THE PLACE of PAISLEY, PAISLEY ABBEY Abbey Close, Paisley Conservation Plan
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THE PLACE OF PAISLEY, PAISLEY ABBEY Abbey Close, Paisley Conservation Plan Simpson & Brown Architects with Addyman Archaeology August 2010 Front cover: View into the cloisters from the west. Photograph taken March 2010 Simpson & Brown CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary 3 2.0 Introduction 6 2.1 Objectives of a Conservation Plan 6 2.2 Study Area 6 2.3 Designations 7 2.4 Structure of the Report 8 2.5 Limitations 8 2.6 Project Team 8 2.7 Acknowledgements 8 2.8 Abbreviations 9 3.0 Historical Development of the Place of Paisley 11 3.1 Introduction 11 3.2 Paisley Abbey 1163-1560 15 3.3 Phase 1 Creation of the Place by the Hamiltons 1580s-1652 20 3.4 Phase 2 Remodelling by the Cochranes, Late 17th century 29 3.5 Phase 3 Alterations and Decline in Status, 1770s 45 3.6 Phase 4 Demolition of West Range, and Alterations, 1874-1904 53 3.7 Phase 5 Restoration and Alterations 1904-1956 67 3.8 Phase 6 Alterations, 1958-64 81 3.9 Phase 7 Minor Alterations, 1970s-1980s 85 3.10 Summary Chronology 88 3.11 Place of Paisley in 2010 91 4.0 Assessment of Significance 94 4.1 Introduction 94 4.2 Historical Significance 94 4.3 Architectural, Aesthetic and Artistic Significance 95 4.4 Social and Spiritual Significance 96 4.5 Archaeological Significance 96 5.0 Summary Statement of Significance 97 6.0 Grading of Significance 98 6.1 Introduction 98 6.2 Graded Elements 98 7.0 Conservation Issues & Policies 104 7.1 Introduction 104 7.2 Base Policies 105 7.3 Conservation Philosophy 105 7.4 Workmanship & Professional Advice 108 The Place of Paisley, Paisley Abbey –Conservation Plan 1 7.5 Interior Policies 108 7.6 Exterior Policies 113 7.7 Adaptation to New Use and Interventions to Existing Buildings 114 7.8 Access, Interpretation & Training 120 7.9 Archaeological Issues 121 7.10 Statutory and Non-Statutory Constraints 123 7.11 Maintenance 124 Appendices Appendix I A3 Drawings Appendix II Archaeological Evaluation Method Statement Figure 1 Composite view of Paisley Abbey and Place of Paisley, 2010 Figure 2 View from south west, 2010 Figure 3 View from west, 2010 Figure 4 View from east, 2010 Figure 5 View from south east, 2010 2 The Place of Paisley, Paisley Abbey –Conservation Plan 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Place of Paisley is of outstanding importance, both at a national and at a local level. The building is at the heart of the town of Paisley, inextricably linked to the history of its most important building, Paisley Abbey. The building is held in great local affection, and the restoration phases of the Abbey and the Place have been frequently funded by local efforts since the programme of restoration began in the 19th century. The Place is built on and embodies the arrangement of the cloister laid out by the monks of the Abbey in the 12th century, occupying the site of its south range and the southern part of its east side. The claustral arrangement survived overall until the demolition of the range bounding its west side in 1874. Since that time the fully enclosed cloister arrangement has been lost, being open to the street, Abbey Close to the west. Following further demolitions in the later 19th and 20th centuries the abbey complex is now isolated within the townscape of Paisley, surrounded by open parkland and managed motor and pedestrian traffic routes. The north side of the cloister walk was recreated in the early 20th century, and once again functions as an integral part of the Abbey, permitting covered access to the abbey church and to the shop and café. The opportunity to expand and improve both visitor and congregation facilities by rebuilding on the site of the demolished west range and the west side of the cloister has been recognised. This report sets out what is important about the existing south and east ranges of the Place in the context of the Abbey site, and seeks to explain the importance of the demolished west range and establish the potential archaeological importance of the site. Figure 6 West tower with cloister beyond Figure 7 West elevation 2010 2010 The Place of Paisley, Paisley Abbey –Conservation Plan 3 Figure 8 North elevation of south range 2010 Simpson & Brown Figure 9 West elevation – north wing, south range, and south closet tower. Figure 10 South elevation of stair tower 4 The Place of Paisley, Paisley Abbey –Conservation Plan Figure 11 South elevation, with (from left) stair tower, south range, closet tower and north wing. South elevation of St Mirrin’s Aisle to right, 2010 Simpson & Brown Figure 12 East elevation of closet tower, south range, and north wing 2010 Simpson & Brown The Place of Paisley, Paisley Abbey –Conservation Plan 5 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Objectives of a Conservation Plan This conservation plan has been