New Lanark

Scotland > Central Scotland > Lanarkshire > New Lanark

Located off the A72, about 3 miles from Lanark and 14 from Motherwell.

New Lanark is a World Heritage Site, a beautiful and now restored 18th century cotton mill and village, close to the Falls of Clyde. It is one of Scotland's top attractions, welcoming over 400,000 visitors every year from all over the world.

The fascinating history of the village starts when Robert Owen was mill manager from 1800-1825. He 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, and mill workers were provided with good homes, schools all built around the mill. Education, free health care, and affordable food from the village store were also available. This was in an age when the norm was the exploitation of workers with no heed to their health or safety.

New Lanark is still a living community and the site is in the care of an independent charity.