J. P. Coats, Paisley - local knowledge, please

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:30 pm

Hopefully someone who knows the Paisley area will be able to help me.
We have a Turkish friend coming over in the summer. His father did business with J. P. Coats in the 1960's and he hopes to visit that area. Is there anything left for him to see and if so, where was the factory?
Thanks,
Rae

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:04 pm

Hi Rae,

I just did a google for J.P.Coats and there's quite a few pages of information on the factory. I was surprised to find they had a connection, here in Rhode Island.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/article194.html

And a 1893 US Supreme Court Case "Coats -vs- Merrick"

http://supreme.justia.com/us/149/562/case.html

But more recent

http://www.coatsandclark.com/About+Coats/History/

Regards
Marilyn

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:22 pm

Thanks for these, Marilyn.
Yes, I had found quite a bit about the development of the business but can't seem to find any clue as to where in Paisley it was.
Rae

Falkyrn · Post by **Falkyrn** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:44 pm

Coats had several Mills in the paisley area but none of them exist anymore. The nearest example to what one would have looked like is the Anchor Mill in seedhill (just off of Mill Street) which is now a block of flats (the exterior was retained).

Although Coats main Mills were in Ferguslie, Paisley (main road joining Paisley and Elderslie) there is nothing left there at all as all of the original buildings (bar 2) were demolished and various new housing estates built there. Of the 2 that weren't demolished The Schoolhouse has been converted into flats and the other building is a derelict shell following a fire about 15 years ago and subsequent weather damage.

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:43 pm

Thank you very much for that information, Falkyrn. I'll pass that information on to him.
Rae

Post by **Liz Turner** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:50 pm

Try this link for more information about Paisley and the thread industry.

http://www.paisley.org.uk/history/mills.php

Liz

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:00 pm

Thanks, Liz,
He's certainly going to have a bit of reading to do with all the websites on this!
Rae

Post by **Liz Turner** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:59 pm

Rach

The beauty of it is that if he goes to the Museum in Paisley, he'll find lots of information. The Paisley Pattern is a well known design around the world.

Liz

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:37 pm

Thanks again, Liz. His list is getting longer!
Rae

Post by **emanday** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:45 pm

Liz Turner wrote:The beauty of it is that if he goes to the Museum in Paisley, he'll find lots of information. The Paisley Pattern is a well known design around the world.

It's a pattern I love. I've been trying to get my hands on an old Paisley shawl, just like the one my mother used to have. Have you seen the prices the old ones go for now