commissioned by Paisley Abbey Kirk Session to inform the future conservation, repair, use, management and alteration of the Place of Paisley. The aim of this report is to inform future proposals for conservation, repair work and alterations to the building. This conservation plan has been prepared as an appraisal of the heritage value of the building and provides an examination of key conservation-related issues and guidelines regarding the site. The conservation plan assesses and sets out in summary what is important about the Place of Paisley, based upon readily available information. The information gathered is then considered in an assessment of cultural significance, for the site as a whole and for its various parts, to be summarised in this report with a summary statement of significance. The purpose of establishing the importance of the site is to identify and assess the attributes which make a place of value to our society. Once the heritage significance of the building is understood, informed policy decisions can be made which will enable that significance to be retained, revealed, enhanced or, at least, impaired as little as possible in any future decisions for the site. A clear understanding of the nature and degree of the significance of the building will not simply suggest constraints on future action, but it will introduce flexibility by identifying the areas which can be adapted or developed with greater freedom. It will, identify potential opportunities within the site. From all of this information, it will be possible to establish a set of policies, or guidelines that will inform the future conservation, repair, management and use of the building according to best conservation practice. 2.2 Study Area The Place of Paisley is located on Abbey Close, immediately adjacent to, and adjoining Paisley Abbey. It is grouped around the south and east sides of an open cloister and adjoins the St Mirin’s Aisle, or south transept, of the Abbey. Although the principal entrance is on the west elevation to Abbey Close, the functional entrance to the public areas on the ground floor is from the cloister, and the principal elevation is to the south, overlooking Cotton Street. A considerable amount of development and redevelopment has taken place in the vicinity of the church, particularly during the 19th and early 20th century, with large- scale redevelopment and clearance of the area. Apart from the Place of Paisley and the Abbey itself, the study area is dominated by the 1882 George A Clark Town Hall to the north-west and the large Modernist headquarters of Renfrewshire Council to the south-east. 6 The Place of Paisley, Paisley Abbey –Conservation Plan Figure 13 Location Plan. OS/Bing.com The study area is shown on Figure 2. Figure 14 Study area highlighted in pink. Google earth, ed Simpson & Brown. 2.3 Designations The Place of Paisley is a Category A listed building. The site is not recognised as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM), nor is it located in the immediate vicinity of a SAM. The Place of Paisley is within the Paisley Town Centre Conservation Area. The Place of Paisley, Paisley Abbey –Conservation Plan 7 2.4 Structure of the Report This conservation plan follows the guidelines set out in the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Conservation Management Planning (April 2008) document, (which supersedes the Heritage Lottery Fund Conservation Management Plans Checklist, Conservation Management Plans Model Brief and Conservation Management Plans: Helping your application (2004)); Historic Scotland’s document Conservation Plans: A Guide to the Preparation of Conservation Plans; The Conservation Plan 5th Ed. (The National Trust of Australia, 2000) by James Semple Kerr; and The Illustrated Burra Charter: good practice for heritage places (Australia ICOMOS, 2004) by M Walker and P Marquis-Kyle. Reference is also made to the British Standard BS 7913 – Guide to the principles of the conservation of historic buildings (1998). 2.5 Limitations Basic historical research has been carried out for this conservation plan, using readily available sources. It is likely that further research, particularly in the uncatalogued archive of Paisley Abbey would reveal more about the history of the building. It has not been possible to consult the archive of Paisley Museum during the time available for this report. The catalogue of the Abercorn papers in the Northern Ireland Archives has been consulted however further research in the archive has not been possible. Considerable use has been made of the information collected in Paul McWilliams’ PhD Thesis ‘Paisley Abbey’ 1995. This included references from the Heritors Records of Paisley Abbey which are kept in the National Archives of Scotland, which have not been directly consulted for this report. This conservation plan has been completed within a limited time period.