Discover Darvel

Irvine Valley Lace Festival · 7–10 October 2026

150 years
woven into
the Valley.

In 1876 Alexander Morton introduced the power loom, transforming Darvel, Newmilns and Galston into a centre of textile excellence.

Explore the story ↓
Historic Darvel power loom and the people who worked it
A Darvel power loom
01

1876–2026

Industry.
Art.
Resilience.

At its height, the Valley’s lace industry supported around forty factories.

The arrival of powered machinery changed work, households and the shape of the towns. Skilled hands remained essential, but production moved into a new industrial age.

Two working mills continue that tradition today. The anniversary is not only about machines: it is about generations of workers, designers, families and communities.

7–10 Oct

Lace exhibitions

Darvel Town Hall, Morton Hall in Newmilns and Galston Town Hall.

8–9 Oct

Behind the scenes

Visits to MYB Textiles and Haddow, Aird & Crerar, with advance booking essential.

10 Oct

Stories and landscape

The Lace Trail Walk followed by Warp & Weft at Darvel Town Hall.

One Valley · Three towns

A shared
industrial
inheritance.

Darvel, Newmilns and Galston each hold a different part of the story.

The festival brings historic objects, lace collections, mill visits, walking and conversation together. It also looks beyond the looms to the international connections made by Valley workers.

Book Warp & Weft ↗

About this story

A once-in-a-century milestone.

Festival details first published in The Darvel Bulletin, Issue 31, Autumn 2026.