Paisley Abbey

The abbey was founded in the mid 12th century, so of course it has seen a lot of history. Even William Wallace may have been educated at the abbey. It has been burned several times (once by the English in 1307) and so it has seen a lot of restoration and alteration over the years. The tomb of Marjorie Bruce, the daughter of Robert the Bruce, is in the abbey. She was only 19 when she died after giving birth to her son prematurely due to falling off her horse.

The place was full of gorgeous stained-glass windows, I feel certain many of them must have been Morris & Co.

from the late 15th century.

This was just in the floor. A lovely old carved stone.

The base of Marjorie Bruce's tomb.

A very unusual effigy from others I've seen. (she died in 1316)

The Cloisters, restored in 1914.

Sma' Shots, part two

These are photos from the newer cottage, which was across a back courtyard from the earlier cottage.

The bell used in the 1800's for the workers.

Mangle and other old-school laundry implements.

There were other of these staircases, but this is the only one that remains. 

I love these old Scottish hot water bottles!

This trunk, apparently, is a 19th century version of a slow cooker!

These apparently were hung above people's bed - those who had come down from the highlands especially, I think. Should they die in the night and they didn't have any family, these would ensure them a proper burial.

A nursing chair, very low to the ground.

Sma' Shots Cottages, part one

I'm wondering now why I didn't ask anyone why these weavers cottages were called Sma' Shots. I'll have to figure that out. On the appropriately named Shuttle Street, there are a few cottages left from a whole complex or at least a whole row of weavers cottages. The first one dated from circa 1750, the second one which was behind the first, was later, from the 1800's.

A box bed! Sigh

Actually, two. Note the interesting lamp affair between the two.

Lovely old wooden and horn implements.

A close-up of the lamp.

Looms in the 1st Sma' Shots cottage.

The pedals were under the floor level. I was curious as to whether this was an original feature or modern one.

A photo of the cottages. Like in this picture, they would have been thatched. Today that's too expensive, so they have slate roofs.

Paisley Shawls

In one of the rooms at the museums, there was a fine exhibit of Paisley Shawls (as one might imagine). The earliest examples were from around 1800.

Isn't this lovely? A dress from 1810 with a shawl from 1815

Dress from 1825, shawl from 1830. Like something out of Wives & Daughters!

The enormous loom

Paisley Museum

The Paisley Museum was gifted to the town by Sir Peter Coats (of the famed Coats thread company - think Coats & Clark) in 1871. The stuffed lions I think must be original to the museum and their tattered appearance was quite charming, somehow.