18 miles west of Greenock and before you come to Glasgow, lies Paisley – Scotland’s biggest town.

It has an ancient history, reputedly founded by the Irish monk, St Mirin, in the sixth or seventh century. In the next few centuries, its Abbey developed into one of Scotland’s great religious and educational centres. The great Scottish patriot, William Wallace was educated here.

Like Clydebank and Greenock, Paisley was shaped by the rapid industrialisation of the nineteenth century. Unlike those towns, though, Paisley was transformed not by shipbuilding, engineering or heavy industry but by textiles.

For 150 years, the town was the undisputed thread capital of the world, initially through the work of small weavers. It was these weavers who gave the world the famous Paisley Pattern and Paisley Shawl. However, innovation, the adoption of modern production techniques and American cotton saw the transformation of textiles from a family enterprise into a massive industrial undertaking.

The huge mills, owned in large part by the Coates and Clarke families, dominated employment in the town and they still dominate its skyline today. The last mill closed in 1993 but the magnificent Grade-A listed buildings have been restored and are now used for residential and commercial purposes. The street names of Paisley also act as a permanent reminder of its heritage, among them Gauze Street, Cotton Street, Mill Street and Silk Street.

On the route of the M8 motorway, the town and the surrounding area have in recent years seen huge investment in retail and leisure developments. Its proximity to Glasgow Airport makes it an ideal hub location for many businesses.

West College Scotland has had a presence in the town for nearly 70 years (as Reid Kerr College until 2013), and retains a deep commitment to Paisley. We are actively engaged with Renfrewshire Council and others partners to revitalise and regenerate the town centre for the benefit of our communities and as an acknowledgement of a glorious heritage.