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Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 Sma' Shot Cottages
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Location map - Sma' Shot CottagesThe Sma' Shot Cottages are in Shuttle Street and George Place in Paisley and are owned by the Old Paisley Society. The Society bought the cottages in a derelict state and have fully restored them. The cottages opened to the public in 1985 and are now an established tourist attraction.
The cottages consist of an 18th century weaver's cottage with loom shop and living quarters, and a row of three early 19th century millworkers' cottages.
The weaver's cottage at 14 Shuttle Street is one of only two remaining weaver's cottages in Paisley; the other is Robert Tannahill's cottage. The cottage was built between 1735 and 1750. It had three rooms – two rooms were used as living quarters and the third for the weaver's loom. During renovation, the weaver's handloom was found in the attic of the cottage. It has been restored and is used for weaving demonstrations.
The weaver's cottage sits back-to-back with three cottages at 11-17 George Place, which were originally part of a square of houses built for the workers of the St Mirren Mill, with an Artisan's House added later. The mill foreman lived in the Artisan's House, which had four rooms. The rest of the building was divided into four homes with two rooms each. Today the cottages have been furnished with furniture and accessories from the 19th century.
The cottages were collectively named the "Sma' Shot Cottages" in memory of a dispute between the Paisley weavers and the middlemen, or "corks". The corks supplied the raw materials, liaised with buyers and paid the weavers, but the corks refused to pay the weavers for the sma' shot. The "sma' shot" was a binding thread not visible in the final product. The weavers argued the case and ultimately in 1856 were successful in being paid for the sma' shot. This victory is celebrated in Paisley today on Sma' Shot Day.
For more information on the Sma' Shot Cottages 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:
Reference and Local Studies Library
Central Library
68 High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BB
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