CELEBRATING
150 YEARS OF LACE
THE IRVINE VALLEY LACE FESTIVAL
7-10 OCTOBER 2026
In 1876, Alexander Morton introduced the power loom to our valley, transforming Darvel, Newmilns and Galston into a global heartbeat of textile excellence.
150 years later, we celebrate the resilience, art, and innovation of an industry that once boasted 40 factories and continues today through our two remaining mills.
Join us for a landmark four-day celebration of our heritage.
While we celebrate 150 years of the power loom this October, the Irvine Valley's transformation truly began right here in Newmilns.
In 1838, our own Joseph Hood ignited an industrial revolution by introducing the first Jacquard machine. By utilising revolutionary punched cards to automate complex patterns, Hood laid the foundation for the craftsmanship and global reputation that would define our valley for generations.
A Living Legacy
From the earliest automated patterns to the height of the industrial era, the story of the Irvine Valley is one of remarkable global influence, paired with a quiet resilience through periods of decline.
Today, that proud heritage lives on through our two remaining mills. MYB Textiles, the world’s last producer of Nottingham Lace, continues to craft intricate designs steeped in tradition, while Haddow, Aird & Crerar have expertly evolved their historic looms to create world-class modern screen cloth.
Together, they ensure that although the industry has transformed, the skill, innovation, and enduring spirit of the Irvine Valley weavers remain a vibrant and living part of our community.
For more information, download our Heritage App
here:
A Historic Collaboration
In a historic collaboration, Newmilns is proud to partner with our neighbours in Darvel and Galston to launch the first-ever Irvine Valley Lace Festival, uniting our 'Three Towns' to celebrate a shared legacy that the world.
The three groups organising this event are:
- Discover Darvel
- Newmilns Regeneration Association
- Galston Trust
YOUR FESTIVAL ITINERARY
WEDNESDAY 7th OCT – SATURDAY 10th OCT:
The Lace Exhibitions | Darvel Town Hall, Morton Hall Newmilns, and Galston Town Hall Explore historical artifacts, exquisite lace collections, and a breathtaking scrim painting commissioned by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
THURSDAY 8th OCT:
Behind the Scenes: MYB Textiles
A rare opportunity to see the world-renowned surviving looms in action. (Pre-booking is essential as there are limited spaces.)
FRIDAY 9th OCT:
Behind the Scenes: Haddow, Aird & Crerar
Discover the craftsmanship inside one of our two remaining lace factories. (Pre-booking is essential as there are limited spaces.)
SATURDAY 10th OCT:
The Lace Trail Walk (10.30 am)
A guided journey through the Irvine Valley landscape, winding from Darvel through to Galston.
SATURDAY 10th OCT:
The Warp & The Weft: An Evening of Conversation (7:30 pm)
Join celebrated broadcaster Billy Kay at Darvel Town Hall for a poignant night of stories and reflections on the human legacy of the looms.
BEYOND THE LOOMS
Throughout the festival, use the Newmilns Heritage App to discover our Lace Murals and the Alexander Fleming mural, who famously discovered penicillin in 1928 in Darvel and the incredible global links of our lace workers in the Irvine Valley - did you know they helped found football clubs in Gothenburg and Barcelona?
You can download a copy of the Newmilns Heritage App here:
TICKETS & INFORMATION
Don’t miss this once-in-a-century milestone. Make a day of it and enjoy a warm welcome at our local coffee shops and pubs! More information is available on our events page:
CONTACTS
Darvel: w. discoverdarvel.com e.info@discoverdarvel.com
Newmilns: w. lovenewmilns.org e.hello@lovenewmilns.org
Galston: w. galstontrust.co.uk e.jamie.davidson@jcca.co.uk
Get involved
Share your photos with the hashtag #LoveNewmilns
Share your photos of the lace industry with us or have them featured in the forthcoming exhibitions either on our Facebook page:-
or by emailing them to:-
We would love to see as many as possible, painting a picture of the lace industry in the valley towns for the future generations to look back on in years to come.
