In 1163, Walter fitz Alan, the first High Steward of Scotland issued a charter for a priory to be set up on land owned by him in Paisley.

William Wallace, born in nearby Elderslie, is believed to have been educated in the abbey for some time when he was a boy.

During the ride, she fell from her horse and as she was heavily pregnant at the time, she was taken to Paisley Abbey for medical care.

By 1499 Shaw had had built a new, larger pilgrims' chapel and added the sculptured stone frieze which can still be seen today, showing scenes from the life of St Miren.

It was originally brightly painted and may have been part of a rear panel of an altar before being put up as a frieze on the wall.

[6] A succession of fires and the collapse of the tower in the 15th and 16th centuries left the building in a partially ruined state.

From 1858 to 1928 the north porch and the eastern choir were reconstructed on the remains of the ruined walls by the architect Macgregor Chalmers.

Early maps show Ellis Lane being in the region of the modern manhole leading to the drain.

These include: Events to involve the public in the archaeological investigation of the drain have been held,[17][18] with the Renfrewshire Local History Forum.

A tomb in the choir incorporating a much-restored female effigy is widely believed to be that of Marjorie Bruce.

[19] Opposite Marjorie Bruce lie the tombs of Robert III of Scotland and Simon fitz Alan.

The work included major cleaning and servicing, the provision of a new wind system and the addition of a 32 ft contre bombarde.

The twelve angel corbels and stone communion table are by Pilkington Jackson, sculptor of the iconic Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn.

[25] During a restoration project that took place in the 1990s, a stonemason from Edinburgh hired to replace twelve crumbling stone gargoyles erected one bearing a strong resemblance to the space creature from the 1979 science fiction film Alien.