Tributes paid to conservator who turned New Lanark from ghost village to world heritage site

The man who transformed a derelict Scottish ghost village into a world heritage site has died aged 73.

Tributes were last night paid to Jim Arnold, who was described as “the greatest conservator in Scotland”.

He spent half his life turning the almost abandoned mill village of New Lanark into a major tourist attraction.

Dr Arnold began his association with the area in 1974 when he joined a small group of people who believed that the 18th Century hamlet – regarded as the birthplace of the cooperative movement – was worth saving.

“The place was a complete tip when Jim first turned up,” said Ed Archer, a friend and historian.

“The man was a visionary. He was without doubt the most important figure in industrial heritage worldwide, not just in Scotland. It was Jim’s ability to absolutely see what was required that made all the difference.”

Dr Arnold became the director of the New Lanark Conservation Trust and over a period of 36 years helped the “ghost village” gradually come back to life.

It became one of the world’s major industrial heritage sites, a status officially confirmed by the United Nation’s cultural arm, UNESCO, in 2001.

Anne Hamilton, head of commerce and finance at the New Lanark Trust, said: “He was passionate about New Lanark and its people, and worked tirelessly over several decades to achieve the regeneration of our historic village.”

It now attracts about 300,000 visitors a year.