Robert Owen

Born in Newtown, Owen was Britain's first "Socialist" and a leading figure in the Industrial Revolution

Born:

1771

Place of Birth:

Newtown

Biography:

Find out more about the Newtown man who brought Socialism to Britain in this special article written by the curator of the town's Robert Owen Memorial Museum John Davidson.

"Robert Owen, Britain's first Socialist, was born in Newtown in 1771, over a saddler's shop in Broad Street. Robert was a bright and athletic child. At the age of ten, he insisted on leaving home, and was apprenticed to a drapers in Stamford.

After five years, Robert moved to a drapers in Manchester, and later switched to cotton spinning. At just 21, he was manager of a new, steam-powered mill with 500 employees.

Later, he formed a partnership to build new mills in Manchester. In 1799, the partnership bought the extensive cotton mills and workers village at New Lanark, with Owen as manager.

Owen did much to improve the working and living conditions there, and found that it paid. He built fine schools, including the first infants school and adult evening classes.

He published his ideas on education in "A New View of Society", which was widely read. He promoted a Factory Bill to improve working conditions generally, but its provisions were much diluted.

Co-operative Movement
When peace came in 1815, there was considerable unemployment. Owen proposed building 'Villages of Co-operation' for the unemployed, but the cost was prohibitive.

Owen went on to advocate co-operative living for all, and in 1824 he purchased the Indiana town of New Harmony for a community experiment. It failed: the habit of private enterprise was too ingrown.

Returning to England, Owen found that many small co-operative businesses had sprung up. He opened Labour Exchanges to facilitate trade between them.

In 1834, he headed the short-lived Grand National Consolidated Trades Union, which collapsed following the conviction of the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

The Owenites founded a major community at Queenwood in Hampshire in 1844, but this failed due to over-lavish building.

Owen returned to Newtown in 1858 to die. Some of his ideas live on in the Co-operative Movement."

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Robert Owen's connection with Sir Pryce-Jones...

Newtown town guide... section.

your comments

David A. Owen Bolton
As a grandson of the Rev G Vale Owen, I question the assertation that he was descended from Robert Owen, the socialist.I have traced his ancestors back to 1662 and find no such connection.
Wed Apr 2 09:51:03 2008

Lionel Owen, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
I remember Newtown well from my days as an evacuee near Rhayader during the second world war. Later I became a keen cyclist and used to ride regularly from my home in Liverpool to visit my foster mother in Rhayader, passing through Newtown and the Phillips Cycle factory, now no more I hear. My friend and I didn't like Phillips bikes so we used to make rude noises as we passed!!My main reason for writing is to refer to Robert Owen's descendant, Rev.George Vale Owen, a vicar in Orford, Lancs. In 1920-21 Lord Northcliffe serialised in The Weekly Despatch a series of spiritual writings of Owen's that in 1922 became four books that are still in publication. The serialisation took the entire country by storm and the Rev. Owen became a celebrity. Copies of the books can be obtained from The Greater World Association. They contain much fascinating information and some remarkable insights into for instance, dark matter, which had not even been heard of in the 1920's!
Mon Dec 3 08:27:23 2007

Thea Lennon Oxfordshire
Robert Owen was a miracle maker i reckon he was a genius!!!
Wed Nov 14 09:11:51 2007

R. Williams Wigtownshire, Scotland
Having visited New Lanark Mills last autumn,what impressed me most,was the light and spacious classrooms in the school and that within those classrooms, children were nurtured and their burdens lifted for a few hours each day.
Mon Apr 9 13:42:30 2007

Peter Thompson
The BBC programe on RO on Wednesday night was a brilliant piece of TV well worth repeating on BBC 1 national.Congratulations to all concerned.More programmes of this quality please.
Fri Dec 8 20:20:36 2006

amy bennett from llanidloes
hiya everyone in llani.
Tue Oct 3 09:59:05 2006

John Wyer
Interesting article. Pity the business people and large corporations of today do not follow this man's noble and unselfish ideals, it's all about profit and money these days not quality of life for all. Globalisation=exploitation of the many by the few!
Fri Sep 1 13:49:07 2006

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