The diverse Social History collection reflects aspects of life from the seventeenth century up to the present day.
It includes agricultural and domestic material common to lowland Scotland and objects connected with the area’s industrial base such as the textile, engineering and food processing industries.
The cultural and social manifestations of this economy are reflected in material collected from local government, retailing and services, societies, education, housing, leisure and transport - a highlight of which is the locally produced Hillman Imp.
The archaeology collection encompasses a range of material from sections of carved stone crosses to medieval cannon balls and also boasts material from one of Paisley’s best historical assets, the medieval Abbey Drain.
Excavations of the 1900s discovered the largest assemblage of medieval pottery found in Scotland, alongside rare organic material, such as leather, wood, and plant specimens. Perhaps the most notable find are the carved slates, some of which depict the earliest written polyphonic music ever discovered in Britain.
A number of coins, medals and tokens that form section of the collection which cover a broad geographical range and time period.
For more information on our Social History collection, you can contact the team by email
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