Paisley, Scotland

Paisley is a large town, and former royal burgh in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It is the administrative capital of the Renfrewshire authority.

The town is situated on the northern edge of the Gleniffer Braes on the banks of the River Cart, approximately 8 miles west-southwest of Glasgow. Glasgow International Airport, despite its name, is in fact, located in Renfrewshire, and sits equidistantly between Paisley and neighbouring Renfrew.

Paisley is the largest town in Scotland (below the country's five main cities). Paisley's satellite towns include:

Renfrew to the north
Ralston to the east
Barrhead to the southeast
Johnstone and Elderslie to the west
Linwood to the northwest

History

Formerly known as Paislay (and still known as Pàislig in Gaelic), the town's name is thought to be derived from the old Brythonic word, Pasgill, meaning "pasture".

Historically, Paisley has monastic origins, due to a site near a waterfall, where it is said a chapel was established by the Irish monk, Saint Mirren. It is also said to have been the site of a Roman encampment in the Kingdom of Strathclyde, but the priory prevailed and in 1219, it was promoted to Abbey status.

Not long after the time of Robert the Bruce and the Stewarts (mid-1400s), Paisley coalesced under James II's wish that the lands should become a single regality and, as a result, markets, trading and commerce began to flourish.

Many trades sprung up and the first schools were established; and by the mid-nineteenth century, weaving had become the town's main industry. Paisley is still very well-known for the Paisley Shawl and its distinctive pattern, which originated around this time.

Mainly on account of the weaving fraternity, Paisley gained notoriety as being a literate and somewhat radical town, although it could be argued in a fiercely positive direction, by this time there was a real mixture of religious opinions and healthy drink-fuelled debate raged at night amongst the weavers, poets, merchants, masons and others.

Paisley's evolution has been healthy; its gradual expansion throughout the dark days of the great wars has been quiet and steady; the Mills have come and gone and the town centre now resembles many other town centres in Scotland - but if you look more closely, you will always find pockets of interest and outstanding beauty.

Paisley folk, or 'Buddies', as they refer to themselves, are very proud of their town and are fiercely loyal to it. In recent years, support for full city status has been gathering momentum. The town already meets the criteria for city status, boasting both a cathedral and a university. Rivarly with the town's larger and more dominant west coast neighbour, Glasgow, runs strong, and to call a Buddie a Glaswegian is met with a similar reaction to a Scot being called English. Buddies are also very friendly and pragmatic people. Perhaps traces of the radical working class thinkers remain.

See also: University of Paisley