New Lanark

We were tired after dancing last evening, but the weather was sunshine and showers, not too cold, but enticing us to go out, and we took a drive to New Lanark, and had a walk up the River Clyde. New Lanark is a fascinating insight into early industrialisation, and was an example of what could be done in an industrial setting to give workers a good life and their children an education.

New Lanark is a small 18th- century village set in a sublime Scottish landscape where the philanthropist and Utopian idealist Robert Owen moulded a model industrial community in the early 19th century. The imposing cotton mill buildings, the spacious and well-designed workers' housing, and the dignified educational institute and school still testify to Owen's humanism.

Today many of the houses are occupied by artists and craftsmen. One of the old buildings has been refurbished into a very high standard hotel, and is used for functions and weddings. We enjoyed our coffee there and had a read of the Saturday papers.