All copyright belongs to Scotland Places To Visit excepting where attributed to approved third parties. All rights reserved Copyright 2007 ©
Scotland Places To Visit
... welcomes you
Do you have Holiday Articles you’d like to share? Or would you like to post your Holiday Blog? Share your Scottish Recipes? Your Scottish Words? Funny Anecdotes?
Join us today! Registration is free! New feature. Wee Bothy
Please contact below for further details or visit the web site link to your right.
Paisley Abbey is situated on the east bank of the White Cart Water in Paisley city centre, Renfrewshire.
It is a former Cluniac monastery and the current Church of Scotland parish kirk. Saint Mirin is believed to have founded on the site in the 7th Century.
A time after his death, a shrine was established which became a popular place of pilgrimage and worship. The First High Steward of Scotland, Walter Fitzalan, issued a charter for a priory to be set up on the present site in 1163. It was raised to the status of abbey in 1245.
The collapse of the tower and a succession of fires in the 15th and 16th Century left the building in a partly ruined state. The eastern section was mainly robbed for its stone.
Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I of Scotland, was out
riding near the abbey in 1316. She was heavily pregnant at the time and fell from her horse. She was taken to Paisley Abbey where she gave birth to King Robert II. She survived for only a few hours after the birth and is buried at the Abbey.
There is a cairn at the junction of Dundonald Road and Renfrew Road, approximately one mile to the north of the Abbey, that marks the spot where she fell from her horse.
Paisley Abbey
Abbey Close
Paisley PA 1JG
Telephone - 0141 889 7654
E mail -
If the friendly pop-ups don’t work, please click here
Opening Times
5th January to 25th December Monday to Saturday 10am - 3.30pm Sunday is open for services only.
Courtesy of Arno Matthias ©
The building did not last long, as Edward I of England had the abbey burned down in 1307. The abbey was rebuilt later in the 14th century. The north porch and the eastern choir were reconstructed on the remains of the ruined walls from 1858 to 1928.
Engraving of the Great Seal of Robert II
The Celtic Barochan Cross is to be found inside the abbey. It was once sited near the village of Houston, Renfrewshire, and is thought to date from the 8th century. An ancient vaulted drain which ran from the abbey to White Cart was excavated in the early 1990s, and many interesting items were discovered and are on display at the abbey.
The abbey is used for services of worship every Sunday. In the years since the
Reformation, the abbey has served as a parish church in the Church of Scotland. There is a gift shop and cafe available. Guided tours on request.
Entry to the abbey is free.
