Wendy visits The Sma’ Shot Cottages

Wendy Alexander visited The Sma’ Shot Cottages to have a look round this marvellous museum.  This Cottage is the only survivor of the original Shuttle Street, which was built between 1735 and the early 1750. Click here to find out more about the Sma Shots Cottages museum and tea rooms.
 
Despite funds always being needed for the upkeep of the museum itself – including the need for a new roof to cost in the region of £25,000 – the Old Paisley Society and Sma’ Shots Cottages are also supporting The William Gallacher Monument Appeal to celebrate the life achievements of Paisley man William Gallacher. William Gallacher was born in 1881, educated locally and became a brass-fitter to trade. He rose to prominence as a leader of the Clyde Workers Committee during the Great War. He became the founding member of the Communist Party of Great Britain and elected as an MP for many years in 1935.  Described as a Trade  Unionist, Freethinker, Revolutionary, Working Class Representative and Parliamentarian, he may have been a controversial figure to a great many but he was loved across Scotland for his fight for the fundamental rights of the working class, and his funeral in 1965 saw 40,000  thousand out to line the streets of Paisley to bring home their ’son’. To find out more about  William Gallacher Appeal click here (pamphlet) which hopes one day to unveil a monument in the High Street, sculpted by Paisley’s world renowned  and ‘Sculptor in Ordinary to The Queen in Scotland’ Sandy Stoddart (www.alexanderstoddart.com).
 
Wendy said, “So many Buddies don’t realise the Sma’ Shots cottages museum is right there in the middle of Paisley in Shuttle Street, generally more known for it’s nightlife of bars & clubs. But the museum is a local treasure, open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. It’s well worth a visit – and a nice tea room can provide a bite of lunch for visitors too, all helping much needed funds. The volunteers who run the cottages must be recognised and thanked for their dedication to Paisley’s heritage. Additionally the support for William Gallacher Monument Appeal is commendable. There is no doubt fund raising will be tough in these tighter economic times but hopefully one day the Appeal organisers will see their dream come to fruition”