Wednesday 23 April 2014

Outing on Friday 9th May 2014 to New Lanark

On Friday the 9th of May, a full coach load of Pensioners left Waterloo Place at 09:30 prompt for a day out at New Lanark. The first stop on the way was at Bigger for a coffee break at the Cross Keys and then onto The New Lanark Visitors Centre.

At the Visitor Centre, we were give a short talk on the history of the area and what to see. The party was then split into 2 groups and given a tour of the whole area. This included the Engine House and Gallery where on the third floor you could watch yarn been spun, which was rather noisy. We also visited the Millworkers’ House. This was made up of 2 homes with one set in the 1820’s and one in the 1930’s showing the conditions the workers had in both centuries. There was a Village Store set up as it was in the 1920’s where visitors could purchase sweets and fancy goods – at 21st century prices. One of the buildings was Robert Owen’s House. He was the owner of the mill who made a difference to lives of the workers and their children. He set up a nursery and a school and improved working conditions at the mill.

A very entertaining attraction at New Lanark is the Annie McLeod experience. The journey starts by you sitting in a mechanical chair that glides along a rail, supported form the roof, and takes you on a journey back to the 19th century. The guide for the tour is the ghost of a young millworker named Annie McLeod and she describes how it was to be a young millworker during that period in history.

After leaving New Lanark, the coach conveyed us to the Cartland Bridge Hotel for high tea before heading home after a pleasant day out.

Many thanks to Ronnie for arranging this outing.