A Thread Mill Thread - Weaving about Paisley

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Walter Fitzalan, first high steward to King David I of Scotland was granted the lands of Kerkert and Strathgryfe about 1140 and later founded Paisley Abbey in 1163. He built his house here at Blackhall Manor. After 1738 the family moved to Ardgowan and Blackhall Manor fell into ruin. It was gifted to Paisley Town Council in 1936 and they were eventually able to aid the restoration of the property from 1982.

Blackhall Manor from a different angle.

With the setting sun on its other side, Blackhall Manor looks broody and spooky.

Blackhall Manor once stood in splendid isolation but at the end of World War II this was one of the sites where prefabs were located to provide temporary housing. Paisley once had thousands of these prefabs, and I lived in one for more than nine years of my childhood. They were demolished between 1960 and 1970, although a few were converted to permanent housing by receiving stone cladding. So I was surprised to find number 1 Weaver Terrace in substantially original condition, apart from new double glazed windows and doors in place of the original aluminium framed glazing, and apparently inhabited.

Next door to it was another prefab.

Finally an example of the typical terrace of tenement properties, built around 1890 to 1910, with six houses (two on each floor) served from each of the closes. This is Mavisbank Terrace, near the Anchor Mills, where some of the workers may have lived.