Gift Shop
Hotel
Book Now

Historical Timeline

Explore the fascinating history of New Lanark through our interactive timeline.

From the poetic inspirations of the Falls of Clyde to the work of the New Lanark Trust, discover Robert Owen’s Story, the Gourock Ropework Company years and how New Lanark was almost lost forever. If you would like more information on any aspect of New Lanark’s history, please get in touch.

1739 - 1806: David Dale

David Dale

David Dale, a Glasgow banker and entrepreneur, partnered with Richard Arkwright, the pioneering inventor behind industrial cotton spinning. Together, they recognised the potential of harnessing the River Clyde’s power to establish cotton mills, laying the foundation for a groundbreaking venture.

Artistic Inspiration

Many of the greatest artists, writers and poets of the Scottish Enlightenment visit the Falls of the Clyde.

Jacob More

The Falls of Clyde series is painted by Jacob More.

Industrial Inspiration

David Dale, a Glasgow businessman and entrepreneur, and Richard Arkwright, the inventor of the water-powered spinning frame, visit a site near the Falls of the Clyde with a view to building cotton spinning mills.

New Lanark Founded

A new cotton-spinning village is founded by Dale and Arkwright just downstream of the Falls of Clyde. As historic Royal Burgh at the top of the hill is called Lanark, Dale and Arkwright decide to call their site 'New Lanark'.

Braxfield Row

Braxfield Row, the first row of housing met with on the road into the village, was constructed somewhere between 1785 and 1795. In a 1903 insurance valuation, it had 18 houses of two apartments, 18 of one apartment and wash-houses in the basement.

Going Solo

After several business disagreements, Dale and Arkwright dissolve their partnership, leaving Dale as sole owner of the mills.

Mill 1

Mill 1, completed at the end of 1785, begins production. Three waterwheels drive 4500 spindles in 1793 and 6556 in 1802.

Mill 2

Mill 2 is completed in an identical style to Mill 1. It has 3 water wheels driving 6000 spindles. In the same year, Mill 1 burns down, only to be rebuilt on the same footprint the following year.

Mantilla Row

Mantilla Row is constructed c.1790. In 1903 it has one three-apartment house, three two-apartment houses and one one-apartment house, making it the smallest tenememt row in New Lanark.

Managers Housing

Two detatched houses (now known as 'David Dale's House and Robert Owen's House) are constructed, one as a secondary residence for David Dale and one for his Manager William Kelly.

The Fortune

Emigrant ship 'The Fortune' en-route to America from Skye, is forced into Greenock by storms. David Dale offers employment and accommodation to the passengers.

Mill 3

Mill 3 is completed and acts as the 'Jeanie house' for both common and lightly powered self-acting spinning jennies to William Kelly's patent.

Caithness Row

Built c.1792, Caithness Row is named after the origin of some of the Highlanders attracted to the village. In 1903 it contains five two-apartment houses and 20 one-apartment houses with wash-houses in the basement.

Long Row

Constructed c.1792, Long Row is, unsurprisingly, the longest of the tenement rows in New Lanark. In 1903 it has one three-apartment house, eight two-apartment houses and 20 one-apartment houses with wash-houses in the basement.

Mill 4

Mill 4 is completed and first used as a storeroom, workshop and boarding house for 275 children 'who have no parents'. After 1813 it was fitted up as a mule-spinning mill.

New Buildings

The large tenement row called New Buildings is constructed over 12 years to replace earlier single-storey cottages on the site. In 1903 it contains a surgery, lavatory and doctor's house in addition to 18 two-apartment houses, four one-apartment houses and halls on the upper floors for Sunday Schools and Gaelic church services.

Previous slide
Next slide

1771 - 1858: Robert Owen

Robert Owen

Robert Owen, a young Manchester-based Mill Manager, visits New Lanark for the first time.

Robert Scott

The earliest illustrations of New Lanark are made by the artist Robert Scott.

Marriage & Partnership

Caroline Dale, the eldest daughter of David Dale, and Robert Owen are married. Robert Owen forms a partnership with John Barton of Manchester and John Atkinson of London and purchases the New Lanark Mills from his new father-in-law David Dale for £60,000.

The Great Experiment

Robert Owen assumes management of New Lanark on the first day of the New Year and begins his 'Great Experiment' of social, moral, educational and workplace reforms. His partners and workers are at first unsure of his reform.

A Turning Point

Owen continues to pay his workers despite no production taking place due to an American embargo on the export of raw cotton.This proves a turning point in attitudes towards Owen and his reforms.

Mechanic's Workshop & Dyeworks

The Mechanic's Workshop and Dyeworks (originally the brass and iron foundry) are added to the village by Robert Owen. These buildings mean New Lanark is near self-suffiient in making its own mchinery, millwright work and structural castings.

