History articles
Tuesday 20th August 2019 1.30 to 3.30pm Book here Come and join our penultimate talk of Augst as we look at Paisley & Renfrewshire Weavers – who were they? where did they live? What did they weave? This talk will explore the life of Weavers, looking at their influence on the town over time, their… More Renfrewshire Weavers Talk
Lets step back in time to when weaving dominated Kilbarchan. This talk will explore village life through archaeological excavations, and written evidence for life in the village. We will look at excavations in the graveyard at Kilbarchan West Parish Church that brought some surprising discoveries, along with other digs at the Weavers Cottage. 13th August,… More Kilbarchan: A weavers village – Talk
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 was born on the estate of Thos. Todd, Esq. in the state of Virginia, in the year 1764.… More Peter Burnet – “Black Peter”
County Square, Paisley Paisley’s 19th century County Buildings & Jail, sat between county Square and the River White Cart. They replaced Paisley Tollbooth that 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… More County Buildings & Jail
Today if you mention Paisley ship building to residents or visitors they are very surprised. Paisley’s ship building heritage has a long history, from building canal boats at Saucel, to numerous ship yards on the White Cart. Fleming & Ferguson has its origins in 1885 when William Y Fleming bought over the Phoenix shipyard of… More The “Newshot”, Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 1943
During September 2017, Renfrewshire Council commissioned GUARD Archaeology LTD to undertake further excavation work on the site of Paisley Abbey’s Medieval Drain. The following two videos were published by the Paisley 2021 YouTube channel and tell the story of the dig. Both videos here are hosted on YouTube.
Paisley in March 1838 On the 1st of March 1838 Messers Barr and McNab of the Abercorn 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 had a depth of 2.84 meters. The hull weighed 45 tons. The Royal Victoria… More “Royal Victoria”
By an arrangement entered into between the County and Burgh authorities, an Act of Parliament was obtained in 1887, under which the County authorities renounced their interest in the old County Buildings in County Square, and they erected the new County Buildings, which contain a County Hall, offices for the County Clerk, Treasurer and Collector,… More County and Sheriff Court Buildings
Ionic in style, with a tetrastyla portico and wings, this fine building was gifted to the town by the late Sir Peter Coats of Woodside. Originally £15,000 was expended on the structure, which was handed by the donor to the town, on condition that the Free Library Act was adopted. It was opened for public… More Free Library and Museum
