Stanley Mills | Perth | Scotland | United Kingdom

Stanley Mills

Sightseeing attraction | Perth | Scotland | United Kingdom

Historic cotton mills in Scotland

Stanley Mills is an impressive complex of water-powered cotton mills, situated at a picturesque bend of the River Tay near Perth, Scotland. The facility was built in the 1780s during the Industrial Revolution and utilized the power of the river for textile production for over two centuries. Today, Stanley Mills is one of the best-preserved examples of this era.

Interactive exhibits at Stanley Mills

The history of Stanley Mills is characterized by continuous adaptation to the changing demands of the textile industry. Originally constructed in the 1780s, the complex underwent several renovations and expansions to keep pace with technological advancements. Production was eventually halted in 1989.

Visitor center by the River Tay

Today, Stanley Mills houses an interactive visitor center that brings to life the stories of the people who worked there and the products they manufactured. Visitors can explore the original mill buildings and discover the various changes that were made over 200 years. The Bell Mill, one of the oldest surviving factories in the world, has remained largely unchanged and provides an authentic glimpse into early industrial architecture.

Industrial architecture of the mills

Interactive exhibits allow visitors to experience the lives of the predominantly female and child workforce. They can simulate the noise of the factory floor, learn how engineers utilized water power, and see the machines that transformed raw cotton into products exported from Scotland to the world.

History of textile production in Scotland

The location of Stanley Mills on the River Tay is not only historically significant, but also visually appealing. The surrounding nature invites leisurely walks where one can appreciate the impressive architecture of the mills and the beauty of the river.
Stanley Mills Perth

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
Stanley
PH1 4QE Perth

Map view

Reviews

401 Reviews

E M
12.08.2024

Really interesting place to visit, good value and staff very friendly
Ernesto Capaldi
27.07.2024

Interesting place.
Sue Ruddick
16.07.2024

Large area to explore. The mill itself was quite interesting showing the mill work thro the years. Diff levels to look at and listen to past mill workers talking about their working life there. After we came out we walked to the river then came back and sat and had a picnic on a seating area next to car park
Katie F
03.07.2024

Lovely place to visit, friendly staff.
Information
19.06.2024

Worth a visit.
Dominic Murphy
30.05.2024

Lovely quiet historic environment place next to the mighty River tay .Free for English heritage holders
Martin Holt
30.05.2024

Superb place to visit for the day. Plenty to do and see, good for the kids.
Gary Wilson
18.05.2024

Great day out .you get to see how people in Scotland worked in a cotton mill .woman and children worked from the age of 9 from 5am in the morning to 7 pm .a very hard life
Tom Anstruther
15.04.2024

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. There are some nice interactive games, pictures of its hey day, and archeology. Some of the exhibition floors are how they would have been hundreds of years ago and given a good perspective of how it would have been. I have marked it down a star purely because it has the potential to be even better.
Marselle Delicata
10.11.2023

Pity we visited the Mills during closed season, however we still learned a lot and the whole place is enchanting
Steven Aitchison
23.09.2023

Lots of interesting history
Eileen Siswick
17.09.2023

Well worth a visit
Nicholas Cunningham
30.08.2023

A first class facility.
Robin Waddell
11.08.2023

Somewhat dated traditional hotel but friendly staff, comfy beds and good food
Linda van den Berg
08.08.2023

Worth a visit to learn about local history!
Duncan Swanston
06.08.2023

Very interesting and good interactive models which increased understanding of machines and how they were powered
Andrew Marchant
04.08.2023

Nice place to visit with really welcoming and positive staff. Good to learn about cotton production and imagine life in the 1800s/ early 1900s. Some interactive stuff for kids (and adults). Decent toilets, only basic refreshments.
Alan Murray
03.08.2023

Fantastic local history museum. Staff are great - knowledgeable, friendly, helpful. Can even dress up 👍🏼.
Joseph Kincaid
12.07.2023

The mill is a short drive away from the A9, through the village of Stanley down by the River Tay. It’s a big river here so easy to understand why it was built here. Plenty of parking and a short walk to the museum. All the buildings beside the parking are converted mill buildings with flats inside. So the museum is only a small part of the whole site but still worth a walk all round. Inside the museum there are several halls over three floors each with a different function. There are interpretations of the history and all the processes used at the site along with some original machinery. There was an exhibition of Scottish rock carvings on the top floor, with very good pictures of the best sites and descriptions of these mysterious markings. It must have been a huge mechanical feat to power all the machines in the place. Refreshments available together with a small shop.
Shonagh Castle
10.07.2023

Very interesting and quiet site but made it better
Bruce Chisholm
15.03.2018

Excellent experience - to see and learn how the mill operated centuries ago. I wouldn’t have liked to work there!
Kayleigh Rankin
29.06.2023

One of my favourite places ❤️ holds my heart
Kathy Heath
23.06.2023

Very interesting. Beautiful location. Walks and picnic tablets.

 

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