Public subscription initiated in early 1870s. George Clark died in America and left money for the purpose; the Clark family contributed the balance and a competition was held. The assessor was Robert Matheson, and it was won by Rennison & Scott. However the Clark family preferred Lynn\'s design: the public contributions were returned and the hall built 1878-82.
Paisley.âLast week the foundation-stone of the new town-hall, which is at present in course of erection on a site contiguous to the abbey, at Paisley, was laid by Mrs. Clark, of Gateside, mother of the deceased donor, Mr George A. Clark. After purchasing the site, it was found that the sum in hand would be exceedingly insufficient to erect a hall suitable to the wants of the town, and, therefore, the Messrs Clark, brothers of the deceased donor, offered to defray the additional cost, which it is calculated will be altogether little short of £.50,000. The buildings will consist of a large hall occupying the centre of the block, 130 feet long by 60 feet wide, and affording accommodation for about 4,000 persons â1,400 on the ground floor, 400 in the balcony, and 400 in the upper gallery. There will also be a lesser hall, 53 feet by 30 feet calculated to seat about 300 persons. In addition to these, at the special direction of the deceased donor, there will be a public reading-room, smoke-room, etc. The contractors for the building are Messrs Morrison and Mason, Glasgow. The completion is expected to be in about two years\' time. Mr W H Lynn, of Larne, is the architect. The building was illustrated in the Building News, April 5, 1878. [Building News 31 October 1879 p536]
We give this week a view of the minor hall and river front of the above building. The memorial stone of the building was laid on the 22nd of October last by Mrs. Clark, of Gateside, the mother of the originator of the undertaking, and of the Messrs Clark, of the Anchor Mills, Paisley, who are contributing largely towards the carrying out of their brother\'s intentions. The sum of £20,000 having been bequeathed by the late Mr George A Clark for the erection of a public hall, reading-room, etc, for the benefit of his native town, steps were taken accordingly, and designs for the building were obtained through the medium of competition. The requirements set forth in the instructions to architects being found to be considerably beyond what could be provided for the above sum, the Messrs Clark, rather than curtail the extent of the building which they thought were necessary, have generously supplemented the amount bequeathed by their brother. The cost of the site was £10,000, and the expenditure on the building itself will reach to about £.50,000. In addition to this Mrs. Clark has signified her intention of presenting an organ for the large central hall, and a capital sum with which to endow it. Mr W. H. Lynn, R.H A., of Belfast, is the architect. In a previous number we gave a view of the two principal fronts, and a general description of the building. The work has now been carried as high as the level of the first string-course. [Building News 19 December 1879 p740]