Author claims Renfrew has dark link to Saint Patrick

The story goes that, as a 16-year-old boy, Saint Patrick was kidnapped from the British mainland and taken as a slave by a gang of Irish pirates from a mythical place he called Bannavem Taberniae.

The incident is said to have ultimately contributed to Patrick converting the country to Christianity.

Where Bannavem Taberniae was located has been much disputed for the last 1,700 years.

Suggested locations have included Northampton, Carlisle and Birdoswald Roman Fort, at Hadrian's Wall, in Cumbria.

There has also been speculation it was Abergavenny, in Monmouthshire, Wales.

Adam believes historic Renfrew Town Hall is where the Bannavem Taberniae marketplace stood during Patrick’s lifetime (Image: Sourced)

However, Scots author, historian and advocate Adam Ardrey believes Patrick was kidnapped and taken slave in Renfrew, where he was staying with a relative.

At the time of his disappearance, fifth-century Britain was occupied by the Romans.

Both Patrick’s grandfather Potitus and father Calpurnius were market traders, with links to the occupying Romans who would bring goods from south of the border and sell them in Scotland.

Adam also supports claims by many historians that Patrick was born in Old Kilpatrick, on the north bank of the River Clyde, five miles east of Dumbarton.

He believes that Bannavem Taberniae refers to a spot on the south side of the river, where the White Cart and Clyde meet and where Patrick's father and grandfather would both trade.

Renfrew, he says, fits the bill.

Potitus and Calpurnius would also use an early form of ferry travel to take their goods back and forth across the Clyde, according to Adam.

Author and historian Adam Ardrey has carried out research into Patrick’s fascinating life story (Image: Sourced)

He believes Patrick was kidnapped from his grandfather’s villa, near Bannaven Taberniae, and may have been helping him there on a market day.

At the time, the Irish gangs targeted lucrative markets and took young people to use as slaves.

Adam, who is from Bothwell, in Lanarkshire, told The Gazette: "It seems Potitus and his son were traders based at both Bannavem Taberniae and Old Kilpatrick, providing goods to the Scots and Picts.

"This would also explain why Patrick was at his grandfather’s house when the Irish raiders came. It would have been natural for him to have been there on a market day.

"It would also have been easy for the Irish raiders to sail up the Clyde estuary to the market at the confluence of the Clyde and White Cart.

"The whole point of having a marketplace at this spot was easy access to the rivers. The raiders would not have needed to march inland, just step off their boats."

Renfrew has long offered a ferry service (Image: Sourced)

Adam believes the Bannaven Taberniae marketplace was where Renfrew Town Hall stands today, keeping up the tradition of it being used as a meeting point for business.

He added: "A good spot for a marketplace at one time tends to have been a good place for a marketplace over time.

"The same applies to the ferry – a good spot for a ferry now would have been a good spot for a ferry then."

According to Patrick's autobiographical Confessio, he was captured by Irish pirates from his family villa.

He wrote that, after being taken from Britain to Ireland as a slave, he lived there for six years as an animal herder before escaping and returning to his family.

Patrick also told how the time he spent in captivity was critical to his spiritual development.

He explained that the Lord had mercy on his youth and ignorance and afforded him the opportunity to be forgiven his sins and convert to Christianity.

Birdoswald Roman Fort, at Hadrian’s Wall (Image: Sourced)

After becoming a cleric, he went back to Ireland to spread Christianity in northern and western parts of the country.

Legend credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, using it to illustrate the Christian teaching of three persons in one God.

It has also been said that he banished snakes from Ireland.

The earliest writings about this are said to date back to the late 12th century and describe Patrick chasing the reptiles into the sea after they attacked him during his fast on a mountain.

In later life, he served as a bishop but little is known about where he worked.

Patrick is said to be buried at Down Cathedral, in Downpatrick, County Down, alongside Saint Brigid and Saint Columba, although this has never been proven.

Down Cathedral is said to be Patrick’s resting place (Image: Sourced)

By the seventh century, he had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland.

His feast day is observed on March 17 – the supposed date of his death and celebrated as a religious and cultural holiday.

Adam has previously written books claiming that Merlin and King Arthur were both born in Scotland.

His research found that, at one time, Merlin had lived in what became known as the Partick area of Glasgow and died in 618AD near Dunipace, Stirlingshire.

Adam believes all of the 12 battles fought by Arthur in his life were on Scottish soil.

He also claims the story of Excalibur can be traced back to Dunadd hill fort, in Argyll and Bute, where a footprint can be found carved into the rock.

The father-of-three says the adventures of both Merlin and King Arthur were relocated to England as it suited the storytellers of the time.

Adam specialises in human rights, children's law and proceeds of crime legislation.

He also sits as a chair of disability and social security appeals tribunals.