17-07-2025
Archaeology Scotland and volunteers investigate lost North Lanarkshire community
The New Orbiston community was established in 1825 by two men inspired by Robert Owen's success in creating a better system of living and working at the New Lanark mill site.
Archaeology Scotland, local volunteers and school pupils have been investigating the lost community of New Orbiston in North Lanarkshire in a first in British archaeology.
The New Orbiston community was established in 1825 by two men inspired by Robert Owen's success in creating a better system of living and working at the New Lanark mill site.
Abraham Combe and Archibald Hamilton of Dalzell, with the support of Owen, took up the mission of creating a new community based on the principals of co-operation developed at New Lanark.
A parcel of picturesque land along the South Calder River was purchased was purchased from Archibald Hamilton's father. There had been a settlement in the area named 'Orbistoun' since at least the 16th century which had developed into the Orbiston Estate in the 18th century and was owned by the Douglas family.
The land purchased by the Orbiston community lay to the north of the Orbiston Estate.
Construction of 'Liberty Hall' the large accommodation block which housed the apartments began in 1825 and by the following year around 250 people had moved to call Orbiston their home.
However, fallings out over the co-operative system and materials and tokens being used instead of monetary wages, Abrahm Combe's illness and financial trouble contributed to the failure of the project by 1828.
The archaeological team have started by surveying the sites associated with the community, the manufactory and also the Holm Forge, where buildings are hidden in the undergrowth.
These sites have not been surveyed before and it is important they are added to the National Monuments Record so they, and the story of New Orbiston, can be passed onto future generations.
The survey was followed by a small-scale evaluation dig at the manufactory in July this year to determine the survival of any archaeological features and to offer a glimpse into the use, phasing and chronology of the building.
The excavation revealed the interior wall faces of the main building and detail on the construction methods used in the small annex on the northern side of the building.
These sites have never been looked at before by archaeologists and the involvement of the local community in researching, surveying, excavating and telling this story is of vital importance.
The Orbiston community did not last long but it set out to achieve a better and fairer set of working and living conditions for all who were part of it.
Keiran Manchip, Project Officer, said: 'We are really happy with our excavation at the manufactory site of the Orbiston community (1825-28).
'This site has offered us an exciting glimpse into the material culture and architecture of a Utopian community which set out to make a better, fairer and more equal society.
'This movement formed during a time of economic and social challenges that mirror challenges we face today, such as technological advances which bring changes to our working lives, by exploring the archaeology of this community we can better understand how workers tried to challenge these developments.
'This lost story has been uncovered through a programme of surveys and excavations by our team and we'd like to say a massive thank you to the volunteers from across Lanarkshire and the Our Space group and Phoenix Futures for getting involved and creating such a fun environment on-site.'
