The Urban Historian

17/12/2024

Another visit to Renfrewshire Heritage Centre today to view Mary Ann Semples second volume on Paisley Monumental Inscriptions. This time relating to Paisley Abbey. I love this entry for the Inglis family dating to 1502, 1533 and 1559. Its form is very typical for the Abbey in this time period.

13/12/2024

Over the last few weeks, Paisley has been talking about the disappearance of the Bargarran witch hunt commemorative horseshoe, part of the Todo designed by the Kings Sculptor and Buddie, Alexander Stoddart. In the past the Bargarran witches have been blamed for dark times in Paisley when the horsesh...

05/12/2024

Only a few fays left before Monday afternoons Free online talk. Paisley Burgh Records & lesser known genealogical resources for the area.

Although free, small donations are appreciated at www.buymeacoffee.com/urbanhistorian to help with costs while I'm still recovering. I'm officially still signed off work but can do limited research and occasional online talks.

See https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kc-CspzwsH9TIxQSdTRrgkO0cSZ62NyWe

01/12/2024

See the history around you.

You just never know whats beneath your feet as well. Look up and down when out and about!

The passageway gives a glimpse of how Edinburgh looked centuries ago.

25/11/2024

In 9 years on X (Twitter) I acquited around 640 followers, a small proportion of rhem were connected to heritage in someway. In just 12 days on Bluesky i now have 700 followers, the majorirty of which are connect to my 3 heritage interests: archaeology, history and genealogy.

It great to be part of a community where real discussion aee actually taking place without all thebother rubbish on the other site.

If you've not already had a look at Bluesky xome and have a look

See the history around you... One-time archaeologist now delivering Heritage Walks, Talks, History Cafes & Genealogy services in Paisley, Renfrewshire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 www.theurbanhistorian.co.uk www.renfrewshireancestors.uk www.discoverrenfrewshireheritage.com

16/11/2024

On the 16th Nov 1903 HRH Princess Henry of Battenburg vistied Paisley while she stayed at Blythswood House in Renfrew. This tram photographed at the Elderslie Depot was probably decorated to transport Paisley Burgh officials to the Abbey where HRH was shown around.

16/11/2024

13/11/2024

The eagerly awaited reopening of has been delayed once again. Most recently scheduled to repoen in the Spring of 2025, its been confirmed building work wont be finished until June 25. Very annoying as some Heritage Centre archives remain unavailable until the Museum reopens.

https://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/24721304.major-transformation-paisley-museum-facing-delays/?ref=socialflow&fbclid=IwY2xjawGhk_ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbK-wqN9lmfkA7jfgKbsLyQoa4qPdxi9uFFFViab-djrymcwlQOV3sGCEA_aem_Z8xvcUl5dQyzbzC20wXIQA

A major transformation of Paisley Museum into a “world-class visitor attraction” is set to face further delays – a blow which has been branded…

05/11/2024

Christmas is coming... and I've just refreshed the window dispaly at Allan's Traditional Fish and Chip Restaurant and Takeaway with a mix of decorations and Paisley Heritage items from my collection. A new display will be coming in the new year...

31/10/2024

This witches’ charm from Renfrewshire in Scotland belonged to a well-known dynasty of practitioners of magical rituals and spells. It’s made of brown and white worn glass marble, set in a silver band. Worn as a protective amulet against poison, it was said to grow in strength as it was passed down the generations and shows the extent to which these beliefs and rituals were still active in 18th-century Scotland. It has been in The Hunterian collection since 1813.

27/10/2024

Paisley in March 1838 On the 1st of March 1838 Messers Barr and McNab of the Abercorn launched the first ever steamer built on the white Cart. This iron boat was 38.1 meters in length a breadth of 4.27 meters and had a depth of 2.84 meters. The hull weighed 45 tons. The Royal Victoria

23/10/2024

Today if you mention Paisley ship building to residents or visitors they are very surprised. Paisley’s shipbuilding heritage has a long history, from building canal boats at Saucel to numerous shipyards on the White Cart. Fleming & Ferguson has its origins in 1885 when William Y Fleming bought ove...

22/10/2024

Doesn't time fly? On 22nd October 2013, I gave the very first talk of a four-part lecture series in the Panel Room of Paisley Abbey. The topic of the lecture series was the History of Paisley Abbey.

Since then, a lot of time has passed, along with extensive excavation work around the Abbey Complex by GUARD Archaeology, RLHF, and Addyman Archaeology, leading up to the discovery in 2019 by GUARD Archaeology of the Western exit of the Abbey Drain and remains of the Precinct Wall.

Hopefully, I will be able to deliver the lecture series again soon, bringing the research up to date!