The Friends of Gayle Mill is a support organisation established in 2004 to offer financial and practical support to the Gayle Mill Trust. By any standard, Gayle Mill, set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, is a gem of Britain's industrial heritage. It is the oldest structurally unaltered cotton mill in existence and, from its very inception was the object of cutting-edge technology, later to include the replacement of its water wheel by a Thomson Double-Vortex turbine built by Williamson's of Kendal in 1878, and the installation of early electric generators to light the building and even some dwellings within the town. The 1925 generating system is still complete along with items of a much earlier date.

The mill was built in 1784-5 by Oswald and Thomas Routh and followed the standard Arkwright mill pattern in terms of its proportions and layout. For the first 25-30 years of its existence, Gayle Mill operated as a cotton spinning mill, and then for a short period spinning flax. Through much of the 19th Century, however, it spun wool for the local hand-knitting industry. In 1878 it was converted to a sawmill and operated continuously as such until 1988, still using the 1878 .machinery driven by the turbine. All the machinery in the mill dates from that time and is still in working order. The mill is a Grade II* listed building and, together with all its water-power system including the mill pond and leat, is registered as an ancient monument.

In 1997 the North East Civic Trust was approached by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to find a viable future for this nationally (even internationally) important mill. After many years of negotiations, that wish is now a reality. A trust has been established to manage the mill, and money has been pledged to preserve and renovate the structure and its equipment, and also to provide some modern equipment that will enable the mill to produce high-quality wood products and so fund itself. To support these activities, the Friends of Gayle Mill has been formed with the object of promoting the appreciation, support and improvement of Gayle Mill. Under their Constitution, Friends will:

• raise funds and invite and receive contributions by way of subscription donation and otherwise;
• appoint representatives to any other bodies with whom the Friends of Gayle Mill may be concerned, including the Gayle Mill Trust;
• engage in research, publishing, education, promotion and other charitable work for the furtherance of the above object;
• provide practical assistance in the welfare and public enjoyment of Gayle Mill by means of supervised help with care and maintenance, public and educational visits, and interpretation.

You can join us right now! But if you would like to learn more about the Friends, please contact our Secretary, Linda Butters, at this e-mail address:

e-mail:

Friends of Gayle Mill - Registered Charity no 1117562

Committee:

• Chair: Claire Lambert
• Secretary: Linda Butters
• Treasurer: Stan Roocroft
• Membership Secretary: Liz Burrage
• Merchandise: Denise Hartill
• Members: Peter Burrage, Roger Emmins, Ian King, Maureen Prince, Richard Ross, Mike Thomson