Paisley Abbey
5 minute walk from Paisley Gilmour Street station · Glasgow and West Central
Paisley Abbey is a Church of Scotland parish church located on the banks of the White Cart Water in the centre of Paisley. Founded as a Cluniac priory in 1163, the present Gothic building dates from the 14th and 19th centuries. It occupies a site where a religious community was originally established by Saint Mirin in the 7th century.
The Abbey is a site of great historical significance, serving as the burial place for all six High Stewards of Scotland and Marjorie Bruce, the daughter of Robert the Bruce. It is also believed to be where William Wallace was educated. Visitors can admire the 10th-century Celtic Barochan Cross and a series of detailed gargoyles, including one famously carved in the 1990s to resemble the creature from the film *Alien*.
Inside, guests can view a sculptured stone frieze showing scenes from the life of St Mirin and a collection of archaeological finds, including a slate featuring the oldest polyphonic music found in Scotland. The Abbey is also home to a renowned Cavaillé-Coll organ and impressive stained glass by artists such as Edward Burne-Jones and Douglas Strachan.
Visitor information
- Place type
- Abbey
- Good for
- Archaeology & ancient history, Architecture, Churches, abbeys & cathedrals, Local & social history
- Characteristics
- Gothic, Medieval, Nationally significant, Riverside
- Admission
- Free
- Region
- Glasgow and West Central
Stations within walking distance
- Paisley Gilmour Street station — 5 min walk, 0.4 km
- Paisley Canal station — 9 min walk, 0.8 km
- Hawkhead station — 20 min walk, 1.6 km
- Paisley St James station — 26 min walk, 2.1 km
Other places near Paisley Gilmour Street
- Fountain Gardens — 7 min walk from the station
- Paisly Thread Mill Museum — 15 min walk from the station