History Articles
Short Courses
New for October 2018 – we are relaunching our short courses and talks. On a Monday night between 7 and 9pm you can join us on a regular basis in…
The “Newshot”, Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 1943
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…
New for the summer of 2018
Tuesday Heritage Walks June to Sept 2018 Explore Paisley’s history through two heritage walks held alternatively on a Tuesday morning or afternoon. From mid-June to the end of August walks…
Heritage Walks July to December 2018
Our heritage walks for the remainder of 2018 are now available. They will added to our online booking system shortly.
Revamp to the website
We are currently carrying out a revamp of our website. Everything is currently working, and there are few tweaks to carryout over the next few days. We will also be…
History Cafe 27th Feb 2018
Our next History Cafe in Blend will be on the 27th February between 10 and 11am. The Topic this time will be Paisley’s Textile Heritage. We will be looking at…
Paisley Abbey Wee Dig 2017
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…
January Update
January and February are a busy couple of months for the Urban Historian. As you can see we have started to introduce our new logo and tag line – see…
Names of the witches (in Scotland) 1658 – Welcome Library
The Welcome Library has recently 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,…
History Scotland Podcast featuring the Urban Historian
A few weeks ago, Stephen in his role as the Vice-chair & Historian of Paisley Thread Mill Museum spoke with Neil from History Scotland Magazine for one of their Podcasts.…
“Royal Victoria”
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…
County and Sheriff Court Buildings
County Buildings and Sheriff Court, Underwood Road By an arrangement entered into between the County and Burgh authorities, an Act of Parliament was obtained in 1887,…
Free Library and Museum
Free Library & Museum Ionic in style, with a tetrastyla portico and wings, this fine building was gifted to the town by the late Sir Peter…
Infirmaries of Paisley
The Old Infirmary in Bridge Street, built in 1850, occupies the site of a Hospital founded in 1784, and is now (in 1896) used as a Dispensary and Hospital. The…
Paisley Technical School
Paisley Technical School This (in 1896) will soon be another addition to the educational institutions of the town, and, like most of the other institutions, is…
Robert Tannahill – A Paisley Poet
THE TANNAHILL STATUE Tannahills Statue In the Abbey Churchyard, opposite the main entrance to the Clark Town Hall. Robert Tannahill, son of a Paisley weaver, and…
West End Cross, Paisley
The West End Cross This is a corner dear to the born Paslonian. The present buildings were erected some years ago on the site of the…
William Dunn Square
William Dunn Square when opened This handsome Square, with its beautifully designed parterres and elegant retaining walls, was gifted to his native town in 1894: by Wm.…