New Lanark World Heritage Site

Mill Village and Falls of Clyde

Conserve | Contribute | Evolve

A Vision for our Future

Consultation Document

Contents

Introduction - Page 1

Our Purpose - Page 2

Our Heritage - Page 2

Our Values - Page 2

Strategic Objectives - Page 3

Implementation Strategy - Page 4

Development Areas - Page 5-10

Implementation Timescales - Page 11-12

Introduction

In 2011 New Lanark Trust adopted its “Ten Year Vision and Strategy”, the first comprehensive review of the future of the village since the adoption of the original report “A Future for New Lanark” in 1973. This original report gave impetus to the formation of the charitable Trust and to its programme for the restoration. Since then, New Lanark has become an exemplar of conservation led regeneration in Scotland and, in 2001, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. As such it is one of the thousand or so most significant places in the cultural and natural heritage of the planet. Significantly, the 2011 Vision anticipated the completion of the final major building restoration, the Double Row tenement block, and the consequent opportunities to manage the village more effectively as a living working community. It also looked to managing the site as a window to the world on the contribution of New Lanark and its founders to the history of industrialisation and social development in the western world. The recent completion of the Double Row project has been accompanied by new opportunities and challenges which the Trust must face to ensure a sustainable future for the site and its contribution to the local economy, cultural tourism and education. Not least of the challenges has been the reduction in public sector financial support to the charity and the rising costs of maintaining the site. Over 2016-17, the Trust has therefore reviewed progress since 2011 and has concluded that a major step forward in investment in heritage interpretation, visitor infrastructure, the Trust’s own businesses and in the wider setting of the village is required to secure the kind of returns which will allow the Trust to maintain the site increasingly from its own resources. The Trust is committed to maintaining and enhancing the significant, award winning heritage value of New Lanark as defined by the criteria for Outstanding Universal Value, authenticity and integrity of UNESCO under the guidance from Historic Environment Scotland contained in documents such as “Managing Change in the Historic Environment: World Heritage”. It recognises, however, that meeting the challenge of funding the protection of this heritage depends upon a sustainable plan for growth and development. In preparing this strategy, New Lanark Trust has had regard to the key role recognised in the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework for World Heritage Sites in heritage led regeneration and tourism development especially in Scotland’s rural areas. It aspires to do so in a manner which supports both the local community and Scotland’s and the UK’s cultural reputation in an international context (UK Heritage Statement 2017). It has also addressed the need for positive action to complement the role of the planning authority in protecting the WHS and its setting in accordance with the government’s Scottish Planning Policy. The Trust has responded during 2017 to the consultation by South Lanarkshire Council on the review of its Local Development Plan on the basis of this strategy which it now seeks to discuss in more detail with the Council and other stakeholders. This document sets out a framework from which we will develop our plans for the next 10 years. We seek the co-operation and support of our partners, our community and our customers in developing our plans and are inviting these stakeholders to contribute to the next stage of New Lanark’s history.

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New Lanark World Heritage SiteMill Village and Falls of ClydeA Vision for our FutureConsultation Document

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1. Our Purpose

New Lanark Trust is the Registered Scottish Charity responsible for the management of New Lanark World Heritage Site, Mill Village & Falls of Clyde. We: • Conserve its heritage, site and environs• Contribute socially and economically to the area• Evolve to stay relevant to our people and the world

2. Our Heritage

New Lanark has an authentic built environment set within an outstanding natural landscape with architecturally innovative mills situated on the banks of the River Clyde within the glaciated landscape around the Clyde Gorge. New Lanark has a responsible social and cultural heritage based on the work of its founder, David Dale, and the pioneering social reforms of its most famous manager, Robert Owen, which shaped the lives of generations of people. New Lanark was founded as a cotton mill village during the Industrial Revolution and has an enterprising industrial heritage based on ground-breaking technological developments.

