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Arts and crafts in Renfrewshire

is in Scotland. It has a population of around 175,000 and covers approximately 26,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire

The county town of Renfrewshire (called Siorrachd Rinn Friu in Scottish Gaelic) is Renfrew (called Rinn Friu in Scottish Gaelic), which is on the River Clyde and played an important role in the rise to power of the Royal House of Stewart (Stuart). The main council offices are in the town of Paisley (called Paislig in Scottish Gaelic), which is the largest town in the council area and gave its name to the famous Paisley pattern. Paisley Museum and Art Galleries is housed within an impressive neoclassical building which was designed by the Scottish architect John Honeyman and opened in 1871. The museum collections including natural and social history, industrial heritage, ceramics and hundreds of paintings. The museum is perhaps best known for The Arbuthnott Missal and its textile collection which includes exhibits from the areas history as a centre of weaving, such as the Paisley shawls. Renfrew Community Museum has a collection reflecting the lives and history of local people during the past few hundred years, such as its importance to The Stewarts, the growth of industry and shipping.

Between the 17th century and 19th century the weaving industry grew to be an important part of the economy of Scotland and like many others, the people of the village of Kilbarchan lived and worked in their cottages using hand-looms to produce textiles. Although powered looms and factories replaced hand-looms during the 20th century, The National Trust for Scotland has restored an 18th century Weavers Cottage in Kilbarchan and made it into a museum. The cottage contains period furnishings and visitors can learn about the skills and equipment that were used to weave traditional tartan by hand. If you are looking for fresh air, nature and outdoor activities you could visit Gleniffer Braes Country Park, near Paisley, or Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, which is the largest Regional Park in Scotland and part of which is within Renfrewshire. Other attractions in Renfrewshire include Paisley Abbey, where rulers of the House of Stewart were buried, the Gothic style Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church and the Coats Observatory, which has a planetarium as well as telescopes that visitors can use to look at the night sky.


John Henning

(Born 1771 in Paisley in Renfrewshire), Sculpture

A self-taught sculpture who created a miniature of the Parthanon.