Local memories become part of Paisley Town Hall legacy
A time capsule containing memories of life in Paisley has been placed inside the foundations of Paisley Town Hall during the £22m transformation into a landmark entertainment venue!
Article Source: Renfrewshire Council
First Published: 13 September 2021 13:43
Updated: 13 September 2021 13:44
The striking Victorian-era town hall – part of the legacy of Paisley’s proud past at the centre of the world’s textile industry – is undergoing a major redevelopment to preserve it for future generations.
The project is part of a wider investment by Renfrewshire Council in Paisley’s cultural venues aimed at driving new footfall to the town, including the work to turn Paisley Museum into a world-class visitor destination, retelling the unique stories of the town’s people, Pattern, and more.
Local artist and filmmaker, Kevin Cameron, worked with residents, local schools, and former employees of Paisley Town Hall to collect stories and memories of activities and events that have taken place at the venue.
Inside the time capsule, the memories are contained within a scroll consisting of over 30 pages that can be unravelled, read and easily displayed. The scroll is wrapped around a bobbin as a symbol of the town’s thread-making heritage.
Paisley Town Hall has been a unique landmark at the heart of life in the town since 1884, having been gifted to the town by Sir George Clark, owner of one of the firms which at that time had made the town a global thread-making hub.
Building contractors Morrison Construction are currently on site, with work due to finish in late 2022 and the building due to reopen in early 2023.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, chair of Renfrewshire Leisure Ltd, which will operate the reopened building, said: “Everyone in Paisley will have their own special memories of the town hall and I’m delighted that we have been able to preserve some of those to be shared with future generations.
“The town hall is a key project within the council’s wider investment in the town aimed at using Paisley’s internationally-significant cultural and heritage offer to change its future.
“Once reopened the town hall will build on the work already done to make Paisley one of Scotland’s key destinations for heritage, culture and events - driving new footfall and visitors to the town centre, day and night, and helping the local economy build back from the effects of the pandemic.
“We look forward to helping people make memories at Paisley Town Hall for many years to come.”
Provost of Renfrewshire, Lorraine Cameron, who added a letter for future generations to the time capsule, said: “Paisley Town Hall is special to so many people and it was important to involve the local community.
“At a time where our lives are still disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and normal events have been unable to take place as planned, the creation of the time capsule has given many people a chance to look back on some of those times they hold most dear.
“The scroll includes memories from some of our oldest citizens collected through workshops with ROAR, and stories from some of our youngest citizens, with pupils from Williamsburgh and West Primary Schools contributing accounts of their life before and during the pandemic.
“I am honoured to be asked as Provost of Renfrewshire to contribute a letter and share my hopes for a future Paisley with generations still to come.”
The town hall redevelopment will deliver:
• preservation of its unique 19th-century architectural features while adding 21st-century performance facilities, guaranteeing the building’s long-term future;
• the capacity of the main hall expanded to 1,200, allowing the venue to host bigger and better events and help make the town a stop-off on musical tour schedules;
• entirely new rooms created within currently-unused spaces, including a café-bar, dance studio, and screening room, widening the building’s range of uses;
• new performance facilities, a much-improved audience experience, and a complete replacement of the venue’s electrical and mechanical systems;
To be kept up to date on the use of the building when it reopens, register your interest with Renfrewshire Leisure via https://mailchi.mp/renfrewshireleisure/paisleytownhall
The town hall redevelopment is part of a wider investment by the council in Paisley’s venues and outdoor spaces. Projects due to complete over the next couple of years also include:
• the £42m project to transform Paisley Museum, expected to help drive 128,000 visitors a year, to see the town’s internationally-significant collections;
• a new modern home for library services within the Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub, currently being built in a vacant former retail unit on the town’s High Street;
• work to upgrade Paisley Arts Centre;
• a redesign of Abbey Close to create an expanded outdoor events space set against Paisley’s town hall and 12th-century Abbey, plus work to turn County Square into an attractive hub for small events and provide a welcome showcase for larger events, festivals and attractions in the town.
More information is at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/PaisleyTownHall
Latest Renfrewshire News
More than 1,000 volunteers in Renfrewshire take part in the first two weeks of Spotless September
Volunteers have been praised as more than 1,000 have taken part in a litter pick during the first two weeks of Renfrewshire's Spotless September!
Edinburgh volunteer clocks up the miles on fundraising tour of iconic Scottish locations
Rosemary Laird is in the midst of a personal grand tour of Scotland, with the aim of visiting 61 iconic Scottish landmarks and locations on an epic fundraiser for the National Trust for Scotland.
Watch Scotland come to light with new film for Scotland Year of Coasts and Waters
Light Waves is a multilingual short film by Historic Environment Scotland which showcases Scotland’s coasts and waters and its links to Gaelic and Scots culture.
