The ancient benedictine abbey in Paisley, founded in 1163, is often the first or last place on the itinerary for the visitor to Scotland, being situated just two miles to the south of Glasgow Airport. William Wallace is said to have worshipped here and may also have been educated here.
The Abbey was restored during the 1920's being completed in 1928 and is still used for Sunday worship, presbyterian Church of Scotland. It is open to visitors Mondays to Saturdays 10:00am till 3:30pm, but today we will content ourselves with an anti-clockwise saunter round the exterior.
The tower of the abbey stands tall enough to be visible from some areas of the airport.
This statue in the grounds of the abbey is of the Paisley born poet Robert Tannahill (1774-1810).
Back in my home town; for a time during the 1970's I worked in the municipal office block in the background, and had a view of the abbey from my office window.
Cloisters at the west end of the abbey; the old residential buildings to the right are known as the Place of Paisley and form the manse.
The Place of Paisley adjoins one corner of the abbey. The section of the abbey roof on the right is comprised of copper sheeting, installed as a temporary measure in 1928 to make the abbey watertight but ultimately it is hoped to replace this with a more permanent covering.
Bookmarks