Renfrewshire’s dark past will now be more readily available for people to learn from as a special installation at the site of one of the area’s most macabre locations is unveiled.
A plaque with a QR code on has been installed at the Witches’ Well on Gallows Green in Paisley’s west end.
Smartphone users can scan the code and be taken on an ‘augmented reality’ journey detailing the story of how accusations from 11-year-old Christian Shaw in 1697 led to the death of seven Renfrewshire citizens – four women, a father and his two young sons – who were believed to be witches.
An unveiling ceremony was held at the site on a rainy Wednesday afternoon last week with members of the Renfrewshire Witch Hunt 1697 campaign group and Provost Lorraine Cameron welcoming project partners from mainland Europe.
The scheme is the result of collaboration from charity organisation, Renfrewshire Witch Hunt 1697, Fablevision, StudioFV, artist Trent Kim and students from the University of the West of Scotland.
A spokesperson from Renfrewshire Witch Hunt 1697 said: “Despite the weather we had a great turn out of supporters and Buddies interested in the history of Paisley.
“Provost Lorraine Cameron kindly unveiled the plaque.”
And there’s more to come from the organisation.
The spokesperson added: “Funding has been secured, with support from Renfrewshire Council, to redevelop the landscape at Gallow Green, believed to be the last remains of the original and far larger Gallows Green, into a Memorial garden and community space.
The Gallows Green Project has also gained funding for the design and placement of a Memorial stone.
“We hope this project will help the momentum of the regeneration of the Paisley Westend, which has amazing sites of history and people, Tannahill, Bagarran Witches, Pollok Witches Castle head, Coats etc.”
The project was enabled by Bridging Digital, an Erasmus+ funded partnership project of four organisations: Hellenic Adult Education Association (Greece); Instytut Kultury Miejskiej (IKM), a municipal cultural institution (Poland); Fablevision, a cultural development charity (Scotland) and Intercult, an independent production and European resource centre for culture (Sweden).
Bridging Digital, a three-year project, aims to explore digital technologies and how they can enhance existing creative arts and educational practices in community learning.
Now, as the research project reaches conclusions and produces an ‘ingredients book’ of best practice findings, the European partners gathered in Paisley to celebrate the results.
During their two-day visit, as well as unveiling the plaque, they were introduced to Paisley’s heritage sites.
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