A Paisley football club is tackling local history after renaming its team to honour an ancient town burgh.
Amateur outfit Barony Athletic will be known as Barony of Blackhall from the start of next season in a big shake-up.
Since forming in 2010, the local side has gone from strength to strength and will be leaving the Glasgow District Sunday League to join the Strathclyde Saturday Morning League.
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But, while it’s a new beginning, the entire team has gone back in time.
In around 1140, a Norman Knight, Walter Fitzalan, designated First High Steward of the royal household and Baron Renfrew by King David I, received the lands of Kerkert and Strathgryffe, later to be called Renfrewshire.
These lands held the Forest of Paisley, a large, wild reserve to the south west of Glasgow, which included an estate called ‘Nigra Aula’, or Blackhall, where Walter built his House of Blackhall.
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The Barony of Renfrewshire is held today by Prince Charles.
Walter Fitzalan went on to found Paisley Abbey in 1163.
The House of Blackhall is the oldest remaining dwelling in Paisley, situated one mile south east of Paisley Abbey.
The manor was inherited by Walter Fitzalan’s direct descendent — Walter Stewart, the 6th Baron Renfrew, who married Marjory, the daughter of Robert the Bruce.
Blackhall was inhabited and used until around 1840, at which time the family had already moved to Inverkip.
The house was given to Paisley Town Council by the 23rd Baron, Sir Michael Hugh, in 1936, who wanted the ancient place held in trust for the people of Paisley.
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In 1978, the local authority considered demolition, sparking public outcry. The house returned into private ownership in 1982 after restoration using funds from the Paisley Common Good Fund and from the Dalrymple Fund.
Today, it stands proud, featuring a great hall, dining room, four bedrooms and a stone spiral staircase, with elements of the current building going back to the 14th century.
It’s no longer in the Forest of Paisley, nor in rich meadowlands, but is situated behind walled gardens off the Lonend road, south of the Paisley Hammills.
Team manager Andrew Campbell said: “All of the team are very excited by the move and there’s a definite buzz around the club.
“Paisley has a proud history and it’s good to be able to bring that to the present with our team name.
“It’s something a little bit different and, hopefully, we’ll get bigger and bigger.”
