Most people look upon the Yorkshire Dales as a purely rural area distant from the industry of Yorkshire’s industrial towns and cities – but, in fact, they have a long history of manufacturing.

And an ancient Wensleydale mill has just been given an £80,000 grant to teach young children about that industrial past.

The 230-year-old Gayle Mill is a fully restored Victorian woodworking mill and a popular attraction for visitors to the Dales. It is also a unique educational resource for children and adults to learn about science and engineering and to find out about the social and industrial heritage of the area.

Now thanks to a substantial grant of £80,000 from the Yorkshire Dales LEADER programme, Gayle Mill will be passing on more of its fascinating secrets to children from local schools.

The grant will enable Gayle Mill to employ a dedicated Heritage Education and Training Coordinator for at least three year and create educational materials, provide presentations in schools and deliver a practical learning experience at the mill.

William Lambert, Chairman of Gayle Mill Trust, said: “This will reinforce children’s, their teachers and parents’ knowledge of our industrial past. It is envisaged that this will further stimulate their enthusiasm for local heritage, including sustainable development and the use of renewable technologies”.

Gayle Mill Trust was one of ten projects to receive a grant in the last round of funding from the LEADER programme this September. LEADER aims to improve life in rural areas of the Yorkshire Dales, by supporting locally driven projects and initiatives. The Gayle Mill project fits with a LEADER priority area which is to conserve and upgrade our rural heritage.

To find out more about the LEADER programme in the Yorkshire Dales please contact Rima Berry, the Yorkshire Dales LEADER Coordinator, at the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Tel. 015242 51002.