3. Our Values

Authentic:• Outstanding natural landscape and authentic built environment• A living, working community• Real people with significant stories Responsible: • Self-sustaining charity with opportunities for employment, volunteering and skills development• Actively conserving our unique heritage• Ensuring long-term environmental and financial sustainability Industrious:• Providing a complete visitor experience• Building successful and co-operative partnerships and community engagement• Continuing David Dale’s and Robert Owen’s legacy of business innovation and social enterprise Ambitious:• Ensuring New Lanark fulfils its potential in Scotland’s global cultural, tourism, business and educational offering The values of New Lanark Trust follow the ethos of the people who have come before us. We are a world-class World Heritage Site with an ambitious vision. We will remain true to our intellectual heritage, our place within the world, and our site & community whilst continuing to be pioneering in our management of the site, ensuring that every person who discovers, explores and experiences New Lanark will be inspired by and feel a sense of affinity with the spirit of the place and its setting.

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Our Strategic Objectives

a. To safeguard and enhance the World Heritage Site (WHS) and its environs. We will do this by:i. Conserving and enhancing the site and its wider settingii. Ensuring that work carried out on the site is of the highest standard and appropriate to its characteriii. Sharing best practice and engaging with our partners, residents and landownersiv. Assessing the likely impact of climate change on the site and integrating the findings into our management plans b. To promote awareness and understanding of New Lanark’s Outstanding Universal Value, authenticity and integrity. We will do this by:i. Offering diverse interpretation and a rich learning programmeii. Meaningful engagement with our staff, volunteers, community, visitors and partnersiii. Enabling ongoing research, thought and debate on the themes and issues that have shaped our historyiv. Conserving our artefacts and archivesv. Interpreting the site’s significance in the context of the Royal Burgh of Lanark and of the local estate owners as a climactic development of the Scottish Enlightenment c. To grow New Lanark as a visitor destination and strengthen the site’s regional, national and international profile. We will do this by:i. Ensuring a world class visitor experience across the siteii. Effective marketing, PR and online presenceiii. Providing new and themed experiences that will encourage new and repeat visitorsiv. Working with our partners, such as Historic Environment Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, South Lanarkshire Council, Visit Scotland and local organisations d. To build a commercially and environmentally sustainable business. We will do this by:i. Developing an ambitious commercial strategy to ensure financial sustainabilityii. Working to attract investment in the siteiii. Practising prudent financial stewardship and sound corporate governanceiv. Promoting a positive culture where our staff are flexible, skilled and creativev. Ensuring we are a Green business with an effective environmental management strategy

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Implementation Strategy

Inherent in fulfilling our Vision for the Future and achieving our Strategic Objectives is the redevelopment of the New Lanark Visitor Attraction and continued development of New Lanark Mill Hotel. These developments will: 1. Offer an improved visitor experience with: a. More ways of exploring the story of New Lanark b. Increased opportunities to explore and understand the heritage of the surrounding area c. A stronger link between the history and current management of the site d. Improved customer service across all areas e. Richer and more meaningful connections with partners2. Increase paid visitor numbers3. Generate increased income through Accommodation, Visitor Attraction, Mill Café, Mill Shop and Temporary Exhibition Programmes4. Become more self-sustaining and less reliant on external funders The proposed redevelopment will consider all aspects of the visitor experience to make the visitor journey as smooth and connected as possible. Access: Improved access between Lanark - New Lanark Car Park - New Lanark Village and the wider areaOrientate: Visitors will be able to find out where they can go and what they can see BEFORE they get into the village and/or the surrounding areaDiscover: Every visitor will be able to fully discover the spectacular settingExplore: Visitors can explore and learn about key thematic areas of Visitor Attraction & surroundingsExperience: Visitors can eat / drink / spend / relax in the Mill Hotel / Mill shop / Mill CafeReview: We will inspire visitors to feedback in person / on-site / on-lineReturn: We will have a rich offer to encourage visitors to return again and again Each stage of our proposed redevelopment will also consider our:

Intellectual Heritage

Place WithinThe World

Site&

Community

Site & CommunityThe physical site and the people who are linked to it will be at the heart of all developments, and redevelopment will be a collaborative process which ensures the preservation of the site. Place within the WorldWe will align our strategy with national tourism bodies and develop enriching organisational partnerships Intellectual HeritageWe will enable ongoing thought, research and debate on the themes and issues which are part of New Lanark’s history and which continue to be relevant in today’s society.

