‘History of Paisley’ (1886)

After the popularly requested article on Paisley from the ‘Gazetteer of Scotland‘ (1847) was posted, I was alerted to the existence of this publication by our anonymous Patron who thought it might be of value to the site. I agree.

I have high hopes from this 2-volume set. After going through them for scans, there’s obviously a lot of obviously great information as well as plenty of illustrations, the majority of which will be scanned in as their chapters are posted. Paisley’s always been of interest both due to its antiquity and the fact the ‘Black Book of Paisley’ contains extracts from Fordoun’s 15^th century ‘Scotochronicon.’ It was while looking for a copy of this Black Book that I came across and obtained the ‘Black Book of Taymouth‘ (1855), the family history of the Campbells of Breadalbane.

The maps are fantastic and all require unfolding and opening up. One of them had to be scanned in 4 bits using the A3 scanner, all were at least 2 pieces, all jigsawed together again on Photoshop. I’ve included them below but these will be cleaned up further and uploaded to the Map section and DeviantArt Map Gallery.

This particular set includes a lovely written dedication from the author, Robert Brown, to the head-master of his old Parish School, Neilston, and can be included with the other interesting examples of handwritten meeting minutes, declaration, and signatures of past Provosts of the area.

–

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vols.1 & 2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Front Cover.

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vols.1 & 2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Spines.

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.1, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Frontispiece.

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.1, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Publisher’s Page.

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Title Page with Dedication;
“To D. M. Doak Esq^r.
Head Master of the Parish School
Neilston
By the author
Robert Brown
In remembrance of having received all his school education at the Neilston Parish School, betwixt 1816 and 1824, while living with his parents at the Laigh [Capaly? (Cappellie)] Farm, Neilston.
Underwood Park
Fairley, 30^th November 1892.”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Frontispiece; Author Portrait.

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Publisher’s Page.

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.1, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Map, p.148a;
“Plan of Paisley – 1490 till about 1545.”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.1, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting example, p.160a;
“Fac-Simile of Minute of Meeting of the Town Council, held 10^th September. 1594.”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.1, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting example, p.356a;
“Fac-Simile of Part of the Declaration of Elizabeth Anderson, taken before Lord Blantyre.”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.1, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Illustration, p.364a;
“The Town of Paisley in 1693.
from Slezer’s Theatrum Scotiæ”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Map, p.50a;
“A Plan and Profile of the River Cart from Paisley to the River Clyde
Survey’d in 1786 by Rob^t. Whitworth.”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Map, p.90a;
“A Plan
of the Town
of Paisley & Suburbs
with Part of the adjacent Country
from a Survey of W^m. Semple
by Ja^s. Lumsden Engraver Glasgow
1781″

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting examples, p.495;
“Magistrates of Paisley
Fac-Simile of Signatures.”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting examples, pp.496-497;
“Magistrates of Paisley
Fac-Simile of Signatures (Cont.).”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting examples, pp.498-499;
“Magistrates of Paisley
Fac-Simile of Signatures (Cont.).”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting examples, pp.500-501;
“Magistrates of Paisley
Fac-Simile of Signatures (Cont.).”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting examples, pp.502-503;
“Magistrates of Paisley
Fac-Simile of Signatures (Cont.).”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting examples, pp.504-505;
“Magistrates of Paisley
Fac-Simile of Signatures (Cont.).”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Handwriting examples, p.506;
“Magistrates of Paisley
Fac-Simile of Signatures (Cont.).”

R. Brown (1886), ‘History of Paisley,’ Vol.2, Paisley: J. & J. Cook, Map, p.506a;
“Map of Paisley (1886-7)”

A wee bit of a fern-like plant found between the book pages.