This is just a bit of a ramble aff the tap aye ma heid, but I remember reading something about Maxwell, don't know which lot having witches burned in Paisley. Can't remember the detail or the sources but the one thing that stuck in my mind was a sort of curse that went along with the burning.
After the witches were burned, a cloud of smoke and a horrid smell hung over the town for days or weeks.
I can't remember the who or why, but the only way they could get rid of the smoke was to bury a horseshoe in the centre of the area where the witches were burned.
I remember a horseshoe implanted in the centre of the road at Maxwellton St, George St/Canal St, Paisley in the 80's. The actual horseshoes was removed during road works at some point.
But part of the story I read, said that the horseshoe was removed in the mid 18th or 19th cent. and yes you guest it, the smoke and smell returned. So the toon council decided that the horseshoe should be put back and never be removed again.
Obviously Strathclyde Regional Council had no reservations they removed it in the 80's. But the mark of the shoe is still to be seen in the middle of the road. I also heard somewhere that the horseshoe is still under the mark to protect it.!!!!!!!!!!!
Must admit it all smells more like bull than horse to me.
Hope others can verify this story, I think it quite a good one!
Here's a google earth map of the location:
And a wee picture, I will try to get a pic of the mark but its always very busy when I pass.