{{Short description|British Cultural Centre}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=March 2022}} alt=Photograph showing the entrance to the gallery in the Sunny Bank Mills complex, a textile mill dating to the early 19th century, in Farsley, Leeds.|thumb|Sunny Bank Mills Gallery entrance in 2017 '''Sunny Bank Mills''' is a former textile mill, which specialised in worsted cloth, set in 10 acres of land located on Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, England.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=The remarkable family story behind this landmark Yorkshire mill that is still weaving a yarn|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/the-remarkable-family-story-behind-this-landmark-yorkshire-mill-that-is-still-weaving-a-yarn-2998531|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Yorkshire Post}}</ref> Since 2010, it has been developed as a business and artistic community, with an exhibitions gallery selling fine art by local artists; a textile and local history archive; shops, cafés, artist studios; as well as outdoor spaces.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=History - Sunny Bank Mills {{!}} Art Gallery & Business Space in Leeds|url=https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/our-story/history/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Sunny Bank Mills|language=en-GB}}</ref> It is run by the Gaunt family who took ownership in 1943.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |title=Commercial Romance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19431113/267/0008 |journal=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |volume=Saturday 13 November 1943 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> The archive was awarded Archive Community Accreditation by West Yorkshire Archive Service in January 2021.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|date=2021-01-15|title=Archive Community Accreditation|url=https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/our-story/blog/archive-community-accreditation/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Sunny Bank Mills|language=en-GB}}</ref>
== History == In 1820, a group of local clothiers set up a co-operative venture in Farsley to share the cost of rent.<ref name=":1" /> They built a woollen scribbling and fulling mill, known as The Farsley Club Mill.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|title=How lockdown and a collapsed capital of cultural bid is not stopping local artists celebrating city's creativity|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/historic-sunny-bank-mill-is-showcasing-the-artists-and-creative-makers-of-the-future-in-the-heart-of-farsley-3181508|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Yorkshire Evening Post}}</ref> By 1839, the mill was known as Sunny Bank Mills and run by the firm of Roberts, Ross & Co.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Obituary of Joseph Ross, cloth manufacturer|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000076/18390413/031/0008|journal=Leeds Mercury|volume=Saturday 13 April 1839|via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Obituary of Jonathan Marshall, cloth manufacturer|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000076/18440224/033/0008|journal=Leeds Mercury|volume=Saturday 24 February 1844|via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> In 1842, the mill was one of several local mills shut down temporarily by rioters.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Farsley|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000155/18420825/011/0003|journal=Bradford Observer|volume=Thursday 25 August 1842|via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> In 1881, the mill was sold to Edwin Woodhouse for £9,540, comprising two mills, weaving sheds, outbuildings, several houses, three reservoirs and land.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Local and District News |journal=Huddersfield Chronicle |volume=Monday 21 November 1881 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> Woodhouse had worked his way up as an apprentice to a woollen manufacturer, and later a travelling salesman, starting his own business in Huddersfield and then moving to Leeds in 1871; after purchasing Sunny Bank Mills he set up a limited company E. Woodhouse and Co.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |title=Death of Mr E. Woodhouse |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000748/19231120/026/0003 |journal=Leeds Mercury |volume=Tuesday 20 November 1923 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> Woodhouse introduced fine worsted cloth manufacture and very quickly established the factory as a high-quality producer.<ref name=":10" /> By 1900, it was one of the biggest textile manufacturers in Leeds, producing fine cloth recognised globally for its quality.<ref name=":7">{{cite web|title='˜Significant' textile collection secured for the future|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/significant-textile-collection-secured-future-840906|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Yorkshire Post}}</ref> Woodhouse also became a town councillor and Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1905.<ref name=":10" />
In 1912, a large mill building was constructed.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=£2m Weavers' Yard project part of regeneration of Sunny Bank Mills|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/ps2m-weavers-yard-project-part-of-regeneration-of-sunny-bank-mills-3036429|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Yorkshire Post}}</ref> It was later used as a location for British TV series ''Heartbeat'' and ''Emmerdale''.<ref name=":3" />
