Robert Owen (1771-1858)

Robert went to school from the age of 4 years old in Newtown Hall the home of Sir John Pryce. He became a scholar and teacher’s assistant at the age of 7 years old. He was an avid reader and an all rounder at sports, dance and music.

Newtown was a small market and co-operative farming community of 900 people. Nine years before Robert Owen was born there were voluntary community groups, there was one in particular called the ‘Newtown First Community Benefit Society’ which was established in 1762, which may have influenced his ideas. Members subscribed to receive sickness benefits, a pension at 60 years old and a free funeral. There are newspaper articles to verify this first benefit society existed for over 120 years and there were representatives from this society that attended Robert Owen’s funeral in November 1858.

At the age of eight years old Robert Owen after school assisted in the Tilsley sister’s Draper’s Shop near the Bears Head Hotel, and Robert became a draper’s apprentice at nine years old. Then at the age of ten, Robert asked his mother and father whether he could continue his apprenticeship in the city of London and live with his older brother William. Where he worked briefly, before moving on to Stamford in Lincolnshire. It was then in Manchester Owen’s knowledge of the trade and his way with people led him to the burgeoning cotton industry. He became the manager of one of Manchester’s largest mills at the age of 21 and at 23 he was a managing partner in the Chorlton Twist Company.

Despite his personal success he was appalled by the working conditions of children working in these mills. He was elected to the Manchester Literary and Philosophical  Society, which discussed and debated cutting edge social changes.

Still in his twenties at the height of the industrial success he and his partners bought the New Lanark Mills just outside Glasgow from David Dale. It was in September 1799 Owen married Dale’s daughter Caroline.

Here on the Clyde at New Lanark Owen embarked on a great philosophical commercial experiment with the creation of a community with the interest of the workers he set about to improve their working and living conditions. Owen believed that if the children had good food and a healthier environment and above all good education led to self improvement and the road to happiness.

In 1825 Robert Owen had sold New Lanark Mills and it was from here he ventured to America where he attempted to develop a utopian community and christened this small town of 900 people New Harmony. Even though this experiment failed this community today and together with New Lanark which became a UNESCO World Heritage Centre are living legacies to a great man and eternal cooperator.

In Robert Owen autobiography which he wrote in 1857, is full of affection of his birthplace  Newtown Powys, as he loved the freedom of the open countryside and nature which help develop his visionary ideas at a very young age.

In November 1858, Robert Owen wish was to be buried by his parents at St Mary’s Church in Newtown. He travelled to Newtown to stay in the Bears Head Hotel and also visited Liverpool later for a conference but feeling quite ill he returned to Newtown and passed away on the 17^th November with his eldest son also called Robert at his side. It was on the 22^nd November his funeral took place at St David’s Church and he was buried at St Mary’s churchyard alongside his parents Robert & Anne Owen.

Please visit the Robert Owen Memorial Museum which informs you of his lifelong crusade Social Reforms and Education for all, which is located on the Cross, Broad Street Newtown. www.robertowenmuseum.co.uk

More information available from www.heritagehub4midwales.co.uk

The Birthplace Heritage Plaque of Robert Owen was funded by Newtown Local History Group