Crochet Guild of America: Tour of Ireland and Scotland Day 12: April 9, 2003 Glasgow, Paisley Museum, McKinnon Mills report by CGOA member Barbara Pretzsch

Wednesday, April 9th we took the “motorway” to Paisley, a town of past fame for its linen mills.  We crossed over the River Clyde on the Kingston Bridge.

Valerie Reilly, guide at Paisley Museum

We finally were able to stop at a bank for some local money and then on to the Paisley Museum and Art Gallery. Our guide was Valerie Reilly who was the author of a book I bought there about Paisley and the pattern.  We found this gallery an interesting study in architecture that was dete rmined by the location of the original museum.  It was built against a hillside so the added elements of the building turned as we climbed the stairs to the various chambers.  The first gallery had a special exhibition called “Fish and Ships”.  As might be expected there were paintings of ships and fish as well as even some carvings of fish. 

J & P Coats started the museum because they thought the museum and library should belong to the public.  Coats and Clark were originally separate companies and joined to become a primary supplier of this cottage industry.

After nearly 2 hours there we were back on the bus headed for McKinnon Mills a large building catering to the tourist trade.  In a way it was similar to a department store with many different areas of merchandise but a large open space, not separate shops.  They sold books, cards, children’s clothes, home accessories, golf equipment and clothes, adult clothes and dried fruit, nuts and candy shop as well as having a cafeteria. 

Edinburgh Castle

Back on the bus to our final destination before we finish with the trip.  Edinburgh!  As we drove in we could see the castle on the hill.  This made Edinburgh the most impressive sight I had seen, although not by much.  It all has been impressive.  We were finding so many “American” stores here such as Claire’s, Starbucks, The Gap, The Foot Locker, Holiday Inns, Ramada Inn, Budget Cars, Federal Express.  We were staying in a Ramada right down town.  We were located across from The Scott Monument, (a huge tower looking more like a church spire than a monument) dedicated to the writer, Sir Walter Scott.  The Gothic-inspired Scott Monument is Edinburgh's most famous landmark, completed in the mid-19th century.  You can climb 287 steps to the top for a spectacular view.  I believe some of our ladies tried it.

A yarn section at Jenners, which is the oldest independent department store in the world, was excellent according to some of the others.  Liz and I were to visit it several times during out stay there.  It was very crowded on the streets but we found some interesting things along the way.  There are lots of plaid things, capes, kilts, scarves, and key rings about anything you can name came in a plaid of one clan o r another. 

Dinner was at 6:30 and was very good.  The salmon appetizer was delicious.  The buffet style meal allowed me to control the amount of food I had on my plate.  Dessert was a chocolate tart and appeared to be a slice of chocolate ‘pie’ which looked like ‘cake in a crust’.

After nearly 2 hours there we were back on the bus headed for McKinnon Mills a large building catering to the tourist trade.  In a way it was similar to a department store with many different areas of merchandise but a large open space, not separate shops.  They sold books, cards, children’s clothes, home accessories, golf equipment and clothes, adult clothes and dried fruit, nuts and candy shop as well as having a cafeteria. 

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©2004 Crochet Guild of America. Article and Photographs: Barbara Pretzsch Webweaver: Pam Oddi

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