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Jobs boost hope for historic Farsley mill site
Farsley's Sunny Bank Mills is set to have new life breathed into it to create hundreds of jobs.
Textile production was halted at the Mills, two years ago but now it is set to be transformed into a modern 21st century business centre.
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The YEP understands that the renovation of the mills into a business centre is expected to create between 700 and 800 jobs.
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Co-director William Gaunt said: "These mills have been the focal point of Farsley for more than 150 years. They must remain so. Our aim is to create a modern environment in which businesses and employees alike can be inspired.
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"This is a long-term project. We are not rushing into anything and we are taking great care to get this restoration absolutely right.
Ultimately, we hope that between 700 and 800 jobs will be created here, matching the mills in their hey-day".
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The mill, which was originally opened in 1829, by the ancestors of the site's current directors William and John Gaunt, boasts a rich textile history.
In 1850, 21 years after the site became active, its owners bought land at nearby Sunny Bank and renamed it.
Shortly afterwards, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Edwin Woodhouse bought the mills and named them after himself.
The site continued to develop and was bought by the colourful entrepreneur William C Gaunt, the great grandfather of its present directors.
The decline of the textile industry had seen the imposing mill being used by Yorkshire Television as filming and production studios for Emmerdale and Heartbeat.
Mr Gaunt added: "It was desperately sad to stop textile production here.
"Even though we made some of the finest quality wool cloth in the world, it was just not economically viable to continue.
"We are intensely aware of the history of this site and this spurs us on to create something fitting and durable, which both honours its heritage and secures its future.
"This is a challenge, certainly, but not a burden."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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