Crack the code

The historic links between a Renfrewshire burgh and America's capital city are discovered by cracking the Houstoun code.

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Decoding the secret cipher explains how George Houstoun - who is buried in Paisley Abbey - used Washington for inspiration when he founded Johnstone and designed its town centre in February, 1782.

An examination of Johnstone and Washington street maps show they're laid out on the grid system which utilises sacred geometrical principles, including right angles, straight lines and squares, which Freemasons employ to illustrate the brotherhood's moral and social aspirations.

Today terms like "on the straight and narrow," "upright intentions," "on the level" and "square conduct" still express correct behaviour.