2019

NS8842 : New Lanark Mills - River Clyde, Dye Works and Retort House

taken 5 years ago, near to New Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

New Lanark Mills - River Clyde, Dye Works and Retort House
New Lanark Mills - River Clyde, Dye Works and Retort House
The River Clyde flows past New Lanark Mills and was originally the source of all the power to drive the mills' machinery via water wheels. The long low row of buildings seen on the left was the former dyeworks, while the chimney belongs to the Retort House. This was built in 1825, as a gas-making plant
producing coal gas for the site. Its chimney is a notable relic of the industrial revolution being a rare octagonal sandstone ashlar chimney on a square plinth with plain cope whereas most Scottish stacks were brick built.
New Lanark World Heritage Site :: NS8742

New Lanark is one of just 28 World Heritage sites in the UK (25 Cultural, 2 Natural & 1 Mixed - see LinkExternal link )
New Lanark UNESCO site LinkExternal link

New Lanark village was founded by David Dale in 1785, and the cotton mills, powered by water-wheels, were operational from 1786. But the man most associated with this remarkable example of a purpose-built C18th mill village was his son-in-law the Utopian idealist Robert Owen (1771-1858) who had married Dale's daughter Caroline and bought the mills from her father.

Owen set about improving both the working and living conditions of his employees as well as providing a good free basic education to their children. See Wikipedia LinkExternal link for more information about him.

At one time there were four mills here, but No.4 mill, (the most southerly) burnt to the ground in 1883 and was not rebuilt. They gradually declined in production during the C20th and finally closed in 1968. By the early 1970s they were in a ruinous condition and had been sold to a company (Metal Extractions Ltd) that had reclaimed all removable metal from the site and left the buildings in a state of devastation. Bulldozers moved in to demolish the entire site - but at the 11th hour they were rescued by the creation of the NLCT (New Lanark Conservation Trust - now just NLT) In 1974 the NLCT was founded to prevent demolition of the village. A repairs notice was served on Metal Extractions Ltd in 1979 to effect repairs on the historic listed buildings - and their lack of action led to a compulsory purchase order in 1983.

Since then the site has been gradually, and painstakingly restored to its former glory and even some milling is taking place here again - though of wool into yarn rather than cotton into thread.
New Lanark has a resident population of around 130 people living in 45 rented properties and 20 privately owned houses - at its peak the houses here (a few now demolished) were home to nearer 2000 people! Conservation continues however, notably on the Caithness Row, so the resident population may grow in the future.
The site is a popular and fascinating visitor attraction with guided tours available. Example dwellings from both the early C19th and c.1930 can be visited along with a village shop and several of the mill buildings. There is also a large craft shop, a café and the hotel and restaurant as well as a spa. Some of the properties in the village can be rented for holiday accommodation.

The Canmore Scottish historical website has a huge amount of information on New Lanark. Follow the link to their main NLM page - then click on any of the specific items listed under "Archaeological Notes" - Link: LinkExternal link

NLT website here: LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Rob Farrow and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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NS8842, 269 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Rob Farrow   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 26 August, 2019   (more nearby)
Submitted
Monday, 2 September, 2019
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 8807 4228 [10m precision]
WGS84: 55:39.6658N 3:46.8452W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 8809 4241
View Direction
SOUTH (about 180 degrees)
Clickable map
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SW S SE
Image Type (about): geograph 
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