In the town of Paisley, in west-central Lowlands Scotland

 “Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind.”

-- Winston Churchill
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(in west-central Lowlands Scotland) Paisley, a town located north of the Gleniffer Braes, borders the city of Glasgow to the east, and straddles the banks of the White Cart Water, a tributary of the River Clyde. The biggest town in the historic county of the same name, Paisley is often cited as "Scotland's largest town," and is the fifth largest settlement in the country. It became prominent in the 12th century, with the establishment of Paisley Abbey, an important religious hub, which formerly had control over other local churches.

+ Paisley developed as a village clustered around the Cluniac abbey, which was founded in 1163. The original abbey was burned down in 1307, and the present building dates from the 15th century. By the early 18th century Paisley had developed into a manufacturing center for the hand-loom weaving of linen. By the end of that century, the new town was laid out over much of the ground that once belonged to the abbey.

+ Indeed, Paisley was transformed by the industrial revolution into an economic powerhouse between the late 18th and mid-19th century, when it catapulted to the forefront of the thread industry and was home to many mills and weavers. The Anchor Mills produced the world-famous threads and rochet cotton, and was the home to the merged Coats and Clark dynasties, J&P Coats -- still the world’s largest thread manufacturer and distributor today. The iconic Paisley Pattern design was favored across the world and worn by figures from Queen Victoria to the Beatles. (Paisley Museum is home to a "Collection of National Significance" including Paisley shawls, working looms, and pattern books.)

+ Paisley’s workers were noted for their radical politics. The town's political radicalism was highlighted by its involvement in the Radical War of 1820, with striking weavers being instrumental in the protests. (By 1993, all of Paisley's mills had closed, although they are memorialized in the town's museums and civic history.)

+ The town’s modern industry includes the blending and bottling of whisky as well as a range of service activities. Paisley has many fine buildings, including the Town Hall, Public Library and Museum, the Coats Observatory, and the Thomas Coats Memorial Church. The town is the site of one of the campuses of the University of West Scotland (formed by the merger of the University of Paisley and Bell College).

+ Surrounded by rolling countryside, Paisley is home to a host of architectural treasures, hidden gems, and a vibrant cultural scene. The town has a rich heritage stretching back more than 1,000 years. The first Stewart king, Robert II, the grandson of Robert the Bruce, was born inside Paisley Abbey in 1316. William Wallace was born in nearby Elderslie, and folklore has it that he was educated by the monks at the Abbey.