Paisley

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…

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…

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…

A list of those who died & survived On the 10th November 1810, 10 days after the canal opened, the Duchess of Eglington, skippered by Thomas Rhodes was returning from Johnstone with an excursion. _____ Awaiting the arrival of the boat from Johnstone, there was, in the forenoon, a large assemblage of people, mainly…

Ferguslie A brief history of the medieval estate to the 20th Century Ferguslie today is seen as a large housing scheme – unrecognisable from its medieval origins. The name Ferguslie is most likely derived from “the meadow of Fergus” but who was this Fergus? We will probably never know. The lands that comprise Ferguslie…

Heritage Cast 1 – Paisley Abbey Architecture

So what is this building in the picture? It is on Paisley High Street, close to two Paisley landmarks, but today it is a lot different! The two canons might just give it away. This is the original Volunteer Drill Hall, between Coats Memorial Church and Paisley Museum & Art Gallery. I’m not sure…

It’s late November 1885, around one 100 Scots are gathering at the docks in Glasgow to board Anchor Lines SS Furnessia with the intention of forming a new Scots Colony in Sarasota, Florida.  Amongst the 100 are two Paisley families the Lawrie’s and the Browning’s who have sold their possessions at auction and are…

Over the last 8 to 10 years a lot of my research has focused on the introduction of fine Linen Thread production into Scotland by Christian Millar or Shaw of Bargarran at Erskine in 1722.  Over the next 30 years Paisley had become home to many linen thread manufactures, all copying the techniques of…