LANARK-NEW, a village (populous, manufacturing),
in the parish, and Upper ward of the county, of Lanark,
1 mile (S. by W.) from the town of Lanark; containing
164'2 inhabitants. This place owes its rise to the introduction
of the cotton manufacture by Mr. David Dale,
who, in 1784, erected extensive mills for spinning and
weaving cotton. New Lanark is situated near the river
Clyde, and is surrounded by steep and richly-wooded
hills, which give it an air of seclusion and retirement;
it is regularly and handsomely built, and is inhabited
chiefly by persons employed in the cotton-works, which
ever since their introduction have been carried on with
adequate success. The first of the mills erected was
154 feet in length, twenty-seven feet in width, and sixty
feet in height; and a tunnel nearly 100 yards in length
was cut through a rocky hill, to form a passage for the
water of the Clyde, by which it was propelled: in 1788
a second mill of the same dimensions, and subsequently
two others, were built. The mill that was first erected
was totally destroyed by an accidental fire in the year
1788, but was rebuilt in the year following. The works
were afterwards carried on by Robert Owen, son-in-law
of Mr. Dale, till 18'27, since which time they have been
conducted by the firm of Messrs. Walker and Company.
Their machinery is of the most improved construction,
and about I^OO persons are employed in the works, of
whom nearly sixty are mechanics and labourers engaged
in keeping the machinery in repair: many are children,
for whose comfort the company have made every requisite
provision. A school has been established by the
proprietors of the works, for the instruction of the
factory children, of whom a large number attend at
stated hours, and receive a course of instruction adapted
to their improvement in knowledge and in morals. A
benefit society, for the support of its members in cases
of sickness, is maintained by small weekly payments;
and there are also two funeral societies in the village.