Robert Owen, 1834.
New Lanark was one of the world’s earliest attempts to create a fairer and better society.
The 18th-century cotton mill village was founded by Scottish industrialist David Dale (1739-1806) near the Falls of the Clyde, and later managed by his Welsh son-in-law, Robert Owen (1771-1858).
The belief that education, affordable food and housing, health care and, above all, a business model based on social responsibility could transform the lives of the poorest put New Lanark at least 100 years ahead of its time.
The universal and enduring cultural influence of these ideas resulted in New Lanark being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
An ABC of Scotland
New Lanark was just one of the 'N' topics in our alphabetical exhibition celebrating some of the outstanding achievements by Scotland and Scots.
'Wha's like us?' ran from 13 December 2013 to 18 May 2014.