Paisley is the largest town in the Scottish county of Renfrewshire. The town resides in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Paisley is situated around 7 miles east of Glasgow city centre. It lies on the banks of a tributary of the River Clyde.
During the 19th Century the town of Paisley became a firm centre of the weaving industry and the town gave its name to the Paisley pattern, a very popular pattern which resembles a twisted teardrop. Paisley was also a prominent town for the manufacture of printed cotton and wool throughout the 19th Century.
Today the Paisley Thread Mill Museum opened in 2003 and has quickly established itself as one of Paisley's must see tourist attractions. The museum is run completely by volunteers, most of them ex Paisley Mill workers themselves.
Paisley was once a key centre for engineering, shipbuilding and car manufacturing; however these industries have declined in prominence within the town over the years. Food manufacturing is an important industry within the town of Paisley, whilst companies such as Scotch whiskey blenders and bottlers Chivas Brothers also provide employment opportunities within Paisley.
Other prominent areas of employment within the town of Paisley include the public sector, which creates a large amount of jobs in the health, education and administration sectors. Glasgow International Airport is situated on the outskirts of the town of Paisley and the airport provides significant employment opportunities for residents of the town.
The town of Paisley has a medieval Abbey which dates back to the 12th Century, located in the centre of the town. It provides examples of both Norman and Gothic architecture and was the final resting place of many Scottish Kings of the House of Stewart. Paisley is also the main site for the modern University of the West of Scotland, which was created from the merger of the University of Paisley and Bell College. The university provides many employment opportunities within the town of Paisley.