Stanley Mills from Salmon fishing Scotland.

Stanley Mills from Salmon fishing Scotland.

The Historic Scotland Stanley Mill Heritage Centre is now open to the Public and is worth a visit while you are in the area.
The general information on the centre for enjoying your visit gives you superb interactive displays and exhibits and the Stanley Mills team are on hand to provide help and answer questions.
There is Wheelchair access.
There is also Gifts and Refreshments.
Stanley Mills is situated in rural Perthshire in a picturesque setting on the bend of the River Tay just a few hundred yards south of the planned industrial village of Stanley. Founded in 1785, they formed the largest and most northerly industrial cotton development of the day. The complex is a remarkable testament of Scotland's industrial heritage.
The development of the mills charts the growth and decline of the cotton industry in Scotland. The three main mill blocks, Bell Mill, East Mill and Mid Mill, form a U-plan. Bell Mill which drew water from the Tay through an 800 foot tunnel, was designed by Sir Richard Arkwright innovator of the water-powered spinning process and pioneer of the factory production system. Completed in 1790, Bell Mill is the oldest textile mill known to contain cast iron columns throughout its structure. East Mill was the second mill to be completed, c1800. The last of the great mills to be constructed was Mid Mill c1800, which forms the link between Bell Mill and East Mill. There are also a number of ancillary buildings including offices, workshops, gatehouses, a summerhouse and turbine house.
Throughout its history, Stanley has not only reflected the changing fortunes of the weaving industry but also the changing needs of society. At the height of productivity the mills employed over 800 workers, mainly women and children from Stanley Village. Both World Wars saw the mills dedicated to the production of webbings for the armed forces. During the 1920's the mills prospered and embarked on a modernisation programme which included the building of a new hydro-electric scheme, widening of the lade and a modern power plant. The depression of the early 1930s resulted in a drop in the workforce to just 291 employees. However, by the end of that decade the mills were once again flourishing producing such diverse products as bookbinding webbing, brake linings for automobiles, upholstery webbings and cigarette machine tapes. Changes in weaving techniques combined with soaring costs of raw cotton and increased demand for man-made fibres meant that in 1976 weaving at Stanley ceased and the mills finally closed in 1989.
In 1995 the mills were saved from demolition and taken into the care of Historic Scotland. Working in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Phoenix Trust, Historic Scotland plan to fully regenerate the site. Once again the mills reflect the changing needs of society with Mid Mill and East Mill being developed for private housing by the Phoenix Trust. However, Stanley Mills still retains much of the 18th century character, including the lades and the wheel pits of the original water powered mills. Bell Mill is to be open to the public and will aid promotion of Scotland's industrial past.
The RCAHMS collection includes a number of historic photographs including workers and their children, interior and exterior photographs of the mills and the ancillary buildings, photographs of the turbine under construction, aerial photographs, photographic copies of original drawings, manuscripts and drawings including plans, sections and elevations.