The New Lanark Mills are featured on the 32p stamp (SG1442), issued as part of the Industrial Archeology set issued on 4th July 1989. The stamp is ava ilable in two formats, as illustrated in this article. The "portrait" versi on was issued singly, whilst the landscape version comes from the miniature sheet issued on 25th July 1989 (SG MS1444). The miniature sheet was sold a t a premium and the proceeds were used to support the "Stamp World London ' 90" International Stamp Exhibition.

New Lanark was the brainchild of David Dale, a Glasgow banker, who in 1784, was walking along the banks of the river Clyde near the Corra Linn falls w ith Richard Arkwright. The site was deemed to be suitable for a water power ed cotton mill and a partnership was formed to develop the idea into a work ing mill, with construction work starting almost immediately. David Dale su bsequently dissolved the partnership and became the sole proprietor of the project in 1785 and the first mill was in operation in 1786. By 1793 there were four mills, all powered by water. Records show that 1157 people were e mployed in the mills in 1793 of which 795 were children. David Dale was an enlightened employer and he set up a school to provide education for the ch ildren working in his mills and by 1796 some 16 teachers were employed teac hing reading, writing and arithmetic.

In 1799, Robert Owen, a Welshman married David Dale's daughter and in 1800 he took over New Lanark from David Dale. Robert Owen was a keen social refo rmer and firmly believed that the poor working conditions and exploitation of workers led to a discontented workforce. In 1806, during the American em bargo, no cotton was spun at New Lanark for a few months, during which time Owen paid his workers their full wages. He wanted to improve the workers c onditions and set about building good quality housing and providing better education. In 1824, Robert Owen left New Lanark for Indiana where he invest ed in an experimental co-operative venture.

The New Lanark mills then passed through a variety of owners until they wer e finally closed in 1967. However, the New Lanark Conservation Trust was ab le to acquire the site in 1974 and began to restore the village which today is a thriving heritage centre, open to the public.