Legacy of Newtown born reformer Robert Owen lives on 250 years after his birth

A wreath was placed at the statue of the great social reformer earlier in the week and a new oil painting of the man who is remembered as the father of socialism was presented to the Robert Owen Museum on Friday.

The painting was lovingly created by local artist Brian Jones as a dedication to the town's most famous son whose statue and grave have been lit up in lights to mark the week marking 250 years since his birth.

Despite living much of his life away from Newtown, his legacy can be found across the town to this day with the Treowen estate named in Robert Owen's honour in the 1960s.

The Robert Owen Museum and Robert Owen Reading Rooms both stand on Broad Street where Robert Owen was born in 1771 and died in 1858.

David Smith of Co-op & Mutuals Wales, Mayor David Selby, and Rex Shayler were joined by a representative of Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd at the presentation of a wreath at the statue of Robert Owen. Picture by Andy Newham.

Near his tombstone is a dedication to prominent Chartist, Thomas Powell of Welshpool, a friend of Robert Owen's and who is described as his disciple in the inscription.

Like Robert Owen, Thomas Powell would also fight for improved conditions and rights for workers and, after being jailed for 12 months in 1839 following the Llanidloes Riots, spent much of his life far from home.

For Robert Owen his fight for a working utopia led him to Manchester, Scotland and the USA during a lifetime where he had met with Russian royalty and American presidents.

Robert Owen Memorial Museum. Picture by Jaggery/Geograph.

Rex Shayler, chairman of the Robert Owen Museum, said much of what we taken for granted today is testament to the legacy of Robert Owen.

He said: "Sitting at home in 2021 good quality food on the table, a wide range of entertainment and education at our disposal, excellent health care and a freedom of choice. We have leisure, open air and open spaces to enjoy and a choice in what we do.

"Robert Owen was born in 1771 into a caring family, but health and education had to be paid for. The workers in the vast emerging cotton industries had little or no time given to them for a life outside the walls of the dusty noisy Mills. Work, home, poor quality food, sleep and back to work, the never ending cycle to just stay alive.

"Although initially the young Robert was immersed in the wealth generated by these industries he soon came to realise the appalling conditions the men, women and children under 10 years of age worked and lived in.

St Mary's Church grounds with Robert Owen's grave and the dedication to Thomas Powell. Picture by Jaggery/Geograph.

"Once he had flown the nest in Newtown he climbed the ladder quickly to obtain part ownership in the Mills of his chosen industry, not only was he a keen businessman but he was a skilful engineer, he modified and designed machines to improve not only their efficiency but greatly improve their safety record, he also put an end to children working under 10 years of age, a bitter blow to some industrialists of the time.

"He established himself in New Lanark where his ideals for a utopian society took shape.

"This returns me to my opening paragraph. He greatly improved the living conditions by upgrading their houses, he organised local food growers to sell at the mill with profits going back into the community, now the workers enjoyed quality food on their tables, he built a schoolroom with teachers to educate the children, a health care program was developed so no worker would be out of pocket due to ill health, sound familiar?

"You want a legacy, Oh yes, he had many problems along the way but don't forget, what we have today started 250 years ago."

Memorial plaque for Robert Owen. Picture by MJ Richardson/Geograph.