Situated in the west central Lowlands of Scotland, the town of Paisley is north of the Gleniffer Braes, bordering Glasgow to the east and straddling the banks of the White Cart Water, a tributary of the River Clyde.
Paisley is the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire Council Area, and the largest town in the County Renfrewshire.
Known at various times as Paislay, Passelet, Passeleth, and Passelay, the origin of Paisley's name is uncertain, although it has been suggested that it was of Cumbric or Gaelic origin. The Roman name for the settlement was Vanduara.
Paisley grew around a chapel established by Saint Mirin, a 6-7th-century monk, near a waterfall on the White Cart Water known as the Hammils. It is believed to have been a major religious centre of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. In 1163, a priory was established from the Cluniac priory in Shropshire, England, and this was raised to the status of an abbey in 1245. Restored, the abbey and adjacent Place (palace) survive as a Church of Scotland parish church. Paisley Abbey was favoured by the Bruce and Stewart royal families, and King Robert III was buried in the Abbey. Although his tomb did not survive, that of Princess Marjorie Bruce, ancestor of the Stewarts, is one of the few royal monuments to survive the Scottish Reformation.
James IV raised the status of the town to Burgh of Barony in 1488, after which the first school in Paisley was established in 1577 by the Town Council.
In 1697, Paisley experienced the Paisley Witch Trials, in which seven women, known as the Paisley witches, the Renfrewshire witches, or the Bargarran witches, were convicted of witchcraft, and five were hanged and then burned on the Gallow Green. This was the last mass execution for witchcraft in Europe.
The Industrial Revolution brought Paisley up from a small market town to a significant industrial centre in the late 18th century. Silk mills employed women and children until silk fell out of fashion in 1790, after which the mills shifted to the imitation Kashmir (cashmere) shawls that became known as Paisley.
Thomas Coats, a Scottish thread manufacturer, was born in Paisley. Under his direction, Paisley became a centre for thread making. Skilled weavers from Paisley mobilised into radical protests after 1790, resulting in the failed Radical War of 1820. Unfortunately for them, the collapse of the shawl market and a depression in the textile industries led to technological changes that reduced the importance of weavers, and the mill owners retained political control of the town. Housed in the Paisley Barracks, a military presence was established in the town to control rioting in 1822.
Between 1841 and 1843, an economic crisis resulted in the closure of more than half of the town's mills, placing one-fourth of its population on relief. The 1861-1865 American Civil War cut off cotton supplies to Paisley's textile mills, resulting in further shutdowns.
Paisley sustained. heavy losses in World War I, and the town became a target of Luftwaffe bombers during World War II. While it was not bombed as heavily as Glasgow, the town was bombed periodically during the early years of the war.
Today, Paisley is the headquarters of the Renfrewshire Council, and the town is home to the largest campus of the University of the West of Scotland, and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Situated on the northern edge of Paisley, Glasgow Airport is a significant part of the area's economy and infrastructure. Chivas Brothers, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard, Scotch Whisky blenders and bottlers, are also located in Paisley.
The medieval Abbey is a notable architectural structure in Paisley. Dating from the 12th century, the abbey is in the town centre. The earliest surviving part of the structure is the southeast doorway in the nave from the cloister, while the choir and tower date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and are built in a Gothic Revival style.
The former Thomas Coates Memorial Baptist Church, also built in the Gothic Revival style of architecture, features a spire more than 60 meters high. While it was in operation, it was the largest Baptist church in Europe.
Saint Mirin's Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Paisley. Built in 1931, it replaced an earlier structure which dated from 1808, and was the first Catholic church built in Scotland since the Scottish Reformation. The church was raised to cathedral status in 1947 when the Diocese of Paisley was established.
The oldest building in Paisley is Blackhall Manor. Built in 1160, it was given to the Burgh of Paisley by the Shaw-Stewart family in 1940, but was threatened with demolition in 1978. It was saved through a private purchase in 1982. Restored, it is now a private dwelling.
Online resources located in, or representing, Paisley, Scotland are the focus of this portion of our web guide.
Categories
Education & InstructionFaith & Spirituality |
Recommended Resources
Situated along Causeyside Street in Paisley, Scotland, the Scottish letting agents provide a wide range of property services, including letting and sales services. The estate agency blends corporate and personal attitudes to sell a home, billing itself as large enough that clients can be confident that they will be around for years to come, yet small enough that its clients are more than mere statistics. Landlord services, short-term lets, and information for prospective and current tenants.
https://castle-residential.co.uk/
Organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, the Gaelic festival takes place in Paisley, Scotland in October, featuring a range of competitions that include Gaelic song, poetry, literature, drama, instrumental, Highland dancing, and sports. Billed as Scotland's premier celebration of Gaelic music and culture, the programme also includes children's events, family cèilidhs, and live music presented in bars around the town. Schedules, volunteer opportunities, and contacts are presented.
https://modphaislig.com/
Situated in Renfrewshire, Scotland, Paisley is a historic town famed for the Paisley Pattern, a textile design synonymous with its name. The website presents the town's history, information, and photographs of representative architecture, including Paisley Abbey, various landmarks, local events, and institutions, such as the Paisley Arts Centre and the University of the West of Scotland. A blog, photo gallery, and reports on at-risk Paisley buildings are included.
https://www.paisley.org.uk/
Arising out of Paisley's bid to be UK City of Culture 2021, the website was part of an effort to build a brand for the town of Paisley and the council area of Renfrewshire. An overview of the project is presented along with the use of its brand, schedules of events, an informational blog, stories, and a guide to those interested in living, investing, or visiting the area. Videos, photographs, online enquiry forms, highlights of the area, and links to additional resources are included.
https://paisley.is/
Founded in 1760, Hammermen societies in Scotland can trace their origins back to the 15th century. The Society of Hammermen and Clockmakers in Paisley formed an informal association in 1760 and was chartered officially in 1761, its membership opened to various tradesmen employed in a wide range of trades, such as ironmongers, wrights, saddlers, engravers, iron and brass founders, smiths, plumbers, machine makers, slaters, cutters, clockmakers, and watchmakers. Schedules and contacts are posted.
https://paisleyhammermen.org/
Focusing on the architecture of the town of Paisley, Scotland, the site features photographs and videos, from drone footage to small documentaries. Featured is the Paisley Mural Trail, created by Paisley First, the organisation that looks after business in the town centre, and murals along the trail are featured. Paisley also has a high concentration of listed historic buildings, some of which are at risk and these are featured here, as well. Visitor attractions are highlighted.
https://www.paisley.scot/
Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a business membership organisation serving the central area of the historic county of Renfrewshire. Headquartered in Paisley, its area also includes the historic county town of Renfrew. The Chamber is engaged with both the Scottish and British Chambers of Commerce networks and is one of 53 accredited Chambers in the United Kingdom. Membership levels, benefits, services, and a calendar of events are featured on the site, which includes a member login.
https://www.renfrewshirechamber.com/
The Renfrewshire Council is the local government authority for Renfrewshire, Scotland. Administrated from its offices in Paisley, the Council is responsible for arranging for public services, such as housing, education, social work, and transportation. The official website outlines the services available through the Council, introduces councillors, council boards, and joint boards, staff contacts, demographics, and online services, payments, and registrations.
https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/
