Step back to the 1930s at New Lanark this weekend

Put your 1930s glad rags on, step back in time and join all the fun at New Lanark this weekend.

Experience the changes which were beginning to take place at New Lanark in the 1930s. New Lanark’s Back To The 1930s will be open from noon-4pm on Sunday, 1 September.

It’s a chance to enjoy live music all afternoon from two, five piece bands; The Tenement Jazz Band and Award winning best jazz vocalist Ali Affleck and Speakeasy swing (Scottish Jazz Awards 2014) with their vivacious stage presence, for a wild ‘joie de vivre’ celebration of music and fun.

Step back in time and experience the changes which were beginning to take place at New Lanark post the Victorian era. These ranged from the modernisation of the mills, to the introduction of mill and steam engines and to the advent of photography.

If you visit the Millworkers House exhibition at New Lanark you can see two houses. One is a reconstruction of an 1820s house, and shows you what it would be like to live in New Lanark just before the Victorian times. The other is a reconstruction of a 1930s millworkers house, just after the Victorian times. By comparing the two houses you can see some of the changes that took place in the home during the Victorian period.

Attractions include:

• A stage with live music all afternoon featuring The Ali Affleck Speakeasy Swing Band and The Tenement Jazz Band
• Traditional crafts and trades demonstrations including sign writing, Milliner, Spinner, Weaver & Stonemasons
• 1930s Cinema
• Vintage motorbikes and bicycles
• Lindy Hoppers Dance Sessions
• LAMS
• Circus Skills
• Vintage Food Stalls
• Speakeasy Gin Bar
• Pop up 1930s New Lanark and the Gourock Ropework Company Exhibition
• Children’s Vintage Games and Crafts

This event is part of a Townscape Heritage/Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme which will take place at New Lanark over a four year period until 2020.

Get ready to visit the 1930s at New Lanark

Phase 1 of this large-scale regeneration project has seen the restoration of Double Row, a Category A listed former millworkers’ tenement block, which had been vacant and derelict for over 40 years.

Phase 2A, which is currently under construction, is the demarcation and interpretation of Mantilla Row which had been demolished in 1988. Further phases include the repair of the church wall and restoration of other tenements within the village. A range of heritage-based community activities are being delivered in parallel to the construction works including the ‘Back in Time Day’ on Sunday 8th July.

Visitors to the Back To The 1930s at New Lanark will be able to enjoy a wide selection of activities including circus performers and circus skills workshop, traditional craft and trades demonstrations, which include traditional sign writing, millinery, spinning, weaving, stonemasonry.

You can also sit back and enjoy a 1930s cinema, vintage food stalls, speakeasy gin bar, pop-up 1930s New Lanark and The Gourock Ropework Company exhibition, children’s vintage games and crafts.

Total costs for this large scale regeneration project are over £4m. The two main funders are the Heritage Lottery Fund through its Townscape Heritage (TH) programme and Historic Environment Scotland through its Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS). Additional funding has been secured from the Renewable Energy Fund (South Lanarkshire Council), The Wolfson Foundation and New Lanark Trust.

Entrance to the event is free (admission charges still apply to the visitor attraction).

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