Paisley Militia Barracks were built in 1822 and the Earl of Glasgow used the infantry barracks to raise a regiment of yeomanry and a volunteer rifle corps. The Paisley Bicycle Club was formed in 1878 and the following year they held a joint race meeting with the Victoria Bicycle Club at the Barrack Square, with seven bicycle events. Both clubs held club championship races and there were inter-club scratch and handicap races. The Eadie brothers, a local ironmonger and cycling family, donated one of the prizes.
Paisley BC repeated their race meeting on 3rd July 1880 at the Barracks "by kind permission of Major Carlisle and Officers." Admission to the event cost one shilling and tickets had to be purchased in advance. The Paisley Daily Express reported "there was a large attendance of spectators, amongst those present being a goodly number of ladies." The seven bicycle races took place on a five laps to the mile circuit. The races were one and two miles open handicap, a one mile youth's handicap, a two miles local handicap, a two miles race for the championship of Paisley BC and a slow bicycle race. The main event was an open five miles scratch race, the prize was a bicycle, presented by the Howe Machine Company and the Paisley BC, this was won by James Reid Jnr of the Paisley BC.
There was a further race meeting at the Barracks 16th September 1882 with a similar program of events, which was attended by 3,000 spectators. At this time, the Caledonia BC, who were formed in 1881, took part in the meeting. The ground was criticised by the press "the ground was none of the best, being loose ashes." The Barracks seemed to be disused after 1882.
The Barracks building still exists on Whitehaugh Road, but the area around it has been developed for housing. The Kelbourne Cinema was built on part of the Barracks site in 1933. Kelburne Cricket club was formed in 1860 and moved to a ground on the Barracks site in 1899, where they still play.
** The old Paisley Drill Hall in the High Street, was demolished and replaced in 1896 by the TA Drill Hall that stands there today. The hall was let out in 1869 as a practice room for velocipedians, who were charged sixpence per hour.