Paisley Abbey

Originally on the site of a 6th century Celtic church to St Mirin, 13 monks from Shropshire arrived and set up a priory.

William Wallace was said to have been educated by monks here, but the abbey was destroyed by the English in 1307 during the Scottish War of Independence. In 1533, further misfortune occurred when the tower collapsed, crushing parts of the choir and transept, leaving only the nave for worship.

This sorry state of affairs lasted for a couple of centuries, until sporadic restoration was attempted. Eminent architects and craftsmen returned Paisley Abbey to medieval splendour, with the tower being rebuilt in stages from the late 1800s. Glorious stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones, amongst others, has also contributed greatly.

The outstanding woodwork, including the choir and organ case by Sir Robert Lorimer, is a delight. The abbey contains a number of important Scottish monuments: tombs of Marjorie Bruce (Robert the Bruce's daughter) and Robert III, and the stone Barochan Cross from the 10th century.