Stanley, Perthshire
Encyclopedia
Stanley is a village on the right bank of the River Tay
in Perthshire
, Scotland
. The section of River Tay nearby is a popular location for canoeing and fishing.
. In the 16 hundreds the area around Stanley was part of the estate of Earls of Atholl and was also the location of Inverbervie Castle. In 1659 the castle was renamed Stanley House in honour of the wedding of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl
and Lady Stanley. When the village was built in the 17 hundreds it took the name Stanley after the nearby house.
, decided, in the 17 hundreds to harness of the nearby River Tay to power a cotton mill
., Richard Arkwright
, an inventor of cotton-spinning machinery
was persuade by, George Dempster
(the Local MP
), when Dempster was visiting Cromford
in Derbyshire
, to come to Scotland
to set up a cotton mill in Stanley as well as one at New Lanark
. Stanley Mills, opened in 1787 and by its 10th year employed 350 people.
The village of Stanley was built to house the workers of the mill. Work on the village began in 1784. It was designed by the Duke of Atholl’s factor James Stobie
. By 1799 the Village’s population was around 400, however, in 1831 it had reached around 2000 residents about 50% of whom worked in the mill.
, George Dempster
and William Sandeman
to build the mill on land feued from the Duke of Atholl to provide employment to Highlanders affected by the clearances.
The mill extracted gas from coal to run lighting, this was replaced in 1921 when a hydroelectric power plant was built which supplied electricity to the village as well as the mill. The power station was closed in 1965 but was reopened in 2003 by npower (UK)
.
During the 1960s and 70s the Mills was in decline and finally closed down. in 1989. After that mill fell into dereliction. However, The buildings were renovated and turned into private flats and a museum depicting life in the 19th century and the story of the mill. .
broke of from the main line from Perth
to Inverness
. The Perth Inverness line still runs though the village, however, but the station was closed in 1956.
was built during the 1850s near Stanley. It was built by the Robertson family, the land having originally been owned by the Drummond family
, the Earls of Perth
. Since 1972 it has operated as a country house hotel.
River Tay
The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui , then flows easterly across the Highlands, through Loch Dochhart, Loch Lubhair and Loch Tay, then continues east through Strathtay , in...
in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The section of River Tay nearby is a popular location for canoeing and fishing.
Etymology
The village of Stanley gains its name ultimately from Lady Amelia Stanley, the daughter of James Stanley, 7th Earl of DerbyJames Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby KG was a supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.Born at Knowsley, he is sometimes styled the Great Earl of Derby, eldest son of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby and Lady Elizabeth de Vere. During his father's life he was known as Lord Strange...
. In the 16 hundreds the area around Stanley was part of the estate of Earls of Atholl and was also the location of Inverbervie Castle. In 1659 the castle was renamed Stanley House in honour of the wedding of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl
John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl
John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl, KT was a leading Scottish royalist and defender of the Stuarts during the English Civil War of the 1640s, until after the rise to power of William and Mary in 1689...
and Lady Stanley. When the village was built in the 17 hundreds it took the name Stanley after the nearby house.
History
John Murray, the 4th Duke of AthollJohn Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl
John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl KT, PC, FRS , styled Marquess of Tullibardine 1764 and 1774, was a Scottish peer.-Background:...
, decided, in the 17 hundreds to harness of the nearby River Tay to power a cotton mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
., Richard Arkwright
Richard Arkwright
Sir Richard Arkwright , was an Englishman who, although the patents were eventually overturned, is often credited for inventing the spinning frame — later renamed the water frame following the transition to water power. He also patented a carding engine that could convert raw cotton into yarn...
, an inventor of cotton-spinning machinery
Cotton-spinning machinery
Cotton-spinning machinery refers to machines which process prepared cotton roving into workable yarn or thread. Such machinery can be dated back centuries. During the 18th and 19th centuries, as part of the Industrial Revolution cotton-spinning machinery was developed to bring mass production to...
was persuade by, George Dempster
George Dempster (lawyer)
George Dempster was a Scottish lawyer who was elected member of Parliament for the Perth Burghs.Dempster was educated at Dundee Grammar School and possibly also at the small parish school at Leuchars, Fife...
