Maxwellton Cross

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 7 Oct 2010

Maxwellton was originally established as a weavers' village, built c.1746-50 [according to the book "The South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew" by Frank Arneil Walker]. It is named and shown as a separate settlement on Roy's Military Survey of Scotland (1747-55), but has now been subsumed within Paisley; however, its name is still represented by the busy road junction of Maxwellton Cross. A little below and to the right of the centre of this image, a circular patch can be seen in the road. Set there, at the centre of the crossing, is a bronze tondo (a circular artwork) with a stainless steel horseshoe embedded in it. The tondo is surrounded by a ring of grey cobbles, and bears the following inscription: PAIN INFLICTED SUFFERING ENDURED INJUSTICE DONE Nearby, in 1697, the so-called Paisley Witches were strangled and then burned at Image (see that link for more information). Their burnt remains were then interred at Maxwellton, at the meeting of two tracks (now the busy junction that is shown in the present photograph), and a horseshoe was set upon that spot "to keep evil away from the town". The more recent tondo, with a horseshoe in it, continues this tradition. I was able to take a close look at it when crossing, but did not wish to set a bad example by stopping in the middle of this busy road junction to take a photograph of it. For anyone who wishes to see it, pictures of the tondo can be found online.

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