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Development Areas

1. Setting & Surrounding Environs

The landscape setting of New Lanark, encapsulated in our World Heritage Site Buffer Zone, is vital to understanding the origins and significance of the village as a product of the natural landscape and of the values of the Scottish Enlightenment. The story is written in the landscape and is a key complement to the heritage assets of the World Heritage Site itself, supporting the criteria for Outstanding Universal Value recognised by UNESCO. Our vision is to create a gateway to the village that is also a gateway to the appreciation of this important landscape, a designated Designed Landscape, as an integral part of the New Lanark experience. New Lanark Trust will consult widely with partners and stakeholders regarding uses, improvements and interpretive developments in this landscape, which could include: a. An extension to the Clyde Walkway upstream from Bonnington Dam towards the source of the river. This will connect to the historic bridging point over the Clyde at Hyndford and provide a vital link for the creation of a network of routes through the fluvio-glacial landforms, mediaeval hunting forest and Enlightenment designed landscapes adjacent to the Falls.

b. A series of walks/trails including, but not limited to: i. Designed Landscape walks through Braxfield, Bonnington, Castlebank and Corehouse Estates ii. Walks exploring artistic representations of the landscape iii. An Ice Age trail exploring the complex of fluvio-glacial deposition features that form a strongly undulating landscape east of Lanark and provide clues to the formation of the famous Falls of Clyde. iv. Falls of Clyde Wildlife Walks exploring the internationally iconic sightseeing attraction of the Falls and the ancient woodlands of the Clyde Gorge.

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2. Access & Transport

a. The majority of visitors access New Lanark by car. The only route takes visitors through the winding, difficult to navigate and heavily populated streets of Lanark. By completing the Beeches Access Road - first included in the plan for Lanark 35 years ago but only partially built to serve a housing development - visitors would have a direct route into the New Lanark Car Park, avoiding many of the tight, residential streets of Lanark. It would involve a spectacular, direct and welcoming entrance to the valley-setting of the village, with outstanding views of the surrounding landscape and affording significantly greater opportunities for engaging passing trade and heritage visits within the town itself. While New Lanark is not a closed site, this line of approach would intercept more visitors and permit the creation of a new orientation and visitor services centre in the car park. b. For those who wish to visit New Lanark by public transport, they encounter the following difficulties: i. Train link from Glasgow only twice per hour and no direct train link from Edinburgh - requires change at Motherwell ii. Local Lanark–New Lanark bus does not link to train arrival times and finishes at 5pm iii. There are no cycle schemes/bicycle racks in either Lanark or New LanarkFor many years, there have been discussions between Lanark and transport providers regarding re-opening a direct Lanark–Edinburgh link. Whilst New Lanark will support any improvements in this area, our immediate focus will be on securing sponsorship for one or two electric buses to run between Lanark, New Lanark Car Park and New Lanark Village. Sponsorship could also be sought for a cycle-hire scheme between Lanark and New Lanark. Working in partnership with Lanark Community Development Trust will be important in this area.

c. Despite a large visitor car park above the village, a high volume of local visitors, particularly those with limited mobility, continue to park in the village itself. This limits parking for villagers, is dangerous for pedestrians and diminishes the visitor experience. An electric bus will help this situation but it will not give visitors the first spectacular view of the village they get if they walk down. The installation of a direct transit system such as a funicular railway or moving pavement from the car park to the village hall would ease traffic and be a visitor attraction in itself.

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3. Welcome & Information

a. Often, visitors do not know where to go when they arrive in the village, or what to expect. To improve the visitor experience and links with the town of Lanark, a Welcome Centre could be located in the upper car park. This would provide visitors with information on all aspects of their visit and everything they could see in the wider area. It would also provide facilities and an initial face-to-face welcome.

b. Since 1816, The Institute for the Formation of Character has been the social heart of New Lanark. It would continue in this role as a much improved Visitor Attraction Reception, providing an on-site welcome, tickets, information on tours/talks /events etc. as well as the entry to the interpretive galleries.