In November 1943, Derek Alfred Gaunt, younger son of William Clifford Gaunt, acquired the Ordinary shares of E. Woodhouse and Co. and took over Sunny Bank with controlling interest.<ref name=":9" /> William Gaunt had become a multi-millionaire but had lost a lot of money in the Great Depression.<ref name=":9" /> A holding company was formed to look after the shares surrendered by William and by 1943 there was enough money to settle William's debts and allow Derek to acquire Sunny Bank.<ref name=":9" /> After WWII, the family moved into supplying high-quality cloth to the Middle East.<ref name=":1" />
In 2008, the Gaunt family sold the textile business but kept the mill buildings.<ref name=":1" /> Cousins William and John Gaunt formed Edwin Woodhouse to run the mill.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|title=Mill complex set to be 'heartbeat' of the area|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/mill-complex-set-be-heartbeat-area-1922902|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Yorkshire Post}}</ref> The family then began an extensive restoration project which involved providing premises for a range of businesses - numbering over 70 and employing over 350 people, in 2020.<ref name=":1" /> Ten historic looms were sourced from Dewsbury, and became eight working looms available for use by the general public.<ref name=":1" /> The 1912 mill building was restored and a new light roof was installed.<ref name=":4" />
In 2017, a not-for-profit company was set up to safeguard the textile archive, overseeing the management, restoration, conservation and promotion of the archive.<ref name=":7" /> In 2020, "Project Boilerhouse" was launched to develop further areas of the 10 acres of land.<ref name=":1" /> The Weavers' Yard project was completed in November 2020 by CBM Construction and KPP architects.<ref name=":3" /> The oldest buildings on the site, dating to 1829, were restored<ref name=":3" /> and five-thousand square feet of green space was created.<ref name=":3" />
Since 2022 the mills have served as the new filming location for series 8 onwards of The Great British Sewing Bee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/tv/great-british-sewing-bee-2022-23923697|title=BBC's Sewing Bee series has changed locations for season 8|first=Megan|last=Nisbet|date=May 11, 2022|website=YorkshireLive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.countryfile.com/tv/where-is-the-great-british-sewing-bee-filmed|title=Where is The Great British Sewing Bee filmed?|first=Debbie|last=Graham|website=www.countryfile.com}}</ref>
== Archive == The archive is housed in a 3,000 sq ft old warping shed; as of 2017, it is currently being catalogued, preserved and developed.<ref name=":7" /> As of 2020, the archive is open to members of the public one day a week.<ref name=":1" /> The business records provide information about who worked at the mill and their occupations.<ref name=":1" /> The archive was awarded Archive Community Accreditation by West Yorkshire Archive Service in January 2021.<ref name=":6" /> A highlight is the collection of Guard books: reference books detailing cloth production from 1829 till 2008 by year and season, with order references.<ref name=":8">{{cite web|title='Threads of War: The Story of First World War Khaki' project at Sunny Bank Mills receives National Lottery Funding|url=https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2018/04/03/threads-of-war-the-story-of-first-world-war-khaki-project-at-sunny-bank-mills-receives-national-lottery-funding|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Bdaily Business News|language=en}}</ref>
A research and exhibition project in 2018, on the role of the mill and workers in World War One entitled 'Threads of War', was awarded £10,000 from the National Heritage Lottery Fund as well as attracting researchers from other local archives and reaching out to local primary schools.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{cite web|date=2015-12-22|title=Inspired by Archives|url=https://wyascatablogue.wordpress.com/2015/12/22/inspired-by-archives/|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Catablogue|language=en}}</ref>
== Gallery == In addition to artist studios and artist residency spaces, there are several exhibition venues at the Mills.<ref name=":5" /> Exhibitions of work for sale in the gallery and shop space last around six weeks.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=Sunny Bank Mills - Attraction - Pudsey - West Yorkshire {{!}} Welcome to Yorkshire |url=https://www.yorkshire.com/view/attractions/pudsey/sunny-bank-mills-2105290 |access-date=2022-02-13 |website=www.yorkshire.com}}</ref> There is an exhibition of art students' work yearly.<ref name=":5" /> The gallery is part of the national "Own Art" scheme.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sunny Bank Mills|url=https://www.ownart.org.uk/gallery/sunny-bank-mills/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Own Art}}</ref> It is also a member of the "Donut Project", aimed at encouraging culture in Leeds' suburbs.<ref name=":5" /> There are plans for an arts festival of Leeds' artists and a sculpture trail in 2023 as part of a city-wide celebration of culture.<ref name=":5" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
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Category:Textile mills in West Yorkshire