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Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 County Square
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County Square is a busy square in Paisley town centre bounded by Gilmour Street railway station on the north side, the Piazza shopping centre on the east, tenements on the south, and a large public house in a former post office building on the west. The square is always busy with shoppers and commuters. Nowadays, farmers' markets are held there but at one time it was used for public executions!
Gilmour Street railway station is on the north side of the square. It was opened in 1840 and extended in 1888. The building is built like a castle and has an arched entrance with octagonal turrets on either side. There is a viaduct on its east side. The station and the street are named after William Gilmour who was the provost of Paisley from 1829-1832.
The Piazza shopping centre which straddles the River Cart is on the east side of the square. It was built in 1968-70 and contains both shops and offices. In 1995, it was refurbished and a roof was added over the previously open shopping precinct. The Piazza replaced the former Jail and the County Buildings which gave the square its name. These were built around 1817 and their Gothic castle style was the inspiration for the design of the railway station. Their demolition in the 1960s and 70s is regretted by local people.
The former post office building is on the west side of the square. Built of red sandstone, it was designed by W W Robertson, and opened in 1893. In 1912 an extension in the Glasgow Baronial style by W T Oldrieve doubled its size. The post office relocated to the Piazza shopping centre in 1998 and the building now houses a pub called 'The Last Post'.
The taxi rank in the centre of the square was built when the railway station opened in 1840. Before then, cabs were not available for hire in the street and had to be sent for.
The small shelter seen in this picture was known as the 'Cabman's Rest'. It provided non-alcoholic refreshments for the cab drivers and was donated in 1877 by Mrs Jane Arthur of Barshaw. This was in response to public concerns about cab drivers drinking in public houses between fares!
From 2000-2008 the centre of the square featured an artistic tower by Dutch artist Jan van Munster. It was called the 'Rain Tower' and was designed to spray water in a shower-like fashion. Its presence was the subject of controversy, and it proved unpopular with some local people.
Technical problems with the drainage, filtration and pumping systems meant that the spraying water was frequently switched off. The tower was demolished in 2008.
Technical problems with the drainage, filtration and pumping systems meant that the spraying water was frequently switched off. The tower was demolished in 2008.
Find out more
For more information on these or other historic buildings in Renfrewshire, contact the Local Studies Library by:
- email: locstuds.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- phone: 0141 889 2360
- fax: 0141 887 6468
- write to:
Local Studies Library
Central Library
68 High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BB
