Sma' Shot Day in Paisley

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In the 19th century the intricate patterns of the Paisley weavers' work was held together by an unseen, thin, strong thread known as the sma' (small) shot. This secret stitch held together Paisley's famous shawls. The weavers had to pay for the thread but the fact that the thread was unseen meant that the manufacturers would not pay for the sma' shot. The Paisley weavers went on strike and after a long and bitter dispute, the bosses agreed in 1856 to pay the weavers for the sma' shot. Ever since then the first Saturday in July has been a holiday known as Sma' Shot Day. I was born and brought up in Paisley and three of my four grandparents came from Paisley weaver families. Paisley is a town seven miles west of Glasgow. Glasgow Airport is on the town's northern boundary. More to be added shortly.