I would have to say that Paisley was a bit of a disappointment in my view. I had been looking forward to visiting the Paisley Museum and Art Gallery but unfortunately it had been closed up the day before we arrived and it was to be closed for a few years for major renovations. Oh dear. We will need to go back another time. Paisley is vying to be named UK city of Culture for 2021.
Paisley is probably most commonly associated with the Paisley pattern.
“Paisley refers to a patterned cloth inspired by an ancient Persian design of curved, teardrop shapes in many different colours. The pattern became very popular in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries and its English name comes from the town in southwest Scotland where the cloth was produced.
Between 1800 and 1850, the town of Paisley in Scotland was the world’s leading producer of shawls with the paisley design. At a time when most textile manufacturers were making paisley designs with just two colours, the weavers in Paisley were making their designs with five colours. By 1860, paisley designs from the Scottish town contained up to 15 distinct colours.
In Asia, the pattern has remained a popular design on everything from textiles and clothing to rugs and jewellery. Paisley patterns are often woven with gold or silver thread on silk to make high-quality gifts for special occasions. Paisley is used in a wide range of decorative items including paintings, curtains, table linens and pottery.
Paisley eventually fell out of fashion in Western culture for a time but became popular again in the 1960s thanks to the influence of Eastern-influenced music and psychedelia.” (Macmillan Dictionary)
You can read all about the history of this beautiful pattern here.
While in Paisley we stayed at a wonderful hotel called Ashtree House Hotel.
The dining room had echoes of Charles Rennie Macintosh furniture.
The view from our sitting room/bedroom.
The hotel was ideal for us as it was only ten minutes drive to the airport for our return to Australia.
One of the attractions we were able to visit in Paisley were The Sma’ Shot Cottages where you get an insight into two distinct periods of Paisley’s weaving history. Admission is free, however, all donations towards the upkeep of the cottages are gratefully accepted.
Paisley was our base for further trips into the centre of Glasgow.