Nursery Buildings

Nursery Buildings, with its rear turnpike stair projections to allow for dormitories, is constructed to house New Lanark's 'pauper apprentices' then adapted to family dwellings shortly afterwards. In 1903 it contains one three-apartment house, seven two-apartment houses, one one-apartment house and washouses in the basement.

Waterhouses

A series of 2-storey buildings stradling the tailrace are constructed to be used as a raw and waste cotton stores and picking houses. They stretch from Mill 1 along to Mill 4 but a fire in 1919 burns down those behind Mills 3 and 4.

Partners

Owen dissolves his partnership with Barton and Atkinson and finds new partners.

The Village Store

The Village Store is established by Owen. It is located on the ground floor of Nursery Buildings and sells quality goods at fair prices. Workers can elect to be paid in tickets or tokens which can be exchanged for goods at the store.

The Counting House

The bowed Counting House is added to the end of Caithness Row by Robert Owen somewhere between 1810 and 1816. The Counting House acts as Owen's office, giving him oversight of the village and is where villagers collect their 'tickets for wages'.

A Potential Bayout

Faced with hostility and a potential buyout from his new partners, Owen travels to London to find new partners who will support his 'Great Experiment'. His new partners, including John Walker, are predominantly Quakers.

The Institute for the Formation of Character

Owen opens the centrepiece of his social experiment- The Institute for the Formation of Character, which is used as a social and educational centre for the villagers.

The School for Children

Owen opens the partner building to the Institute, the School for Children.

John Winning

Robert Owen commissions the artist John Winning to produce a series of watercolours of New Lanark. These are printed and used as export labels on packages of cotton.

Fire

Mill 3 burns down (a common occurrence in cotton mills) but is rebuilt in 1826 with a cast iron frame to help prevent fire. 1820 Report to the County of Lanark Robert Owen publishes his 'Report to the county of Lanark' in which he argues that reform alone is not enough and that a change of social order is

Report to the County of Lanark

Robert Owen publishes his 'Report to the county of Lanark' in which he argues that reform alone is not enough and that a change of social order is required.

Pasteurs New

Owen leaves New Lanark for New Harmony, Indiana as he feels he will have more success promoting his ideals on social reform in 'the New World'.

Previous slide
Next slide

1825 - 1881: The Walkers

The Walkers

Charles and Henry Walker were the sons of John Walker, Owen's wealthy and much respected Quaker partner. Like Robert Owen, the Walkers were humanitarian employers. As members of the Society of...

New Owners

Having decided to settle in America, Owen sells New Lanark to Charles and Henry Walker, the sons of his Quaker partner, John Walker.

Life Under the Walkers

The Walkers continue to run a successful business at New Lanark, despite fierce competition from mills in the north of England. They also continue with some of Owen's ideas, mainly maintaining the Institute as a social and educational centre.

No Sale

The Walkers make an unsuccessful attempt to sell New Lanark.

New Owners

Having decided to settle in America, Owen sells New Lanark to Charles and Henry Walker, the sons of his Quaker partner, John Walker.

Previous slide
Next slide

1881 - 1968: Gourock Ropework Co.

Gourock Ropework Co.

On 16th May 1881, Birkmyre and Somerville, joint partners in the newly established Lanark Spinning Company, paid £20,000 for the mills. Henry Birkmyre of the Gourock Ropework Company (GRC), and his...

Alterations

The Gourock Ropework Compant make a series of alterations to the fabric of the site to help improve and increase production. These include the extension of Mill 2 and the dismantling of its pitched roof as well as the addition of the Engine House to the side of the Institute to house the 550HP Petrie Steam Engine.

Henry Birkmyre

The founders of New Lanark were David Dale, a Glasgow banker and entrepreneur, and Richard Arkwright, the inventor and pioneer of industrial cotton spinning. Their partnership dissolved after only a...

Mill 4 Fire

Mill 4 is burned to the ground and never rebuilt.

School Move

The School for Children is given over to net production and pupils are relocated to a new Board of Education School at the top of the hill.

Village Church

Villagers petition the Gourock Ropework company for land on which to build a church. An area of hillside opposite Mantilla Row is allocated and the foundation stone of the church is laid by The Hon. James Hozier MP, a Right Worshipful Past Grand Master of the Craft.

The Co-Operative Society

The Village Store is leased to the Lanark Provident Co-Operative Society.

Saltire Society Award

Saltire Society award for Gourock Ropeworks’ maintenance of the village.

