Historic Seedhill Footbridge at Anchor Mill to officially re-open

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Sir Ken Morrison CBE, honorary president of Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC, will officially re-open the footbridge at 11:30am. The exemplary restoration has been realised by a unique partnership comprising of The Prince's Regeneration Trust, Renfrewshire Council, Historic Scotland and Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC. Specialist contractors undertook the restoration works with Doug Reid of James F Stephen Architects LLP as design team leader.


Ros Kerslake, chief executive of The Prince's Regeneration Trust, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that after years of hard work by the partnership we are able to complete the circle and re-open the Seedhill Footbridge, which has such a practical and sentimental place in the heart of the local community. Not only will it provide access to the stunning renovation project at Anchor Mills, but it will represent the commitment, resilience, hard work and optimism of everyone involved in the regeneration of this unique and important site."

Anchor Mills has been the subject of a major regeneration strategy in recent years. The award-winning £12million restoration of the category A-listed Domestic Finishing Mill has led to the successful establishment of business, retail and residential uses on site, including a 60,000 sq ft Morrisons store. The supermarket chain very generously contributed £2.8million to the restoration project.

Paisley was a 19th century boom town, founded on the mass production of cotton thread. The historic footbridge over the Whitecart River was constructed in the 1880s to link the people of Paisley with the Mill complex, a major provider of employment. However, after the Second World War the industry suffered and eventually the site – comprising of a number of listed buildings – was shut. As the moribund local industry took its toll on the economic welfare of the community, the category B-listed bridge fell into a state of disrepair and was unused for decades.

The £560,000 restoration of the Seedhill Footbridge, which sits adjacent to the category A-listed Mill, has brought the footbridge back to its former glory and practical use for residents, workers and visitors to the Anchor Mills complex.

Commenting on the re-opening, Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council's environment and infrastructure policy board, said: "Renfrewshire Council is committed to restoring Paisley's Victorian industrial heritage as part of the wider economic regeneration of the town. The council has already spent £1million rebuilding the Abercorn Bridge and will spend a further £1.5million on the Abbey Bridge. The restoration of the Seedhill Footbridge completes the hat-trick, a restoration made possible by solid partnership working."

John Graham, chief executive of Historic Scotland, said: "This footbridge was crossed daily by hundreds of mill workers pouring over the bridge at the end of the shift and now that it has been reinstated, marks the completion of an ambitious conservation project. Historic Scotland is proud to have been one of the many partners involved in the regeneration of this iconic site."

"The threadworks remains important to Paisley and its people. It created employment opportunities and enabled many people to travel to different countries working at the company's other mills. I am sure that that there will be many people around the world who will join us in celebrating this unique part of history being returned to its former glory and continuing to remind us of the impact this town had on an entire industry."

Roger Owen, group property director at Morrisons, commented: "We are delighted that we could help with the restoration of the Seedhill Footbridge. Morrisons is committed to being a valuable member of the local community and we recognise the importance of restoring Paisley's historic footbridge and regenerating the town."

The Prince's Regeneration Trust was founded by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to work with building owners, community groups, developers, local authorities and other public bodies to enable under-used or redundant buildings to perform a new function, unlocking a regeneration of the wider community.

Press release: Monday 1 September 2008