Discover Paisley heritage with our blog posts on the heritage of the town.
The history of Paisley can be traced back to the 6th Century when the wandering preacher Mirin settled in the area, preaching to the local people. From then onwards Paisley thrived, with the establishment of the Priory of Paisley in 1163 to becoming an engineering centre in the 19th century along with being a centre of worldwide cotton thread making, and home of the infamous Paisley Shawls.
The Glen Cinema
Paisley’s Black Hogmanay On the 31st December 1929 everything was as it should have been in…
Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
The 31st October 2025 marks the 215th anniversary of the opening of the Glasgow, Paisley and…
Fountain Gardens, Paisley
Situated in Love Street, about ten minutes’ walk from the Cross, the gardens form one of…
County and Sheriff Court Buildings
By an arrangement entered into between the County and Burgh authorities, an Act of Parliament was…
“Royal Victoria”
royal-victoria Paisley in March 1838 On the 1st of March 1838 Messers Barr and McNab of…
Paisley and it’s environs (1858)
This post comes from Hugh MacDonald’s 1854 Rambles Around Glasgow (This Edition 1910) and focuses on…
William Dunn Square
This handsome Square, William Dunn Square, with its beautifully designed parterres and elegant retaining walls, was gifted…
The Westend Cross
The West End Cross The Wesetend Cross is a corner dear to the born Paslonian. The…
Walter Fitz Alan & Paisley Abbey’s Foundation
Renfrewshire’s place in Scottish History begins in the early medieval period when the newly crowned King…
There was a jovial beggar
I’ve just been reading the THE DIARY AND GENERAL EXPENDITURE BOOK OF WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM OF CRAIGENDS,…
The Bargarran Witchcraft Case 1696
In the year 1696, the 11yr old daughter of John Shaw, the Laird of Bargarran, fell…
The Situation of Paisley Abbey
Let us recall the beautiful situation and surroundings of the abbey in the palmy days of…
Robert Tannahill – A Paisley Poet
THE TANNAHILL STATUE In the Abbey Churchyard, opposite the main entrance to the Clark Town Hall….
Peter Burnet – “Black Peter”
From the New Paisley Repository No.4 Saturday, January, 15th. 1853 SONG. To the Air…
Paisley Technical School
This (in 1896) will soon be another addition to the educational institutions of the town, and,…
The 2017 Wee Dig at Paisley Abbey
During September 2017, Renfrewshire Council commissioned GUARD Archaeology LTD to undertake further excavation work on the…
John Neilston Institution
From its central and commanding situation on Oakshawhead, as well as from its great architectural beauty,…
Paisley Free Library and Museum
From 1896 – Ionic in style, with a tetrastyla portico and wings, this fine building was…
The Infirmaries of Paisley
The Old Infirmary in Bridge Street, built in 1850, occupies the site of a Hospital founded…
21 High Street Paisley in 1880’s
See the history around you! This image shows Thomas Graham’s shop at No 21 (where No…
Paisley Territorial Drill Hall
With the demise of the Facade of the second Territorial Drill Hall on Paisley High Street…
Dark deeds in Bargarran, Erskine & Paisley in 1697
Over the last few weeks, Paisley has been talking about the disappearance of the Bargarran witch…
“Royal Victoria”
Paisley in March 1838 On the 1st of March 1838 Messers Barr and McNab of the…
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…
The “Newshot”, Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 1943
Today if you mention Paisley ship building to residents or visitors they are very surprised. Paisley’s…
County Square, Paisley
Paisley’s 19th century County Buildings & Jail, sat between county Square and the River White Cart….
Peter Burnet – “Black Peter”
From the New Paisley Repository No.4 Saturday, January, 15th. 1853 SONG. To the Air…
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…
John Stevenson & Sons
Have you ever walked down Weighhouse Close in Paisley and wondered what the old single-story building…
The “Tomb” of Marjory Bruce
Today within the Choir of Paisley Abbey sits the “Tomb” of Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert…
Paisley Canal Disaster 1810
A list of those who died & survived On the 10th November 1810, 10 days after…
Ferguslie – A brief history of the medieval estate
Ferguslie A brief history of the medieval estate to the 20th Century Ferguslie today is seen…
Heritage Cast 1 – Paisley Abbey Architecture
Heritage Cast 1 – Paisley Abbey Architecture https://youtu.be/OuTGHxT1wkA
A familiar Paisley building?
So what is this building in the picture? It is on Paisley High Street, close to…
Paisley to Sarasota, Florida: The Browning’s
It’s late November 1885, around one 100 Scots are gathering at the docks in Glasgow to…
Annan to Paisley: The Carlile family of Paisley
Over the last 8 to 10 years a lot of my research has focused on the…
Mr John Neilson of Nethercommon, Paisley
Today the John Neilston Institution as a place of education is but a mere memory, even…
Situation and Surrounding of Paisley Abbey
Let us recall the beautiful situation and surroundings of the abbey in the palmy days of…
John Wilson and the Earl Grey Steamboat disaster
When you visit the Choir of Paisley Abbey do you ever look down? Following the collapse…