Paisley Town Hall Competition

An architectural competition was held and won by a scheme “of early French Gothic grandeur” by the Paisley architects Rennison and Scott. There then followed an unexplained “period of hesitation”. This was resolved by the four surviving Clark brothers selecting a classical entry which had not even been shortlisted because it would have cost £50,000 (thread magnate George Aitken Clark had left £20,000 for its construction). According to the official account “the architect was summoned to an interview with the Messrs Clark; the matter of cost was not considered an obstacle”. The final cost is thought to have been about £100,000.