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Basic Site Details

Name: Paisley Abbey
Town, district or village: Paisley
City or county: Renfrewshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: A Listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Information from A G Lochhead. References from HS list: Paisley Abbey Restoration Volume, 1913; A R Howell, 'Paisley Abbey', s.d. E W Mackie, Scotland: An Archaeological Guide, 1975, p110.

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Abbey  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 131828  Repairs
Item 2 of 131829  Measured survey made
Item 3 of 1323 November 1831  Report on heating at Abbey
Item 4 of 1318591862 Proposals for rebuilding - only some work executed on nave and transepts
Item 5 of 1326 April 1860  Salmon consulted about restoration - estimated cost £1849
Item 6 of 13April 1862  Some restoration work completed (rebuilding of north transept proposed by Thomas Coats)
Item 7 of 131873  Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister commissioned by the Marquess of Bute. Not executed. West range demolished for road widening
Item 8 of 131898  Reconstruction of transepts
Item 9 of 131904  Pulpit
Item 10 of 131913 Plans submittedRestoration
Item 11 of 131913 Design exhibitedDesign by Macgregor Chalmers for choir and tower
Item 12 of 131923c. 1931 Restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork and furnishings, completing restoration begun by P McGregor Chalmers
Item 13 of 1319741984RestorationRestoration including stoenwork, removal of plaster ceiling over nave and formation of barrel roof.

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 27H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)Architectural practiceF  Restoration with Matheson as Architect in Scotland.
Item 2 of 27Robert MathesonArchitectF  Restoration as Architect in Scotland with HM Office of Works. [date to be checked]
Item 3 of 27James LambArchitect 1828 Repairs
Item 4 of 27James RussellArchitect 1829 Measured survey of Abbey
Item 5 of 27David HamiltonArchitect 1831 Report on heating (recommended scheme by Nott of Liverpool)
Item 6 of 27James Salmon (senior)Architect 1859April 1862Proposals for rebuilding - some work executed on nave and transepts
Item 7 of 27(Sir) Robert Rowand AndersonArchitectA1873 Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister. Not executed. Report on west range (as partner in Bryce's partner.
Item 8 of 27Bryce, Anderson & BryceArchitectural practiceA1873 Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister. Not executed.
Item 9 of 27David BryceArchitectA1873 Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister. Not executed.
Item 10 of 27John Bryce II (or John Bryce (junior))ArchitectA1873 Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister. Not executed.
Item 11 of 27Charles DavidsonArchitect October 1875 Extensive repairs (as Clerk of Works and later architect)
Item 12 of 27(Sir) Robert Rowand AndersonArchitectC1898 Reconstruction of transepts
Item 13 of 27George Mackie WatsonArchitectC1898 Reconstruction of transepts - as chief assistant to Robert Rowand Anderson
Item 14 of 27Wardrop & AndersonArchitectural practiceC1898 Reconstruction of transepts.
Item 15 of 27John McIntyreArchitectD1900 Assisted Rowand Anderson with working drawings for restoration (Anderson Simon & Crawford)
Item 16 of 27(Sir) Robert Rowand AndersonArchitectDc. 1900 Restoration
Item 17 of 27William Beattie-BrownArchitectDc. 1900 Restoration - as assistant to Robert Rowand Anderson
Item 18 of 27Thomas Graham AbercrombieArchitect 1904 Pulpit
Item 19 of 27Peter Macgregor ChalmersArchitect 1912 or 1913 Restoration (acted as architect for the Abbey until 1922)
Item 20 of 27(Sir) Robert Stodart LorimerArchitectB19231929Restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork and furnishings, completing restoration begun by P Macgregor Chalmers
Item 21 of 27Alfred George LochheadArchitectB19231924Chief draughtsman to Robert Stodart Lorimer on restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork
Item 22 of 27John Fraser MatthewArchitectB1923c. 1931Restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork, completing restoration begun by P Macgregor Chalmers
Item 23 of 27Robert A HamiltonArchitectB1923 Restoration - worked with Lorimer?
Item 24 of 27Lorimer & MatthewArchitectural practiceB1927c. 1931Restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork, completing restoration begun by P Macgregor Chalmers
Item 25 of 27Alexander G MacgregorArchitect, Town PlannerL19531954Restoration as apprentice with James Steel Maitland
Item 26 of 27James Steel MaitlandArchitectL19531954Restoration
Item 27 of 27Donald Hugh MacphersonArchitect 19741984Restoration including stonework, removal of plaster ceiling over nave and formation of barrel roof.

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

Child Structures

This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):
 Building NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Paisley Abbey, lectern 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 10Academy Architecture1913 Part 1 p4 (Shows scheme by Macgregor Chalmers with short spire)
Item 2 of 10Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p75
Item 3 of 10Hannah, Rosemary 2021The Grand Designer: Third Marquis of Bute Birlinnp116-117
Item 4 of 10McKinstry, Sam1991Rowand Anderson, the Premier Architect of Scotland Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Pressp172
Item 5 of 10McWilliams, Philip Paisley Abbey PhD thesis, University of GlasgowCheck reference
Item 6 of 10Royal Academy exhibitors    1913, nos 18743, 1744 (design by Macgregor Chalmers for new choir and tower)
Item 7 of 10Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts1913   105 (Cloisters)
Item 8 of 10Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts1915   616 (Cloisters)
Item 9 of 10Savage, Peter1980Lorimer and the Edinburgh Craft Designers Edinburgh: Paul Harris Publishing, 1980 (also paperback ed, London & Edinburgh: Steve Savage, 2005)p177
Item 10 of 10Walker, Frank Arneil1986South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew  p7

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1British Architect15 June 1888  Obituary of Salmon

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 9Courtesy of Alexander MacgregorInformation sent to the Dictionary Sent April 2016
Item 2 of 9Edinburgh University LibraryAnderson Collection (Plans and drawings) Reconstruction of transepts.
Item 3 of 9Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register38910 
Item 4 of 9Mount StuartBute Archives Restoration scheme by Robert Rowand Anderson
Item 5 of 9National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Heritors Records HR/778 (also 25 July 1828 and 8 August 1828 - Lamb repairs on Abbey). Heritors Records also for 1875 repairs
Item 6 of 9National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSLorimer and Matthew Collection MSS 73/28-30. LOR/P/1, RED/27/84, 86
Item 7 of 9Paisley MuseumPaisley Museum Archive For copy of measured survey 1829
Item 8 of 9Renfrewshire CouncilPaisley Dean of Guild Records Plans submitted 1913 (McGregor Chalmers)
Item 9 of 9RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers William Beattie-Brown: L v16 no1117; John Fraser Matthew: L no3904 (box 18) & F no2945 (box 14); George Mackie Watson: L v21 no1659; John McIntyre: L v5 no306 (microfilm reel 30)

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