Introduction

This web site has been produced by Staff and senior pupils from Linlithgow Academy and with the full support of New Lanark Conservation Trust.

BACKGROUND (By Graeme Shinwell, History Department)

Some twenty years ago, I began taking students from Linlithgow Academy on fieldwork trips to New Lanark. The study of the village, the mills and the general history of New Lanark forms an integral part of our Standard Grade Course and its proximity to the school naturally facilitates such a regular and very stimulating visit for third year students researching Scottish history between 1750 and 1850.

With each succeeding visit to the village, I have witnessed the work of the New Lanark Conservation Trust in it’s ever continuing struggle to extensively restore what is, arguably, one of the most important historical sites in Scotland and, indeed, Europe. That the village has just recently been awarded the accolade of World Heritage Site status is testimony to their efforts and worthy of the praise worldwide that it has received.

In conversation with Mrs. Lorna Davidson, one of the Directors at New Lanark, during a recent visit to the village, I was, therefore, quite surprised to learn that they had no plans to develop a full Internet web site. Conscious of the educational value of the ‘Net,’ I had decided to produce one of my own. However, my students expressed such a willingness to participate in such a project that a Web Site Club was formed and this site is the result of both their efforts and those of myself and my co-contributor, our school Librarian, Chris Morrison.