Paisley
Paisley is a townin the West Central Scotland, approximately eight miles west of Glasgow. A former burgh town, Paisley is the administrative centre of the Renfrewshire council area. The town grew up on either side of a ford of the White Cart River and occupies the lowland to the north of the Gleniffer Braes. To the north, between Paisley and the River Clyde lies the town of Renfew and to the east, Johnstone. With the post war expantion of the neighbouring towns and cities, Paisley has become part of a large connerbation known as Greater Glasgow. At one time, Paisley was the largest town in Scotland, exceding the size of some Scottish cities, but recently the population had declined. Now 74,170 [1] people call Paisley their home.
The town is thought to date to Roman times and is the possible site of a Roman fort. In the 12th century a priory was founded at Paisley around which a settlement soon grew. Within a hundred years of its foundation the priory had achieved the status of an Abbey. The town became famous during the 18th and 19th centuries for the production of thread and cloth, especially cotton with the distinctive Paisley Pattern.
History
Paisley origins were as a religios centre. It is claimed that a chapel was established by the 6th/7th century Irish monk, Saint Mirin at a site near a waterfall on the White Cart Water known as the Hammils. Though Paisley lacks contemporary documentation it may have been, along with Glasgow and Govan, a major religious centre of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. A priory was established at Paisley in 1163 by members of the Cluniac priory at Wenlock in Shropshire, England at the behest of Walter fitz Alan, 1st High Steward of Scotland. In 1245, the priory at Paisley was raised to the status of Abbey. The Abbey and adjacent 'Place' (palace), are now used by the Church of Scotland. Parts of the 13th Century structures remain, though the building has undergone many and extensive alterations and reconstructions. The Abbey was once one of Scotland's major religious sites. Paisley Abbey was much favored by the Bruce and Stewart royal families. It is generally accepted that William Wallace the great hero of Scottish independence who inspired the film Braveheart was educated in the Abbey. Paisley Abbey is the burial place of all six High Stewards of Scotland, Marjorie Bruce (who was the mother of Robert II), the wives of Robert II and King Robert III.
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. In 1488 the town's status was raised by James IV to Burgh of barony and many new trades sprang up The town's first school was established in 1577 by the Town Council. During the 18th century, weaving became the town's principal industry. In the 19th century, Paisley became well-known for producing Paisley Shawls and for their distinctive Paisley Pattern which originated around this time.
Through its weaving fraternity, Paisley gained notoriety as being a literate and somewhat radical town. During the 19th Century there was a real mixture of religious opinions and healthy drink-fuelled debate raged at night amongst weavers, poets, merchants, masons and others. The poet Robert Tannahill lived in this setting, working as a weaver. The people of Paisley were also active in the Radical War of 1820.
In comparison to other nearby towns such as Clydebank, Paisley suffered little to German bombing during the second world war. Early on the morning of Tuesday May 7, 1941, a parachute mine fell on a medical post in the west end of the town. The bomb killed 92 people. A second parachute mine fell on Newton Street killing two firemen.
In the later 20th century, the textile industry in Paisley declined. The Clark and Coats mills closed with work being relocated to America. The Coats mills were largely demolished in the 1990's and the land used for new housing developments. The Clark mill has recently been converted into luxury apartments. Some other mill buildings have been converted into office buildings.
==Architecture - Any buildings of note within the town. Try to keep to fluid narrative and avoid a list.
Education
Describe the main schools and universities if any.
Culture
Museums and galleries, Performing arts, Music and film, Open spaces, Language, Media, Sport, Religion ==Infrastructure - Health, Transport, Utilities
Economy
Industry, Commerce, Tourism, etc
Geography
Areas or districts, Climate, Demography, Geology ,Topography, etc
Government
How is the area governed, by who, how are the appointed, what subdivisions of government are there. What is the higher level of government above this one.