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Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 Paisley
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Paisley sits upon the White Cart Water, a tributary of the Clyde. It is the largest town in Renfrewshire and one of the largest in Scotland, with an exciting history. As the "Cradle of the Stewarts", Paisley has links to the Stewart kings. Paisley was a centre of shawl weaving and for a time dominated the world in the manufacture of thread. The town has a magnificent legacy of public buildings gifted by wealthy Victorian industrialists.
St Mirin
In the middle of the 6th century, an Irish monk from Bangor called Mirin settled on the east bank of the River Cart and built a small church there. After his death, people talked of his goodness and of the miracles he had performed, and so he was declared a saint. St Mirin's shrine became a place of pilgrimage. Unfortunately the shrine was destroyed during the Reformation in the 16th century.
Paisley Abbey
The monastery that was to become Paisley Abbey was founded in 1163 when Walter Fitzalan, High Steward of Scotland, brought 13 monks from his native Shropshire to form a community in Paisley. The monks were well-organised and employed the best craftsmen to build their church. (The blacksmiths had their smithy on the site now called Smithhills.) Pilgrims continued to visit and the village of Paisley prospered as these visitors would stay in the village and shop in the market. The church became an abbey in 1245. The monastery was closed down during the Reformation, and the abbey became a Protestant church.
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Royal Stewarts
As High Steward of Scotland, Walter Fitzalan was one of the most important nobles in Scotland. His castle was in Renfrew, but near the village of Paisley he built Blackhall Manor as a hunting lodge. Walter's descendants inherited the title of "Steward".
Paisley was awarded its own coat of arms in 1912. The gold background and blue and white chequered band are from the arms of the Stewart family.
The abbot in the centre represents the abbey and the red flowers and blue cups are from the arms of the Hamilton and Shaw families. Several famous abbots bore the names of Hamilton and Shaw.
The motto reads, "Lord, let Paisley flourish by the preaching of Thy Word".
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Finding out more
Find out more about the growth of Paisley and the textile industries of Paisley.
The Local Studies Library holds a collection of materials relating to the history of Paisley, including books, newspapers and maps. You can contact the Local Studies Library by:
- email: locstuds.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- phone: 0141 889 2360
- fax: 0141 887 6468
- write to:
Reference and Local Studies Library
Central Library
68 High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BB
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