4. Hotel / Accommodation

Our general direction of travel will be to review the types of accommodation we offer and the standard of service in each accommodation area. Outline areas for review will be whether to: a. Invest in the hotel to raise it to four star standardb. Maintain the Waterhouses at a four-star standard or increase to five-starc . Invest in the hostel and turn it into a three-star Lodge/Inn. This would allow us to focus on the coach and groups market, as well as provide additional accommodation at a higher price to guests wanting to stay at busy times.d. Consider increasing the number of rooms available within the main hotele. Review the restaurant/bar and reception facilities available to guests

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5. Interpretive Galleries

Each of the interpretive galleries will have the following strands flowing throughout the narrative to help to link the themes and cross-reference information: Context, Comparisons, People, Then and Now a. Story of New Lanark Ride: This will utilise the existing dark ride system to provide a complete timeline of New Lanark, including: the formation of the glacial landscape; the Falls of Clyde as a tourist attraction during the Scottish Enlightenment; the construction of New Lanark under David Dale and Richard Arkwright as part of the Industrial Revolution; the reforms of Robert Owen; the struggle of the Walker ownership; the modernisation under the Gourock Ropework company, the years of decline and decay; the work of New Lanark Trust and the World Heritage Site today. Visitors will physically and virtually travel through time. Archive material, digital scan data and famous voice-overs will be fully utilised.

b. Spinning History Textile & Industry Gallery: This will guide visitors through the industrial heritage of New Lanark. The systems of powering the mills and the village will be explored alongside the textile industry, from the cotton production process, through the modernisations and innovations of the 20th century to the yarn production of today.

c. Shaping History Landscape & Architecture Gallery: This is where the story of the physical and built environs will be told. Visitors will be able to explore: the shaping of the falls and the geology of the area; the Designed Landscapes of Bonnington, Braxfield, Castlebank and Corehouse and how they relate to New Lanark; the buildings of New Lanark and their design, use and changes as well as the lost buildings; links with the town of Lanark.

d. Living History Society and Culture Galleries: Located in the School for Children, these galleries will tell the stories of the people who lived in New Lanark and the social and cultural developments that took place throughout the village’s history, particularly those under Robert Owen. Living conditions, education and recreation will all be explored.

e. Managing the Mills Gallery: Located in Robert Owen’s House, these galleries will explore the history of the four owners of the New Lanark Mills from the patriarchal David Dale to the pioneering Robert Owen and from the struggling Walker Bros. to the modernising Gourock Ropework Company.

f. Co-operation Gallery: Located in the Village Store, this will explore the history of the Co-operative movement and how its founders were influenced by Robert Owen and his work at New Lanark.

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6. Research & Learning a. Archive & Search Room: Located in the Institute lower level, this will be the store for the New Lanark archive collection and also a research centre for the public. It will be instrumental in our gaining and maintaining Accredited Museum status from Museums Galleries Scotland.b. New Lanark Learning Centre: Located in the ground and lower levels of the School for Children; this will be a complete learning centre for use by school and other learning groups, or for hire by groups for conferences etc. It will comprise a redeveloped lecture theatre, redeveloped Interactive Gallery and a large, multi-purpose learning space.c. New Lanark Centre for Heritage Research: Along with partners in Scotland and worldwide, we will build the capacity to benefit from our experience of Scotland’s largest single restoration project over the last 50 years by trading our expertise and unique resources in education, training consultancy, conservation and heritage interpretation.

7. Temporary & Touring Exhibitions a. The Mill Gallery will host world-class, national and international touring exhibitions such as “Artists’ Textiles, Picasso to Warhol” and “Game Plan: Board Games Rediscovered”. These will be large scale, high profile exhibitions with an entry fee and associated public programming.b. The Institute Gallery will host high-quality, local and national or internally-curated exhibitions. These will be on a smaller scale and may be offered at a lower price, free or included in a Visitor Attraction ticket.c. The Art Loft will be located in the Mill 3 attic space and will be an elegant, multi-purpose space that can be utilised for art exhibitions, events and functions.

8. Supporting Programmes

a. Learning and Outreach Programme: This will offer a range of workshops, sessions and tours for pre-school, primary, secondary, tertiary and 3rd age groups to support the key themes.b. Public Programming: A range of informal learning initiatives for visitors to support the key themes and temporary exhibitions and eventsc. Tours and Talks: A programme of tours and talks linked to our key interpretive themes and also to our temporary exhibition programme will be developed. This may be delivered with our own staff and external speakers. Tours in the surrounding area will be arranged in cooperation with partners and voluntary groups such as Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Friends of New Lanark.d. Publications: A redeveloped guidebook will give a complete overview of New Lanark. It will be supported by a series of thematic booklets covering the key interpretive themes.e. Online Learning: A redeveloped website and stronger digital media / apps will allow for online and remote learning.

