Sunny Bank Mills

In 1820, a group of local clothiers set up a co-operative venture in Farsley to share the cost of rent.[1] They built a woollen scribbling and fulling mill, known as The Farsley Club Mill.[5] By 1839, the mill was known as Sunny Bank Mills and run by the firm of Roberts, Ross & Co.[6][7] In 1842, the mill was one of several local mills shut down temporarily by rioters.[8] In 1881, the mill was sold to Edwin Woodhouse for £9,540, comprising two mills, weaving sheds, outbuildings, several houses, three reservoirs and land.[9] 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.[10] Woodhouse introduced fine worsted cloth manufacture and very quickly established the factory as a high-quality producer.[10] By 1900, it was one of the biggest textile manufacturers in Leeds, producing fine cloth recognised globally for its quality.[11] Woodhouse also became a town councillor and Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1905.[10]

In 1912, a large mill building was constructed.[12] It was later used as a location for British TV series Heartbeat and Emmerdale.[12]

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.[3] William Gaunt had become a multi-millionaire but had lost a lot of money in the Great Depression.[3] 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.[3] After WWII, the family moved into supplying high-quality cloth to the Middle East.[1]

In 2008, the Gaunt family sold the textile business but kept the mill buildings.[1] Cousins William and John Gaunt formed Edwin Woodhouse to run the mill.[13] 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.[1] Ten historic looms were sourced from Dewsbury, and became eight working looms available for use by the general public.[1] The 1912 mill building was restored and a new light roof was installed.[13]

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.[11] In 2020, "Project Boilerhouse" was launched to develop further areas of the 10 acres of land.[1] The Weavers' Yard project was completed in November 2020 by CBM Construction and KPP architects.[12] The oldest buildings on the site, dating to 1829, were restored[12] and five-thousand square feet of green space was created.[12]

In 2022 the mills served as the filming location for series 8 of The Great British Sewing Bee.[14]

The archive is housed in a 3,000 sq ft old warping shed; as of 2017, it is currently being catalogued, preserved and developed.[11] As of 2020, the archive is open to members of the public one day a week.[1] The business records provide information about who worked at the mill and their occupations.[1] The archive was awarded Archive Community Accreditation by West Yorkshire Archive Service in January 2021.[4] A highlight is the collection of Guard books: reference books detailing cloth production from 1829 till 2008 by year and season, with order references.[15]

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.[15][16]

In addition to artist studios and artist residency spaces, there are several exhibition venues at the Mills.[5] Exhibitions of work for sale in the gallery and shop space last around six weeks.[17] There is an exhibition of art students' work yearly.[5] The gallery is part of the national "Own Art" scheme.[18] It is also a member of the "Donut Project", aimed at encouraging culture in Leeds' suburbs.[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.[5]

53.814°N 1.670°W / 53.814; -1.670