EXPERTS have discovered one of Scotland’s best-preserved medieval tunnels was a 100m long drain beneath Paisley Abbey - after centuries of mystery.

A team of archaeologists have spent the summer carefully excavating the 14th century Abbey Drain, in Paisley, Renfrewshire, and have found out it once flowed into the town’s River Cart.

They found the tunnel ends around 3m from the banks of the present-day river, which would have been wider and shallower at the time the drain was built.

The find is now being covered up again, but the discovery could help lead to a more permanent visitor attraction opening up access to the drain in the future.

The eight-week Abbey Drain Big Dig was coordinated by Renfrewshire Council and led by Guard Archaeology Ltd.

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More than 6,500 people visited the dig over the eight weeks, which also saw a strong community element, with volunteers from the local history forum taking part, and a series of events and seminars for residents and visitors.

Dig leader Bob Will of Guard Archaeology described the condition of what the team found as ‘incredible’.

He said: “We found more than I was expecting and it is really exciting.

“We found the end of the drain and what was the boundary wall of the monastery.

“The river was wider and shallower in those days – much more than in the last couple of hundred years, as the walls now surrounding it are artificial.

“The main parts of the drain date back to the mid-14th-century and are incredibly well preserved.

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“It goes at least as far as the road in front of Renfrewshire House.

“Often these types of drains are in rural areas, not urban ones where there will have been pressure on the land above it.

“But considering the number of buildings on that site over the centuries, the condition of the drain is quite incredible.”

The Abbey Drain has lain hidden for centuries until it was unexpectedly rediscovered in the 19th century, and in recent years, it has been periodically opened up for visitors.

Bob believes the finds of the past few weeks could help the development of a more permanent attraction opening up a greater degree of public access to the drain.

He said: “What we have uncovered has helped us see what could be done with any future excavation.

“We now know much more about the medieval ground levels and have a good idea where some of the monastery buildings were.

“Ideally there would be more permanent access to the drain at some point in the future and what we’ve uncovered here makes that much more feasible.”

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Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “We would be keen to explore any opportunities to build on that by opening up more permanent access to the Abbey Drain at some point in the future.

"The findings of the Big Dig mean we now know more than ever about this incredible feature beneath the town centre.

“The Big Dig was a really great community project which has created a lot of interest in Paisley town centre and its history over the past couple of months.

“We would like to thank our funders for helping make it happen, and all who have been involved in the projects – particularly the local volunteers who came out in all weathers to take part.”