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  • “Royal Victoria”

    “Royal Victoria”

    Paisley in March 1838 On the 1st of March 1838 Messers Barr and McNab of the Abercorn Foundry launched the first ever steamer built on the white Cart. This iron boat was 38.1 meters in length a breadth of 4.27 meters and a depth of 2.84 meters. The hull weighed 45 tons. The Royal…

  • Names of the witches (in Scotland) 1658 – Welcome Library

    Names of the witches (in Scotland) 1658 – Welcome Library

    The Welcome Library has published a fascinating book from 1658 to c1662 with a list of witches named in Scotland.   The original manuscript list is written by several hands but also contains a later transcript. The original document is endorsed: ‘Names of the witches. 1658’.  There is one short section on Renfrewshire. The document…

  • The “Newshot”, Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 1943

    The “Newshot”, Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 1943

    Today if you mention Paisley ship building to residents or visitors they are very surprised.  Paisley’s shipbuilding heritage has a long history, from building canal boats at Saucel to numerous shipyards on the White Cart. Fleming & Ferguson has its origins in 1885 when William Y Fleming bought over the Phoenix shipyard of H…

  • County Square, Paisley

    County Square, Paisley

    Paisley’s 19th century County Buildings & Jail, sat between county Square and the River White Cart. They replaced Paisley Tollbooth which sat at the corner of the High Street and Moss Street. In turn, The County of Renfrew decided that their space in the buildings was too small and in 1887 they decided to…

  • Peter Burnet – “Black Peter”

    Peter Burnet – “Black Peter”

    From the New Paisley Repository No.4 Saturday, January, 15th. 1853 SONG.      To the Air – ” CAPTAIN PATON.” Composed after reading the life of Peter Burnet, commonly known in Paisley by “BLACK PETER.” Peter Burnet – “Black Peter” was born on the estate of Thos. Todd, Esq. in the state of Virginia,…

  • Centuries-old mystery of Paisley Abbey’s medieval drain revealed

    Centuries-old mystery of Paisley Abbey’s medieval drain revealed

    From 2019: We are a bit behind when it comes to adding news and research to the website just now, but here is the story of the discovery a few weeks ago of the outlet of the Paisley Abbey Drain and most likely part of the old river wall as well. We already knew…

  • Lobnitz at War

    Lobnitz at War

    Lobnitz shipyard in Renfrew mostly built and specialised in Dredgers and Dredge equipment for clients worldwide. During World War II the construction of dredgers continued, though mostly for Admiralty contracts. The bulk of their work during wartime was for the Admiralty be it the construction of minesweepers, Boom Defense Vessels, Landing Craft and Navel…

  • Genealogy Surprises

    Genealogy Surprises

    Every so often something unexpected turns up when doing your family history. While researching the Hogg family of Renfrew in the late 18th and early 19th Century I came across the death of James, shown here. His father was a weaver and they lived at 114 High St, Renfrew. James died of a head…

  • John Stevenson & Sons

    John Stevenson & Sons

    Have you ever walked down Weighhouse Close in Paisley and wondered what the old single-story building and yard between the Private Car park and the Mrs Coats Home for Girls used to be? After doing some investigation, I have realised that this and the associated buildings probably make up one of the last complete…

  • The “Tomb” of Marjory Bruce

    The “Tomb” of Marjory Bruce

    Today within the Choir of Paisley Abbey sits the “Tomb” of Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland and wife of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland. While researching Walter Stewart VI for a chapter in ‘Conquered by No One’ on the Declaration of Arbroath, my attention was once again drawn…

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