LANARK. 



511 



is situated in a romantic picturesque situation on the 

 banks of the Clyde, which rue around it to a consider- 

 able height in the form of an amphitheatre, and are fine- 

 ly variegated with woods and rocks, the river pacing 

 through the middle of the valley, and forming a small 

 Me immediately opposite to the village. 



.v Lanark owes its erection to an extensive esta- 

 bli-hment for the manufacture of cotton yarn, which 

 was begun here by the late David Dale, Esq. in 1784, 

 prcviom to which time, the site of the village was a 

 mere morass, remarkable only for a mineral spring im- 

 pregnated with iron, called the Well of Spa, the sur- 

 roun ::ds on the north side of the river 



with broom, furze, and fern. At this 

 period, the ingenious inventions of Sir Richard Ark- 

 'it were exciting considerable attention, amongst 



as were interested in the manufactures of the 

 country ; and as a command of water appeared then to 

 he absolutely necessary, for carrying on such manu- 

 facture-, Mr. Dale was no sooner acquainted with this 

 situation, and its advantages, than he fixed upon it as a 

 place well adapted for the purjtosr. Accordingly havii-g 

 feued the property from the late Robert M -Queen, E-q. 

 of Braxfield, Lord Justice Clerk, and obtained some land 

 adjoining, he began lii* operations, by founding the 

 first mill in April 1785, and cutting a subterraneous 

 aqueduct through a rocky bank of a considerable length, 

 for the purpose of procuring a fall of water from the 

 river. 



In the year 1788, a second mill was bi'ilt ; but be- 

 fore it was finished it was destroyed by fire, and being 

 again rebuilt, was finished in 17*9- Shortly after.- 

 two others were erected ; all of which are nearly ad- 



', and are each from 150 to 160 feet in length, 

 from 30 to 40 wide, and seven -lories high. 

 'As the town of Lanark, and the surrounding coun- 

 ty . ruii'il not supply the number of people wanted to 

 works, famihVi win- invited from a dis- 

 tance ; and many children were procured, from some of 

 the charitable institutions in Edinburgh, for this pur- 

 pose. 



In March 178fi, the spinning commenced, and the 

 manufactory has been in a progressive state of ad- 

 vancement, jnrtirularly since it came into the posses- 

 sion of ML >r-. Owen and Co. ; and ! eing 

 amongst the tint which was established in Scotland, 

 it is remm' !ing still the largest in the island, 

 in respect to the number of people to whom it gives 



vment and support. 



:!id the mil-, which are situated on the right 

 bank of the river, and to which they are parallel, is si. 

 tasted a range of buildings, for the stowage and clean - 



" the cotton, Sec. ; and at a little distance from the 

 mills, is a large mechanical establishment, with an iron 

 ami brass foundory. The whole of the extenive me- 

 chanism which (!].-< buildings contain, is impelled \<y 

 the water of the Clyde. The number of tpimlles now at 

 work, for the manufacture of what is called water twist, 

 being about 23,000, besides the mule spindles, which 

 form a targe proportion of the spinning here. 



The houe in the village arc built after a regular 

 plan, and of a const; inelegant. They stand 



on the face of a declivity above the works, and are 

 formed into regular and well paved streets, 'containing 

 a population of 2(00, all supported by the manufacto 

 ry ; and of whom, excluding those who are too young 

 -in not being admitted into these mill* 

 till the ace of ten.) and those engaged in domestic oc- 



I'lt: " Ii' .r -..!,.- In ;:;'TM thl'MiL'h :i^': IT other- 



wise, 1600 or 1700 are actually employed. Their time 

 of working is ten hours and a half in the day. 



As the principal proprietor, and sole manager of this 

 establishment, Mr. Owen, has been engaged, during a 

 period of many years, in endeavouring to meliorate the 

 condition of the work ing classes, it is hoped that a short 

 account of the excellent moral and economical arrange- 

 ments wbich have taken effect, or are in progress here, 

 will not be unworthy of insertion. The institution for 

 education may be first described. The building, which 

 is centrically placed, and forms an ornamental part of 

 the village, is H5 feet long by 45 broad, and of three 

 stories in height, having a considerable inclosed area 

 or play ground in front. The ground floor being un- 

 connected with the purposes of the institution, is en- 

 tercd from behind. The first storey in front is divided 

 into three apartments, the other into two, the largest of 

 which is fitted up, so as to serve also as a general lec- 

 ture room, or chapel, and being provided with a gal- 

 lery, accommodates 1000 or 1200 persons. The day 

 school is composed of children between the ages of two 

 and ten, to the number of about 360, who are divided 

 into five classes, corresponding with the number of 

 apartments in ti\p institution. The youngest, or infant 

 class, under the age of five, are of course occupied only 

 in those amusements which are suitable to their age, 

 playing about in the area before the school, when the 

 weather admits it, under the charge of a male and fe- 

 male superintcndant, and whose principal office it is, to 

 encourage amongst them habits and feelings of good 

 will and affection towards each other. 



The remaining four classes are taught, besides the 

 usual branches of elementary learning, music, vocal 

 and instrumental, dancing and the military exercise. 

 The girls are taught sewing and knitting ; and when the 

 further contemplated arrangements are completed, the 

 boys will be instructed in gardening and agriculture, and 

 the girls will attend in rotation at the public kitchen, 

 in order to acquire some knowledge of domestic eco- 

 nomy. The masters of the different classes, are parli- 

 rulatly instructed to make a well directed kindness, 

 (instead of force and severity) the instrument of ex- 

 acting from the scholars due obedience to the regula- 

 tions of the school ; and experience has, in this in- 

 stance proved, that a system, combining amusement 

 with instruction, and conducted under such influence, 

 exonerates the master from all the difficulties which 

 usually attach to hij office. 



In the evenings, the institution is opened to the 

 young people, who are employed in the manufactory 

 during the day, when they are occupied for two hours, 

 to the number of three or four hundred, in improving 

 themselves in the different branches of learning, and 

 in amusements, of which dancing and music form a 

 principal part. There is a concert once a-week at the 

 institution, assisted by the village instrumental band ; 

 and on these evenings, as well as on every other occa- 

 sion, the place is open, of course, to the visits of the 

 older inhabitants, and of all respectable persons in the 

 neighbourhood. 



The next object of our notice, is the building lately 

 erected for a public kitchen. It is of considerable dimen- 

 sions, being about 150 feet in length, by 45 broad, and 

 three stories in height. The ground floor comprises 

 two spacious kitchens, a bakehouse, store-rooms, and 

 superintendents apartments. The upper stories are 

 divided, each into two equal apartments; those on 

 the first being designed for eating rooms, and the two 

 above for lecture and reading rooms, &c. to be open to 



Luiicii: 

 New. 



