THE restoration of Farfield Mill was described as "the most important thing to happen to Sedbergh" for a century by a member of the chamber of trade, writes Miranda Norris.

Treasurer Chris Chambers and other traders visited the mill, which has undergone restoration and will open to the public before next Easter, to check on progress.

Farfield, which has been restored by the Sedbergh and District Buildings Preservation Trust, is the last of the five mills which once employed half the population of the town, manufacturing cloth.

Now artists' studios have been built where ceramist Bryan Trueman works and where he will be joined by two more ceramists, a jeweller, a knitwear designer and a wood sculptor, next January.

A furniture maker and artist have also expressed an interest in taking up studios.

On another level is a seminar room and an area for a heritage exhibition, while the lowest floor will house an exhibition on the history of textiles in the Dales and the Dover family, which ran Farfield for 100 years.

Visiting children will be able to dress up as mill workers and take part in practical workshops in weaving and spinning.

At river level, a weave designer will be restarting the looms and producing textiles for sale to the public.

Alongside the weaving area will be a small restaurant.

Some £215,000 of the £500,000 cost of the first phase of the restoration has been funded by the European Union and the North West Development Agency, underwritten with a loan from the Architectural Heritage Fund.

The remainder of the cash was raised by the Sedbergh and District Buildings Preservation Trust, which initiated the project and will manage the mill through its trading arm Sedbergh Enterprises.

Anyone interested in renting a studio should ring 015396-25265.