They were shocked to find old railway lines holding up the ceiling at Lotherton Hall in what has been hailed one of the earliest and most novel way of recycling.

Work was temporarily halted while historians from the former stately home checked out the system of sleepers used instead of roof beams.
The room, now used as a cinema, had been a Still Room where preserves and jams were kept when Lotherton was a private house.

At that time the Gascoigne family, who lived there, had a private railway which ran from Garforth to Aberford, transporting coal and passengers.

Curator Adam White believes the line was pulled up and recycled for use as beams when the railway closed in the 1920s.

He told the YEP: "It seems they pulled up the track and reused it to support floors. It's very strong stuff and it doesn't rot. I've never come across anything like it before."

The family were keen on recycling years before anyone had even heard of the word.

It used to be said that if you looked at one of the bedroom windows at a certain angle you could see the words Drink Cadbury's Cocoa on them.
The window had been salvaged from a shop and the words could be seen where an advertisement transfer had been removed.

The old cinema is being refurbished ready for the Chinese Treasures Exhibition which opens on June 7 and runs until December 31.
Costumes and textiles, sculpture, ceramics, ivories and jades from the city's Chinese and Chinoiserie collections will be on display during the exhibition.

A series of events, from kite-making and calligraphy to storytelling and puppet performances will also take place, at Lotherton and at Leeds Central Library.

Leeds's own Chinese community have been closely involved in the project and have lent many items, as have local collectors. It is part of the China in Yorkshire regional arts and cultural festival.
Go to www.chinainyorkshire .org.uk for more information.