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From Dogstooth to Birdseye. What makes a cudbear? How can a twill thrill? Discover the intriguing designs involved in the making of Woodhouse’s fine worsted cloth created at Sunny Bank Mills.
Visit Sunny Bank Mills, in Farsley, from Friday to Sunday, September 8 to 10, for Heritage Open Days 2023.
Dating from 1829, Sunny Bank Mills was an important woollen and worsted mill.
Today, it is an inspirational and creative space for more than 100 independent businesses, a cultural destination with a contemporary art gallery and studio artist community, and a heritage site of national importance with its own textile Archive.
Drop into the Archive. The unique collection at Sunny Bank Mills Archive will be open, containing a complete record of cloth samples woven at the mills since the 1880s.
In an exploration into the Heritage Open Days 2023 theme of Creativity Unwrapped, the Archive will showcase the skill of the designer from brief to catwalk.Â
On Saturday, artist Jane Walkley will be speaking about how she uses the Archive as inspiration for her artwork. Tickets for this event are £10.
Book a tour. The expert guides will take you around the mills, show you secret spaces and reveal hidden stories of the place and people who worked there. Tours last one hour.
Go virtual. You can explore this unique collection through our exciting virtual tour of the site and a 360-degree experience of the Archive and collection via the website.
Entertain the children. Take the family on a creative trail around the mills. Explore and learn as you go.
For the art lovers. You can visit the Art Gallery with its latest exhibition, Definitions of Drawing II and also see there weaver David Fox’s exhibition inspired by the Mills’ extensive textile Archive. Head to Spinning Mill Loft for Mel Davies’ Flight of Fancy, and at the same time drop in on the mills’ artists and makers (Saturday and Sunday) as part of Open Studios.Â
The Gallery Tearoom will be serving homemade cakes and refreshments, you can buy beautiful hand-crafted gifts in the Gallery shop and browse gorgeous artworks in the Gallery.
Many of the Mills’ independent businesses will also be open over the weekend, as well as these popular food and drink outlets – Amity Brewing Co, Farsley Fire & Smoke, Grumpy’s, Mill Kitchen, Saint Jude and Test Bar. Anahata Yoga has a special open weekend with all classes free. Booking essential via their website.
There’s something for the whole family. Free parking. Free entry to the Mills, Archive, Gallery and Open Studios. Booking for tours is essential. For more information visit www.sunnybankmills.co.uk.
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