Historic mill opens to the public

Commercial operations at Stanley Mills ceased in 1989

A £4.6m project to preserve the historic Stanley Mills on the banks of the River Tay has opened to the public.

The site, which is one of the best surviving examples of a cotton mill in the UK, aims to give visitors an insight into its history and workers.

The mills were at the forefront of the industrial revolution, with the first one built in 1786 and the last commercial operations ending in 1989.

The project, seven miles north of Perth, will open March to September.

The development features interactive displays, exhibits and video footage showing Scotland's industrial heritage.

'Visitor attraction'

Historic Scotland said the physical working of the cotton spinning machines, and the processes involved, will be balanced with the stories of those who worked in the mills, including children.

Words commissioned by the Edinburgh-based poet Aonghas MacNeacail will also feature in the exhibition.

Peter Bromley, director of properties in care at Historic Scotland, said: "We have been working on the Stanley Mills project since the mills came into our care in 1995.

"There are so many people that have contributed to the development and it's great to see the visitor attraction now opening to the public.

"We believe that the visitor centre, and its facilities, will put the mills back at the heart of the community."