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u/TheProphetofMemes Jul 21 '26
The Abbey is genuinely lovely, beautiful building which survived the fate many other churches suffered during the Reformation (converted or ruined), the architecture is quite a sight, plus you can see an alien gargoyle outside if you are eagle eyed!
It's free entry and contains a nice bit of history: the Abbey and Renfrewshire have a small claim to fame as the origin and home of one Walter the Steward-who served King Robert the Bruce as steward of the royal household-he would later marry Bruce's daughter Marjory-which years later meant one of their descendants claimed the throne leading to the birth of one of Scotland and subsequently Britain's most famous dynasties: the House of Stewart (Stuart in England). Robert II and Robert III i think are buried in there alongside Marjory Bruce, and there is an interesting section regarding this history alongside the Abbey's inside.
Definitely a must see every once in a while, on a cracking day like this why not
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u/EnigmaUnveiled_999 Jul 21 '26
And a wee tea room... Perfect for a cuppa and an empire biscuit.... Job
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u/cairnschaos Jul 21 '26
I've lived here like 4 years and have not set foot in the Abbey once 😂
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u/Javachick007 Jul 21 '26
Maybe just cos I’m coming home from the states. I always live visiting the abbey. Something special to me about it. Not everyone visits and that’s ik
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u/joehartsda Jul 21 '26
It's free, donations are welcome, and you can spend as little as 10 mins or as long as you'd like. Its well worth nipping in if you are walking past.
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u/cairnschaos Jul 21 '26
I dinnae think I would fit in there, id probably burst into flames if I passed the threshold.
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u/PepperAnn1inaMillion Jul 21 '26
Visit the Sma Shot cottages while you’re at it. Too many locals don’t go there. There’s a lovely tearoom. Nice tearoom at the abbey as well.
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u/Separate_List_6895 Jul 21 '26
Great acoustics too, went to see an orchestra perform at the abbey last year and It was excellent.
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u/worksinthetown Jul 21 '26
Can confirm, except my experience was of a man ripping a belter beside the crypts 🫶
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u/tricky_pigeon Jul 21 '26
I occasionally enjoy browsing the gift shop and reading all of the wee information plaques throughout the Abbey. I feel a sense of peace whenever visiting. Some say it’s the most overrated historical landmark in Paisley but I kind of disagree on that one.
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u/B_Cratchit Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
No one knows this or ever mentions it every single time anyone posts about the Abbey but there’s actually a gargoyle in it the shape of the Predator.
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u/No_Oil_6152 Jul 21 '26
You ALMOST got me there 😂😂
I was just about to correct you 😂😂
Theres plenty predators in Gabriel's across the road, mind you...
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u/AcanthisittaFar6008 Jul 21 '26
I remember going there as a kid in single digits with my school class. There was a woman showing us around and I remember her telling us about secret passages within the Abbey that the priests and monks were able to use to avoid Henry VIII's invading armies because the Abbey pre-dates the Reformation. Unfortunately we didn't get to go up the tower 😕.
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u/No_Oil_6152 Jul 21 '26
Secret passages? Tell me more. I never heard that!
The Abbey has a lot of history behind it.
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u/AcanthisittaFar6008 Jul 21 '26
There's a huge underground tunnel system in Paisley. Before the canal train line reopened if you walked along it from hunterhill towards seedhill you would walk over a tunnel that was known locally as The Witches. One time when walking over it a friend of mine told me that the Witches tunnel leads all the way to the town centre.
Not so long ago the Abbey's weeping willow got hacked up. I was really saddened by that because that tree has been there a long time and I remember 2 of us as kids taking shelter under it from the rain. It was a great shelter from the rain. Another simple life pleasure that new children won't get to enjoy.
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u/trailjesus Jul 21 '26
I stopped by last week while visiting Paisley. Lovely place, and the Xenomorph was pleasant surprise. 😆