Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. 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 ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes |  | Abbey | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes |  | 1828 | | | Repairs |  | 1829 | | | Measured survey made |  | 23 November 1831 | | | Report on heating at Abbey |  | 1859 | 1862 | | Proposals for rebuilding - only some work executed on nave and transepts |  | 26 April 1860 | | | Salmon consulted about restoration - estimated cost £1849 |  | April 1862 | | | Some restoration work completed (rebuilding of north transept proposed by Thomas Coats) |  | 1873 | | | Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister commissioned by the Marquess of Bute. Not executed. West range demolished for road widening |  | 1898 | | | Reconstruction of transepts |  | 1904 | | | Pulpit |  | 1913 | | Plans submitted | Restoration |  | 1913 | | Design exhibited | Design by Macgregor Chalmers for choir and tower |  | 1923 | c. 1931 | | Restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork and furnishings, completing restoration begun by P McGregor Chalmers |  | 1974 | 1984 | Restoration | Restoration including stoenwork, removal of plaster ceiling over nave and formation of barrel roof. |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe 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. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes |  | H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency) | Architectural practice | F | | | Restoration with Matheson as Architect in Scotland. |  | Robert Matheson | Architect | F | | | Restoration as Architect in Scotland with HM Office of Works. [date to be checked] |  | James Lamb | Architect | | 1828 | | Repairs |  | James Russell | Architect | | 1829 | | Measured survey of Abbey |  | David Hamilton | Architect | | 1831 | | Report on heating (recommended scheme by Nott of Liverpool) |  | James Salmon (senior) | Architect | | 1859 | April 1862 | Proposals for rebuilding - some work executed on nave and transepts |  | (Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson | Architect | A | 1873 | | Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister. Not executed. Report on west range (as partner in Bryce's partner. |  | Bryce, Anderson & Bryce | Architectural practice | A | 1873 | | Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister. Not executed. |  | David Bryce | Architect | A | 1873 | | Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister. Not executed. |  | John Bryce II (or John Bryce (junior)) | Architect | A | 1873 | | Proposals for restoration of West range of cloister. Not executed. |  | Charles Davidson | Architect | | October 1875 | | Extensive repairs (as Clerk of Works and later architect) |  | (Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson | Architect | C | 1898 | | Reconstruction of transepts |  | George Mackie Watson | Architect | C | 1898 | | Reconstruction of transepts - as chief assistant to Robert Rowand Anderson |  | Wardrop & Anderson | Architectural practice | C | 1898 | | Reconstruction of transepts. |  | John McIntyre | Architect | D | 1900 | | Assisted Rowand Anderson with working drawings for restoration (Anderson Simon & Crawford) |  | (Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson | Architect | D | c. 1900 | | Restoration |  | William Beattie-Brown | Architect | D | c. 1900 | | Restoration - as assistant to Robert Rowand Anderson |  | Thomas Graham Abercrombie | Architect | | 1904 | | Pulpit |  | Peter Macgregor Chalmers | Architect | | 1912 or 1913 | | Restoration (acted as architect for the Abbey until 1922) |  | (Sir) Robert Stodart Lorimer | Architect | B | 1923 | 1929 | Restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork and furnishings, completing restoration begun by P Macgregor Chalmers |  | Alfred George Lochhead | Architect | B | 1923 | 1924 | Chief draughtsman to Robert Stodart Lorimer on restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork |  | John Fraser Matthew | Architect | B | 1923 | c. 1931 | Restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork, completing restoration begun by P Macgregor Chalmers |  | Robert A Hamilton | Architect | B | 1923 | | Restoration - worked with Lorimer? |  | Lorimer & Matthew | Architectural practice | B | 1927 | c. 1931 | Restoration of choir vault, tower and interior woodwork, completing restoration begun by P Macgregor Chalmers |  | Alexander G Macgregor | Architect, Town Planner | L | 1953 | 1954 | Restoration as apprentice with James Steel Maitland |  | James Steel Maitland | Architect | L | 1953 | 1954 | Restoration |  | Donald Hugh Macpherson | Architect | | 1974 | 1984 | Restoration including stonework, removal of plaster ceiling over nave and formation of barrel roof. |
Related Buildings, Structures and DesignsChild StructuresThis structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details): | | Building Name | Notes |  | Paisley Abbey, lectern | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Academy Architecture | 1913 | | Part 1 | | p4 (Shows scheme by Macgregor Chalmers with short spire) |  | Allen, Nic (ed.) | | Scottish Architects in Conservation | | | p75 |  | Hannah, Rosemary | 2021 | The Grand Designer: Third Marquis of Bute | | Birlinn | p116-117 |  | McKinstry, Sam | 1991 | Rowand Anderson, the Premier Architect of Scotland | | Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press | p172 |  | McWilliams, Philip | | Paisley Abbey | | PhD thesis, University of Glasgow | Check reference |  | Royal Academy exhibitors | | | | | 1913, nos 18743, 1744 (design by Macgregor Chalmers for new choir and tower) |  | Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts | 1913 | | | | 105 (Cloisters) |  | Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts | 1915 | | | | 616 (Cloisters) |  | Savage, Peter | 1980 | Lorimer and the Edinburgh Craft Designers | | Edinburgh: Paul Harris Publishing, 1980 (also paperback ed, London & Edinburgh: Steve Savage, 2005) | p177 |  | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p7 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | British Architect | 15 June 1888 | | | Obituary of Salmon |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes |  | Courtesy of Alexander Macgregor | Information sent to the Dictionary | | Sent April 2016 |  | Edinburgh University Library | Anderson Collection (Plans and drawings) | | Reconstruction of transepts. |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 38910 | |  | Mount Stuart | Bute Archives | | Restoration scheme by Robert Rowand Anderson |  | National 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 |  | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Lorimer and Matthew Collection | | MSS 73/28-30. LOR/P/1, RED/27/84, 86 |  | Paisley Museum | Paisley Museum Archive | | For copy of measured survey 1829 |  | Renfrewshire Council | Paisley Dean of Guild Records | | Plans submitted 1913 (McGregor Chalmers) |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA 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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