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9. Parallel Developments

a. Funding and Sponsorship Strategy i. Patron programme for World Heritage Site e.g. Duchess of Cambridge/ similarly high profile and influential people ii. Major and supporting site sponsors plus targeted sponsors for individual projects iii. Matching key redevelopment areas to potential funder interestsb. Partnership Programme i. Working with international, national and local partners to develop enriching collaborative work and increase funding opportunitiesc. Staff and Volunteer Development Programme i. Volunteers in areas across the site including: meet and greet; staffing buildings; archive and research; exhibition stewarding; public programming; garden and grounds ii. Up to six student placements/internships annually in the fields of: Heritage Management; Tourism Management; Marketing; Event Management and Museum Learning iii. Visitor Attraction Staff dedicated to delivery of Learning and Outreach programme, public programming, talks and tours iv. Secondments from external companies who can add value and expertise for a specific project or area of developmentd. Signage Strategy i. Signage will be ‘on-brand’ across the site, clear and simple with dedicated ‘What’s On’ spaces for temporary event and exhibition signage. Waymarking and interpretive signage will be provided in the wider areae. Digital Media & Systems i. A new booking system will enable site-wide control of bookings for all areas of New Lanark: Visitor Attraction, Hotel, café/restaurant, events and exhibitions, learning and group visits ii. A new, responsive website and app will link all of the areas listed above

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Community and Site• Museums Accreditation and Built Environment Study• Booking System and website redevelopment• Planning and costing capital developments across site• Visitor Analysis and Focus Groups• Volunteer, Intern and Skills development programme• Fundraising and development of partnership and sponsorship programmes• Development and roll out of non-capital projects, including exhibition programme and associated public programming, talks and tours• Delivery of Learning Hub, Archive Reception and Living in New Lanark Gallery (Institute and School)• Redevelopment of Accommodation to New Lanark Mill Hotel to 4* deluxe, Wee Row to 3* and Waterhouses to 5*• Support for the completion of projects undertaken by the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership such as the geology trail and Landscape Heroes archive. Place in the World• Development of Marketing Strategy to support projects above• Development of key partnerships - other WHS, Visit Scotland thematic years etc. Intellectual Heritage• UNESCO Centre for Refugee Integration through Languages and Arts collaboration• Development of Research Framework Community and Site• Delivery of: - Art and Event Loft - Shaping New Lanark Gallery - Story of New Lanark Ride - Spinning History Gallery - Managing the Mills and New Lanark and Co-operation Exhibitions• Access and interpretation of the wider Designed Landscape• New Learning and Outreach Programmes in alignment with interpretive galleries• Development of new Guidebook, signage and supporting materials• Waterhouse development and potential extension of the Waterhouses to their original length• Revisit external signage and interpretation across the site and upgrade directional brown tourism signs. Place in the World• Delivery of integrated, site-wide marketing strategy, including national media campaigns• Delivery of key partnership projects e.g. Industrial World Heritage Site route• Development and delivery of key global partner sponsorship programme

Intellectual Heritage• Starting to deliver on research framework in partnership with international universities and relevant organisations

Implementation Timescales

Years 1-3

Years 4-7

Community and Site• Beeches Access Road implementation• Direct transit system implementation• Design competition for Welcome Centre and subsequent development• Redevelopment of public realm spaces within the village (including Robert Owen’s Garden, Institute Forecourt, Mill 1 Forecourt and Tail Race Walkway). Place in the World• Continued development of global sponsorship partner programme across all site areas (buildings, textiles, hospitality, retail) Intellectual Heritage• Establishment of New Lanark as a World Class Centre for research and skills

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Years 8-10

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Thank you for your time.

To provide feedback and comments to New Lanark Trust, please contact us via email at jane.masters@newlanark.org.

Please provide all comments by 31st May 2018.