As we remember those who thought in past conflicts this weekend, this booklet from J & P Coats relating to those who served during the Second World War is available for one week from today. I recently came across it in a online bookshop and made a quick scan of it. Covering all of the UK Mills of the group it is a useful document for WW2 where records are not as accessible as WW1.
We are pleased to reveal new History Cafe Sessions, Workshops and talks between the end of February and April 2023. We also have have a new venue!
We will be holding our new events at Restoration & Creation at 6 Browns Lane, Paisley, PA1 2JH. housed in historic buildings on one of Paisley’s last surviving pre 1900’s lanes, we look forward to working with the team there.
History Cafe’s: Our first History Cafe will be on monday 27th February, 1pm to 2.30pm – the topic will be Starting your family history research. the second Cafe will be on Monday 27th March, again 1pm to 2.30pm. The topic for this session will be Paisley Poorhouses.
History Talks/ Workshops: We restart our talks/ workshop sessions on Wednesday 22 March, 6.30 – 8.30pm with a Maps Workshop exploring Paisley’s Textile Heritage using Town plans from the 1850’s and later. On Wednesday 26th April our first talk will be on The buildings and archaeology of Paisley Abbey.
More sessions will be advertised at a later date.
History Cafe’s remain free, though donations are welcome, while our workshops and talks will cost £6 and heritage walks cost £5.50 per person. Refreshments will be available,
Please see our events schedule for full details.
Our heritage walks for February to April 2023 will be available to book early January. The image below lists the scheduled walks.
Halloween is coming on us fast this year. At the end of September our window display at Allan’s Fish & Chip Restaurant on Storie Street will be getting replaced with a display on the Witches of Renfrewshire. To accompany this we are launching a pre recorded history cafe session for anyone interested in the subject to watch whenever you wish.
see: witches-of-renfrewshire-1629-1650 for more details
June has been a busy month which incorporated a short break on Bute exploring some of the archaeological and historical sites on the island. over the next few weeks you may spot a few posts about places visited and connections to Paisley and Renfrewshire.
On the 24th June we are leading a heritage walk “Linen Walk by Design Paisley” – part of the The Scottish Refugee Festival and joins a creative cluster of events from Journeys in Design in collaboration with Sewing2gether All Nations. (Date: Fri, Jun 24 • 14:30 BST meeting at Paisley Central Library, Mill Street and finishing at Sma’ Shot Cottages at 4pm with the chance of a cuppa and look around the weavers cottage & looms.) see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/linen-walk-by-design-paisley-tickets-358566099857 to book this free walk. For the other Paisley events see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/journeys-in-design-6652164461 Events include: One Millie All Nations Exhibition at Central Library & Creative Journeys for New Scots | Twilight Talk,
Sma’ Shot Day – 2nd July – We will have our first stall on Abbey Close as part of the Sma’ Shot festival. We will have a selection of our merchandise for sale including local history books, maps, pictures, Paisley Notebooks, Mugs and Keyrings. Try your hand at a classic fete game and learn more about our summer programme of walks and talks.
In mid July we have our Renfrewshire Archaeology course scheduled to start in The Art Department on Causeyside Street where we will look at some of the early settlements of the area, through to the medieval era. See https://www.theurbanhistorian.co.uk/product/renfrewshire-archaeology-an-introduction/ for more details and booking.
The end of June and July is looking like a busy time. Why not take some time for yourself and see the history around you!
I’ve just been reading the THE DIARY AND GENERAL EXPENDITURE BOOK OF WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM OF CRAIGENDS, Commissioner to the Convention of Estates and Member of Parliament for Renfrewshire which was kept between 1673 and 1680. The time period falls directly into the Covenanting time period, which was also subjected to harsh harvests leading to impoverished times. The diary and account book of Wiliam Cunningham frequently indicates donations to the poor and beggars of the area amongst other things.
The following song is attributed to Richard Brome appears in a black-letter copy of the Bagford Collection, where it is entitled The Beggars’ Chorus in the ‘Jovial Crew, published in ANCIENT POEMS BALLADS AND SONGS OF THE PEASANTRY OF ENGLAND edited by ROBERT BELL in 1857. It really describes the life of a beggar in the late 17th Century.
There was a jovial beggar,
He had a wooden leg,
Lame from his cradle,
And forced for to beg.
And a begging we will go, we’ll go, we’ll go;
And a begging we will go!
A bag for his oatmeal,
Another for his salt;
And a pair of crutches,
To show that he can halt.
And a begging, &c.
A bag for his wheat,
Another for his rye;
A little bottle by his side,
To drink when he’s a-dry.
And a begging, &c.
Seven years I begged
For my old Master Wild,
He taught me to beg
When I was but a child.
And a begging, &c.
I begged for my master,
And got him store of pelf;
But now, Jove be praised!
I’m begging for myself.
And a begging, &c.
In a hollow tree
I live, and pay no rent;
Providence provides for me,
And I am well content.
And a begging, &c.
Of all the occupations,
A beggar’s life’s the best;
For whene’er he’s weary,
He’ll lay him down and rest.
And a begging, &c.
I fear no plots against me,
I live in open cell;
Then who would be a king
When beggars live so well?
And a begging we will go, we’ll go, we’ll go;
And a begging we will go!
Our Second notebook features an image of the River White Cart and the old Paisley Jail. Inside you will find 120 pages of white lined paper ready for you to write down those memories of Paisley or your own secret thoughts of the day.
You can order your new notebook right now on Amazon for £5 + postage : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RKG89RN
We are launching our new 120 page, lined Paisley Notebook range. The first two versions are now available to purchase on Amazon.co.uk
This first notebook has a purple cover and features an image looking down church Hill towards New Street and Saucel Hill. Inside the pages are white with black lines.
You can order a note book right now for £5 plus postage direct from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RFWSG35
Today, 10th January 2022, I should have been delivering a zoom talk to the Ontario Genealogical Societies Scottish Interest Group on Paisley Weavers. Unfortunately, I have had no voice for the last 5 days and the talk has been rescheduled for late February. Hopefully the voice returns soon, but it hasn’t stopped me reading or preparing notes and materials for walks, talks and blogs.
2022 is the Scottish Year of Stories, and throughout the year I plan on posting new blog posts on a regular basis looking at aspects of Paisley & Renfrewshire’s history that have never been told, based on local families & businesses away from the usual textile history of the area.
The first blog post will be published later this week and will introduce you to a Paisley family that had a a successful business in town and made a big impact in America, yet remain unrecorded in Paisleys history
If you a story about your ancestors that you would like to share and maybe find out a bit more about them, please contact us via our contact us page.
Advance warning of our heritage walks for the first quarter of 2022. Booking for these walks will be available from Monday 29th November 2021.