New Lanark Housing Association

The New Lanark Housing Association is formed to restore and refurbish the millworkers' tenements. Formation of New Lanark Association by Norman Dunhill, visit of Kenneth Dale Owen, start of Caithness Row and Nursery Buildings restoration through Housing Acts

Restoration of Caithness Row

The interiors of Caithness Row are altered and renovated by architects Ian G. Lindsay and Partners.

Mills Close

The New Lanark Mills shut down with the loss of c.350 jobs.

Previous slide
Next slide

1970 - Present: New Lanark Trust

MetEx

The Mill area of New Lanark is sold to MetEx, an aluminium extraction company. Metal Extractions take over industrial area for scrap business, School roof collapses.

Debating the Future

A working group is set up to consider the future of New Lanark Village. Complete demolition is one consideration. First Civic Trust award for housing restoration at Nursey Buildings and shops

Scottish Civil Trust

New Lanark Working Party convened by Scottish Civic Trust and chaired by Provost Harry Smith.

A-Listing

All of the buildings on the site are given 'Category A' listing by Historic Scotland, meaning they are 'buildings of national or international importance, either architectural or historic, or fine little-altered examples of some particular period, style or building type.' “A Future for New Lanark” report by Lanark County Council and Strathclyde University School of Planning published and adopted.

New Lanark Conservation Trust

New Lanark Conservation Trust is founded with the aim of restoring and revitalising New Lanark as a living and working village. Work beginning initially on the millworkers' housing.

Local Government Reorganised

local government reorganised – SRC and CDC replace County and Burgh as partners;

Restoration of Braxfield Row

Braxfield Row is developed into ten single terraced houses for sale to restorer-purchasers.

Braxfield Row

Braxfield Row sold to restoring purchasers.

Restoration of Long Row

Long Row is developed into 10 terraced houses for sale to restorer purchasers and an additional 4 for let by the New Lanark Housing Association.

Dale & Owen's Houses

MetEx is persuaded to sell David Dale's House and Robert Owen's House to the New Lanark Housing association.

Restoration of the Mills

Restoration of the mill area of the site begins following the transfer of the ownership of the mills to NLCT through a Compulsory Purchase Order.

Purchase Order for the Institute and Industrial Buildings Confirmed

compulsory purchase order for the Institute and industrial buildings confirmed by the Secretary of State for Scotland George Younger, NHMF acquisition grant, New Lanark Conservation Trust created by Trust Deed, industrial buildings transferred to NLCT, Robert Owen’s School building restored and mothballed.

Falls of the Clyde Opened

SWT centre and Falls of Clyde reserve opened, mills area cleaned up, Development Officer appointed (SDA funding), Friends of New Lanark formed; Harry Smith’s MBE.

First Inclusion

first inclusion in UK Tentative List for World Heritage status, Bicentenary celebrations.

Europa Nostra Medal of Honour

Europa Nostra Medal of Honour, NLA properties restoration completed (45 tenancies), New Buildings opened by the Duke of Gloucester.

Mantilla Row Demolished

After being temporarily shored in 1977 following settlement of its foundations, Mantilla Row is demolished conditional to its rebuilding by 1993. This condition is later removed and rather than being rebuilt, the footprint of Mantilla Row will be laid out (2017) and interpreted, in a similar style to the site of Mill 4.

New Lanark Trading Ltd established

New Lanark Trading Ltd established; Jim Arnold's MBE.

New Lanark Visitor Centre

The New Lanark Visitor Centre is opened in Mill 3.

Restoration of Mill 1

Work begins on the restoration of Mill 1, with a view to transforming it into a hotel.

Wee Row Youth Hostel

Wee Row (the smaller of the two Double Row tenement blocks) is transformed into the Wee Row Youth Hostel and managed by the Scottish Youth Hostel Association.

New Lanark Mill Hotel

The New Lanark Mill Hotel opens in Mill 1.

World Heritage Status

New Lanark is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

School for Children Restored

Robert Owen's School for Children is restored and converted into part of the New Lanark Visitor Centre.

Roof Garden

The New Lanark Roof Garden opens on the roof of Mill 2

The Scottish Ten

New Lanark is the first site to be documented as part of the 'Scottish Ten' project- a five year project by the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation to digitally record scotland's five World Heritage Sites and 5 international sites. http://www.scottishten.org/

Search Room

The New Lanark Search Room opens to the public. This contains New Lanark's historic collections and archive.

Clearburn Natural Picnic & Play Area

Clearburn Natural Picnic & Play Area opens on the site that Robert Owen originally used for nature education.

Previous slide
Next slide

What’s on

Christmas at New Lanark

Make this Christmas unforgettable at New Lanark.
FIND OUT MORE
New Lanark Soft Play

New Lanark Soft Play

Run wild at the New Lanark Soft Play area seven days per week, an exciting adventure indoor soft play, perfect
FIND OUT MORE