Our passion is to travel around Scotland on adventures with our Golden Retrievers, Walter and Arthur, and share those explorations with all of you. However, for this week’s exploration, we must travel back in time a couple of years. You see, for this journey, we were accompanied by Walter (who was just 7 months old at the time) and our beloved Golden Retriever, Sawyer, who has since crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.
On an unusually warm September day, we found ourselves strolling through the quaint lanes of Paisley, the historic town nestled in the heart of Renfrewshire. Our destination was the Sma' Shot Cottages, a hidden gem that beckoned with tales of the past. As I reminisce about that day, I can almost see Sawyer’s and Walter’s golden coats glistening in the Scottish sun.
We were visiting as part of Doors Open Days, and Sawyer expertly guided us through the winding streets. As we arrived, the cottages stood modest yet proud- crucial reminders of Paisley’s rich textile heritage. Sawyer and Walter decided to take a break in the shade outside of the cottages while we took turns to ‘explore and discover’ this historic landmark.
When you visit Sma’ Shot Cottages, you can step back in time to two distinct periods. First, you can see what a typical weaver’s cottage looked like in the 1750s with authentic furnishings and artefacts. The lovely volunteers expertly recounted stories to help visitors get a true sense of what life would have been like for the weavers.
Across the courtyard is the Loom Shop which serves as a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the local weavers, who famously banded together in solidarity to fight for fair compensation for the "sma' shot" thread—a vital yet often overlooked component of their intricate weaving process. The sma' shot was a thread that was essential, but invisible in the finished product. Therefore, the manufacturers initially refused to compensate the weavers even though they had to buy the thread themselves. As a result, the weavers fought back against this unfair practice and eventually won the right to be paid for all their work. This collective victory is commemorated annually with Sma' Shot Day, a celebration of perseverance.
There is also the Foreman’s House that is an example of what life would have been like in the 19th century (with some of the artefacts dating to the beginning of the 20th century).
Here are some more photos from our visit:
That day in Paisley remains etched in my heart, not only because of the fascinating history we uncovered but also because it was a special adventure we shared with our beloved Sawyer (one of his last). Though he has since crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, we feel his spirit with us often.
If you happen to be in the Paisley area (e.g. visiting Paisley Abbey), we highly recommend that you visit Sma’ Shot Cottages. Each year, they are open from the beginning of April to the end of September on Wednesdays (12-4pm), Fridays (1-5pm), and Saturdays (12-4pm). Be sure to check their website for more up-to-date information. Admission is free, but we encourage you to donate, if possible, to help keep this crucial part of Scottish history going. Lastly, after you are finished exploring the cottages, you can enjoy a hot (or cold) beverage and homemade goods in their tearoom.
If you’ve enjoyed this exploration with our Goldens, be sure to check out one of our historic Edinburgh walking tours. Sami (our human tour guide) is sometimes accompanied by our Golden Guide, Walter.
Until next time- Explore & Discover!