The IRN BRU Carnival returns to Glasgow
One of Scotland's best loved festive institutions is back for 2021 as the IRN BRU Carnival returns to Glasgow's SEC!
Family fun run is going to be spooktacular!
Fun runners are being given the chance to take part in a Halloween Monster Dash!
Go explore with Beat The Street Renfrewshire
The Beat the Street Renfrewshire game is set to enter its Go Explore week to encourage participants to find the area's best heritage and cultural gems.
Paisley Halloween celebrations will be out of this world!
Paisley's popular Halloween celebrations will make a welcome return for 2021 as Paisley Halloween Festival presents Out of this World!
Dinosaurs will roam free once more, when Jurassic Encounter comes to Cuningar Loop
Cuningar Loop is set to become Jurassic Park when the unmissable, family-friendly event, Jurassic Encounter, lands this half term!
Water way to celebrate baths centenary, says oldest swimmer Meg!
The oldest swimmer at Renfrew's Victory Baths can’t wait to dive into the history of the swimming pool.
Scottish Album of the Year Award announced Longlist
Scotland's national music prize, the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, has officially announced the twenty outstanding Scottish albums which have made it onto this year's coveted Longlist!
Beat the Street officially launches in Renfrewshire!
Renfrewshire's Beat the Street campaign is off on the right foot this week as nearly 3,500 people have signed up to take part in the six-week physical activity game.
BBC Scotland Debate Night TV programme welcomes back studio audiences
We are excited to let you know that BBC Scotland's Debate Night is welcoming audiences back into the studio for their third series and are looking for people from across Scotland to join them!
Spotless September steps into schools to educate the next generation
Young people in Renfrewshire primary schools have been learning about the Team Up to Clean Up campaign and the difference it is making to the local environment.
Wee Spree festival of family fun returns to Paisley
Paisley is set to host a festival of family fun as The Wee Spree returns this October!
Second Hand September month at Oxfam
Consumers across Scotland are being urged to only buy pre-loved clothing for 30 days or more in order to tackle a throwaway culture that Oxfam Scotland says is making climate change worse.
Exhibition celebrates centenary of Renfrew Victory Baths
A special exhibition is being staged to mark the centenary of Renfrew’s Victory Baths!
Local memories become part of Paisley Town Hall legacy
A time capsule containing memories of life in Paisley has been placed inside the foundations of Paisley Town Hall during the £22m transformation into a landmark entertainment venue!
Fast food packaging a priority for a Spotless September volunteers
Renfrewshire's award-winning Team Up to Clean Up campaign is working to tackle littering outside fast-food outlets.
Working at Braehead is just the job!
Shopping and leisure destination Braehead Centre is hiring new staff and are looking for people to work with both the security and cleaning teams at the popular mall.
Beat the Street Renfrewshire will be supporting MND Scotland!
MND Scotland could be a winner when the popular walking, cycling and wheeling game Beat the Street returns to Renfrewshire next week!
Bookbug is back at Renfrewshire Libraries!
Bookings are now open for the return of the popular Bookbug sessions at Renfrewshire's libraries for the first time since first Covid-19 lockdown!
Spotless September off to a flying start in Renfrewshire
Volunteers in Renfrewshire made a flying start to Spotless September as the annual litter picking event began yesterday!
14 play parks in Renfrewshire set for complete transformation
Families and young people across Renfrewshire can look forward to 14 fully renewed play parks as part of a £1.25million investment by Renfrewshire Council.
Outspoken Arts announce the launch of The Paisley Suite
Paisley-based arts organisation, Outspoken Arts Scotland are delighted to announce the release of their new production for 2021, The Paisley Suite.
Grant boost to tell amazing shawl story in exciting new displays at Paisley Museum
A £60,000 grant has been secured to tell the story of Paisley's world-renowned shawls in exciting displays to be created in the town's transformed museum.
Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival entertainment set to be best yet
The annual FREE Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival is back this weekend and is shaping up to be a great day out for all the family with a great entertainment line-up and new charitable partnership!
Dobbies stores in Braehead and Milngavie announce the return of Little Seedlings
Dobbies has announced its first Little Seedlings Club in-store event this year, taking place on Sunday 5th September in the Braehead and Milngavie stores.
The Twilight Sad, Arab Strap and Nadine Shah among headliners as The Spree festival returns to Paisley in 2021
Paisley's popular music, comedy and arts festival The Spree will return in 2021 with The Twilight Sad, Arab Strap and Nadine Shah among the bumper line-up coming to town this October.
Princey the dog wags his tale after author inspired by grandson
A toddler grandson has been the inspiration behind a new children's book launched this week.
Kiltwalk countdown on as physical event return
It’s one month today until Kiltwalkers march out for the charities of their choice, as Scotland's favourite mass participation charity event makes its real-life return!
Sponsored Links
