897 leaving the Museum a bequest of £500 to be invested and
6106-465: The town's key attractions. This includes a £22million refurbishment to the Town Hall which reopened in October 2023, a new £7million Central Library and Learning Hub on the High Street which opened November 2023, and a £45million transformation of Paisley Museum due to be completed in late 2024. Renfrewshire Council also maintains its Townscape Heritage Initiative and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme to provide grants to property owners in Paisley and
6192-517: The town, just off Neilston Road toward Barrhead . It contains a variety of architecture ranging from mock Tudor to Art Deco . Many of the houses were designed by W. D. McLennan, a contemporary of Charles Rennie MacIntosh . McLennan also designed several local churches such as St Matthew's Church. Particularly following the Housing Act 1946, modern Paisley grew into the surrounding countryside, and several large residential areas were created in
6278-579: The village of Houston , Renfrewshire, is now inside the abbey itself. The cross is thought to date from the 10th century. In the abbey's nave, the Wallace Memorial Window, which depicts the image of Samson, was donated in 1873. The earliest written record of a tunnel around Paisley Abbey dates from 1829, when workmen digging in the garden of one John Crawford in Ellis Lane, fell through into a tunnel. Early maps show Ellis Lane being in
6364-486: The work and a weaving using a traditional hand loom can be seen on site It also contains an archaeological collection which includes objects from Ancient Egypt and Babylon and an extensive natural history collection, the museum also houses the local biological records centre. One of the most important items in the Museum's collection is the Arbuthnott Missal which was presented to the Museum by another of
6450-458: Was Underwood Mill, a cotton mill founded in the 1780s which was later rebuilt as a thread mill in the 1860s (it fell into disuse in the 1970s). Other thread mills include Oakshaw thread works (later used by Arrol-Johnston car manufacturers) and the Burnside thread works. By the mid-19th century weaving had become the town's principal industry. The Paisley weavers' most famous products were
6536-527: Was a meeting place of the Weavers Union in the south of Paisley; it was also used as a " soapbox " and was originally inscribed with its history (now largely faded). It was moved from its original site at the corner of Neilston Road and Rowan Street to its present location in Brodie Park. Also present, arranged around the Dooslan Stane, are the four original Paisley Tolbooth stones. The Dooslan Stane
6622-466: Was announced as one of five shortlisted candidates, On 7 December 2017 it lost to Coventry . Following the announcement, Renfrewshire Council and the Paisley 2021 Board stated that Paisley's "journey will continue" and that the bid process was "just the beginning" for regeneration processes in the town. Funding acquired during the City of Culture bid has led to multi-million pound regenerations for many of
6708-533: Was built in 1905–07. Dating from circa 1160 Blackhall Manor is the oldest building in Paisley. It was given to the Burgh of Paisley by the Shaw-Stewart family in 1940, but was threatened with demolition in 1978. It was privately purchased in 1982 and fully restored as a private dwelling. As a result of its historic textile industry, Paisley has many examples of Victorian industrial architecture. Most notable
6794-524: Was even contemplated by some. The weavers of Paisley were certainly active in the 'Radical War'. The perceived radical nature of the inhabitants prompted the Tory Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli to comment "Keep your eye on Paisley". The poet Robert Tannahill lived in this setting, working as a weaver. Paisley's annual Sma' Shot Day celebrations held on the first Saturday of July were initiated in 1856 to commemorate
6880-642: Was formed in Paisley in 1840 and two years later started producing starch for the weaving trades, by 1860 it was making food products including its patent cornflour . It later became CPC Foods Ltd, a subsidiary of Unilever , which produced Hellmann's mayonnaise , Gerber baby foods and Knorr soups. The company ceased production in Paisley in 2002. The Piazza shopping centre was opened by Sean Connery in 1970 and has since been modernised several times. In 1981 Peugeot Talbot , formerly Chrysler and before that Rootes , announced that its Linwood factory just outside Paisley would cease production. This led to
6966-419: Was introduced in the 1820s, weaving was a cottage industry . This innovation led to the industrialisation of the process and many larger mills were created in the town. Also as a consequence of greater mechanisation, many weavers lost their livelihoods and left for Canada and Australia. Paisley was for many years a centre for the manufacture of cotton sewing thread . At the heyday of Paisley thread manufacture in
7052-435: Was not bombed as heavily as nearby Glasgow (see Clydebank Blitz ), air raids still occurred periodically during the early years of the war, killing nearly a hundred people in several separate incidents; on 6 May 1941, a parachute mine was dropped in the early hours of the morning claiming 92 victims; this is billed the worst disaster in Paisley's history. The Gleniffer Braes , on the southern outskirts of Paisley, are home to
7138-460: Was once a school and is now converted into residential flats. Paisley expanded steadily, particularly in the Victorian and Edwardian eras , creating many suburbs. Castlehead is a wooded conservation area primarily made up of Victorian villas where many of the town's leading industrialists made their homes in the late 19th century. Thornly Park is another conservation area, to the south of
7224-421: Was sculpted by Alice Meredith Williams . Paisley was also the site of an incident that gave rise to a major legal precedent. In a Paisley cafe in 1928, a woman claimed to find a dead snail in a bottle of ginger beer, and became ill. She sued the manufacturer for negligence. At the time a manufacturer was considered liable only if there was a contract in place with the harmed party. After Donoghue v Stevenson ,
7310-519: Was the first Catholic church to be built in Scotland since the Reformation . With the erection of the Diocese of Paisley in 1947 the church was raised to cathedral status. St Matthew's Church ( Church of the Nazarene ) at the junction of Gordon Street and Johnston Street is Art Nouveau in style. Designed by local architect William Daniel McLennan, a contemporary of Charles Rennie Mackintosh , it
7396-590: Was the largest Baptist church in Europe. The exterior is made of old red sandstone. Inside, the church is decorated with wood carvings, mosaic floors and marble fonts. The church also contains a 3040 pipe Hill Organ. The St Mirin's Cathedral in Incle Street is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Paisley . The church was completed in 1931 to replace an earlier building, in nearby East Buchanan Street, which dated from 1808. The original St Mirin's church
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