Scotland

Refurbishment of Paisley Town Hall

Originally built in 1882, Paisley Town Hall is undergoing a £1.6 million makeover in order to preserve and improve the historic building.

The work began in July 2012 and is due to be completed in time for next year’s National Mod in October 2013, a festival of Gaelic Scottish song, arts and culture.

The work will create a new more accessible entrance that is fully Disability Discrimination Act compliant and the creation of new interior space from the existing cloisters. There will also be major repairs to the town hall’s stonework and the foyer will be remodeled.

Renfrewshire Council awarded the contract for the refurbishment to Central Building Contractors (Glasgow) Ltd. As part of the contract, two new jobs will be created and three work placements will be established for 16 to 19 year olds. In addition, two existing apprenticeships will be continued.

The refurbishment work will also provide support for a young people’s programme. STEP UP will help young people develop life skills through a variety of training and workshops.

Paisley Town Hall was first built after George Clark, a member of the famous thread manufacturing family, left £20,000 in his will to pay for the building. The money was left in 1873 and by 1882 the Town Hall was completed.

Councillor Iain McMillan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Community and Family Care Policy Board, said:

“The Victorians gifted us an amazing architectural legacy.

“It’s a heritage that Renfrewshire Council is determined to preserve and improve. This refurbishment programme gives us an opportunity to create jobs and training places while also making one of our top entertainment venues much more accessible for people with disabilities.

“Paisley’s Town Hall will be shrouded in scaffolding for nine months but will emerge ready to face the next 100 years. It’s important to use investment in our architectural heritage to take forward economic regeneration and this programme achieves that aim.”

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