Sources 13

Robert Owen's House - Servant's Quarters

SOURCE TWENTY - A WORKER’S VIEW OF LIFE IN NEW LANARK

“Mr Owen sent a servant with us to our inn. During the walk we questioned him, and found out that he also had been twenty years in Mr Owen’s employ. He entered it with only 10 shillings and sixpence (52.5 pence): he has now a wife and eleven children, five of whom are employed at the works, the two eldest at 32 shillings per month (£1.60), the two next at 24 shillings (£1.20) and the fifth at 8 shillings (40 pence). The remaining children are under ten years of age. He is quite comfortable and happy with this heavy charge, and has no fear of the consequences, even of a further increase to his family: his children are well instructed in learning, in their religious duties, and in good manners. He has a comfortable habitation, and good furniture which he invited us to inspect. During a sickness of one of his children of four months duration, it had the best medical attention and drugs gratis. The instruction of his children costs him only 3 pence per month (1 new pence), including books,slates, pencils etc.”

(Extract from “The New Views of Mr Owen, impartially considered” by Dr Henry McNab, published in 1819.)