Scotland4me.net Out and About

	Scotland4me.net	'Out and About'
'New Lanark'
	Brief Early History - New Lanark Heritage Centre is a restored 18th century cotton mill village in the South of Scotland, near the Falls of Clyde and almost an hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The village itself first became famous when Robert Owen was the mill manager from 1800-1825. Robert Owen transformed life in New Lanark with ideas and opportunities which were at least a hundred years ahead of their time. Child labour and corporal punishment were abolished, villagers were provided with decent homes, schools and evening classes, free health care, and affordable food.
	Millenium Experience - As you walk through the many areas of the Old Mill you can imagine what life was like to work in the conditions of the time. The noise of the machinery was deafening, numerous people operated the looms and spinning machines of that techonoligical era. Work was hard but much better than that prior to Robert Owens' management and foresight ethics. Many examples of the old machinery are still housed within the building. An enhanced visual tour reminds us of those times with commentary and film showing the people of the 18th and 19th century enjoying their work within the mill.
	village Store - from food to clothing, at the time of the Mills hight all these items would be purchased by the villagers of New Lanark. Today the shop still holds that magical feeling of being in an era long gone and enjoyed by many. Momentos of the earlier period deck the shelves and counter of the old shop premises. Goods very rarely found today, for example sweets stored in large jars and bought by the ounce, flour stored in sacks and purchased by the pound are only a small example of the purchases one could make all those years ago.
	Millworker's House - A stark difference from the house Robert Owen lived in but the properties the millworkers lived in was a better place than others could find in Scotland. One room would occupy the sleeping area with beds that pulled out from underneath another bed and the whole family slept here in the same room. When the beds were removed for daytime tasks to be done you would find families using a large 'range' for their cooking and heating facilities.
	Robert Owen's House. The house has been restored back to its' original features found in decor and furnishings of the period. The kitchen area is located in what we now call a basement, with the first floor providing lounge and dining facilities along with a study. The bedrooms can be found on the upper floors. The house looks on to the old mill opposite. The atmosphere found in this property gives the impression of being owned by a wealthy man and his loving family.
	Famous People - Robert Owen often spoke about the new Millennium, a time he hoped when society would be greatly improved. When he formaly opened the Institute for the Formation of Character on New Year’s Day 1816, he gave a speech to the Residents of New Lanark in which he outlined his aspirations for the Millennium, his plans and his idea that education was the means of achieving a better and fairer society. A quote from one of his speeches says "What ideas individuals may attach to the term "Millennium" I know not, but I know that society may be formed so as to exist without crime, without poverty, with health greatly improved, with little, if any misery, and with intelligence and happiness increased a hundredfold and no obstacle whatsoever intervenes at this moment except ignorance to prevent such a state of society from becoming universal". www.newlanark.gov
	scotland4me.net2007