Before our tour we enjoyed a lovely lunch of soup and a sandwich (followed by a selection of home baked cakes) provided by volunteers in the Abbey Cafe. Our tour guide David is also an elder of the Abbey and he proved to be a very knowledge guide.
This historic Abbey and former Monastery dates back 1163 when monks from a monastery in Cluny in France were granted fishing rights and land in Paisley beside the White Cart River. Legend has it that Robert The Bruce’s pregnant mother Margaret was brought to the Abbey to be looked after by the monks after a riding accident nearby and that she subsequently died after giving birth.
We learnt that the Abbey has had a very chequered history with parts of the building being added to, restored and redesigned over the centuries. The stained glass window and wooden carvings in the choir are examples of modern additions.
Without the Abbey and Monastery being founded, Paisley would have probably remained a small group of houses around a little church beside the White Cart River. We finished our tour in the gift shop where traditional Scottish gifts and Shortbread was on sale along with some beautiful greetings cards and silver jewellery. We agreed that living so close to an historic building like Paisley Abbey it was so often the case that one never (or rarely) visits. We left with more of an understanding of its history and what treasures lie within. Paisley Abbey is often used for recitals or concerts. The Minister and Church Elders are currently waiting for news of their application for Paisley Abbey to be accredited as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We are keeping our fingers crossed.