Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders

The village of New Lanark was founded in 1785 by David Dale, a Glasgow merchant, and Richard Arkwright, the

cotton spinning pioneer. It is located in a heavily wooded gorge south of the market town of Lanark, the site being chosen for the availability of water power from the Clyde to drive the machinery of the newly developed spinning mills. Dale and his engineer William Kelly are understood to have directed the substantial work in harnessing of the water power and its transmission to the mill machinery and by 1786 Mill No. 1 (of four) was operational. Dale’s son-in-law, Robert Owen the social reformer, became manager of the mills in 1800. He dismissed Kelly and appointed Robert Humphreys as works manager. Owen introduced conditions and educational opportunities for his workers that were a hundred years ahead of their time and the venture prospered, becoming one of the world’s largest cotton mill centres supporting 2500 people.

The water power was derived from a dam built on the side of the river, later crossing it, from where the water

was led through a tunnel approximately 250 yards long and about 12 ft diameter under the rocky hillside into the lade about 22 ft wide and 6 ft deep which runs through the heart of the village. The lade provided water to

intake sluices at each mill into which it was led to turn basement high breast-shot wheels of up to about 26 ft

diameter to power machinery. In 1852 ten wheels were producing a total of about 450 hp. Later these wheels

were gradually replaced by water turbines and electric motors, with steam engines being used as a supplementary source of power when required.

A fascinating example of cast-iron technology can be seen in the bridge crossing the lade at the back of the

Institute, which was built in ca.1816. The cast-iron beams may date from about the same period, and probably originate from Mill No. 3, which was rebuilt to a fireproof design after burning down in 1819. This has similar beams in its cast-iron frame, a section of which has been preserved. In elevation the beams are hogged, being about 23 in. deep at the centre and 15 in. at each end and, characteristically for beams of this date, they do not have top flanges.

Mill No. 3 also has an unusual fire resistant roof structure; it is floored with cast-iron plates at attic level, while

the roof at the eastern end consists of slates wired on to an iron frame. The Institute is also of historical engineering interest for its original heating system in which hot air was passed through the cast-iron support columns to warm the upper rooms.

The village and mills survived as a manufacturing concern until 1968 when they finally closed. In recent decades the buildings have been restored and have developed a new life as a World Heritage Site with outstanding interpretive and visitor facilities.

R Paxton and J Shipway 2007

Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission from Thomas Telford Publishers.