(the Local MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
), when Dempster was visiting Cromford
Cromford
Cromford is a village, two miles to the south of Matlock in the Derbyshire Dales district in Derbyshire, England. It is principally known for its historical connection with Richard Arkwright, and the Cromford Mill which he built here in 1771...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, to come to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to set up a cotton mill in Stanley as well as one at New Lanark
New Lanark
New Lanark is a village on the River Clyde, approximately 1.4 miles from Lanark, in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was founded in 1786 by David Dale, who built cotton mills and housing for the mill workers. Dale built the mills there to take advantage of the water power provided by the river...
. Stanley Mills, opened in 1787 and by its 10th year employed 350 people.
The village of Stanley was built to house the workers of the mill. Work on the village began in 1784. It was designed by the Duke of Atholl’s factor James Stobie
James Stobie
James Stobie was the factor to John Murray, the 4th Duke of Atholl's in the late 17 hundreds.He is best known for designing the layout of Perthshire villages on the bequest of the 4th Duke of Atholl. In 1784 he designed the village of Stanley and in 1786 he designed the layout of...
. By 1799 the Village’s population was around 400, however, in 1831 it had reached around 2000 residents about 50% of whom worked in the mill.
Stanley Mill
Much of Stanley's economy was based on a mill powered by the river Tay. The mill mostly produced cotton but also cigarette ribbon. The Dempster & Co company was established in 1787 by seven men including Richard ArkwrightRichard Arkwright
Sir Richard Arkwright , was an Englishman who, although the patents were eventually overturned, is often credited for inventing the spinning frame — later renamed the water frame following the transition to water power. He also patented a carding engine that could convert raw cotton into yarn...
, George Dempster
George Dempster (lawyer)
George Dempster was a Scottish lawyer who was elected member of Parliament for the Perth Burghs.Dempster was educated at Dundee Grammar School and possibly also at the small parish school at Leuchars, Fife...
and William Sandeman
William Sandeman
William Sandeman was a leading Perthshire linen and later cotton manufacturer. For instance in 1782 alone, Perthshire produced 1.7 million yards of linen worth £81,000...
to build the mill on land feued from the Duke of Atholl to provide employment to Highlanders affected by the clearances.
The mill extracted gas from coal to run lighting, this was replaced in 1921 when a hydroelectric power plant was built which supplied electricity to the village as well as the mill. The power station was closed in 1965 but was reopened in 2003 by npower (UK)
Npower (UK)
RWE Npower plc is a UK-based electricity and gas supply generation company, formerly known as Innogy plc. As Innogy plc it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
.
During the 1960s and 70s the Mills was in decline and finally closed down. in 1989. After that mill fell into dereliction. However, The buildings were renovated and turned into private flats and a museum depicting life in the 19th century and the story of the mill. .
Railway
A railway station was built in Stanley in 1848. This later evolved into a junction station, as it lay at the point where the branch line to ForfarForfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
broke of from the main line from Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. The Perth Inverness line still runs though the village, however, but the station was closed in 1956.
Ballathie House
Ballathie HouseBallathie House
Ballathie House is a 19th century mansion in Perthshire, Scotland. It is located around north of Perth, and west of Coupar Angus, close to the River Tay. The present house was built in 1886, and since 1972 it has operated as a country house hotel....
was built during the 1850s near Stanley. It was built by the Robertson family, the land having originally been owned by the Drummond family
Clan Drummond
Clan Drummond is a Scottish clan deriving its name from the parish of Drymen, in what was western Stirlingshire. Legend gives Maurice of Hungary as founder of the clan...
, the Earls of Perth
Earl of Perth
The title Earl of Perth was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1605 for James Drummond, 4th Lord Drummond.The Drummond family claim descent from Maurice, son of George, a younger son of King Andrew I of Hungary...
. Since 1972 it has operated as a country house hotel.