What’s going for it? There was terrible traffic on the M8, so we took a right and ended up in Paisley. All around us were the grandest of scenes: monuments fit for a king, columns, pediments, spires and turrets. But where were the people? At 4pm, downtown Paisley was tumbleweed town.
How times have changed. Paisley was crafted in the finest sandstone in its 19th century boomtime by the Coats and Clark families, industrialists who made this town one of the most productive in the empire. Its citizens made crisps, carpets, cornflour, cotton thread, cars and things not starting with C – like marmalade and the world-famous shawls, with their teardrop pattern. But few places have had the rug pulled from under their feet as quickly and savagely as Paisley. As Ian Jack wrote last year: “In 1960, few other industrial towns in Scotland could have felt as secure.” Until it wasn’t.
It has a doughty new SNP MP, Mhairi Black, now, and is bidding to be the UK’s next city of culture. The very, very best of luck.
The case against It’s rare to see such architectural richness cheek by jowl with such social poverty. There’s a touch of Detroit about the place.
Well connected? Trains: 10 an hour to Glasgow (11-19 mins), half-hourly to Ayr (51 mins), hourly to Greenock (28 mins) and Wemyss Bay (36 mins). Driving: kissed by the M8 and the M77; half an hour into central Glasgow, 45 mins to the coast. Handy for Glasgow airport, too, on the outskirts of town.
Schools Primaries: several with “good” quality indicators, says Education Scotland, with Gallowhill, St Catherine’s, Bushes and West “very good”. Secondaries: indicators at Paisley Grammar and St Andrew’s Academy are “good”, at Gleniffer High and Castlehead High “very good”.
Hang out at… The Grumpy Monkey Coffee House.
Where to buy The centre has some fine stone tenements, and even patches of Georgiana. But this is mostly a Victorian city, its rich industrialists making their home in the suburbs of Castlehead, Thornly Park and Ralston. Hunt west off Glasgow Road to Barshaw Park, south between Stanely Road and Brediland Road, and around Neilston Road. Large detacheds and townhouses, £250,000-£500,000. Detacheds, £130,000-£250,000. Semis, £120,000-£330,000. Terraces and cottages, £110,000-£160,000. Flats, £40,000-£200,000. Rentals: a one-bed flat, £250-£450pcm; a three-bed house, £500-£650pcm.
Bargain of the week A six-bed Victorian villa with roomy grounds needing hefty restoration, £345,000 with griffin-residential.co.uk.
From the streets
Jackie Neil “Paisley buddies, as us residents are known, are renowned for their warmth. The newly restored Fountain Gardens are wonderful. Head to Cardosi’s Italian for the best food in town.”
Ainslie McCrone “Steeped in history – every old building has a story. Glasgow airport is a five-minute drive. Great schools.”
Live in Paisley? Join the debate below
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