From Mill Workers to Makers: Sunny Bank Mills Brings 200 Years of Everyday Stories to Life.
Discover the people, stories and creative spirit behind one of West Yorkshire’s most historic mills at Sunny Bank Mills’ Heritage Festival this month in Farsley, Leeds.
The doors will open on the past as Sunny Bank Mills Heritage Festival invites visitors to discover the everyday lives, stories and creativity that have shaped one of West Yorkshire’s most remarkable industrial sites.
Taking place from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026, the Festival will explore Sunny Bank Mills through the theme ‘Everyday Histories’, part of this year’s national Heritage Open Days programme.
From the hundreds of people who used to work at the Mills to the artists and makers who create there today, the weekend will reveal the human stories behind the historic buildings, showing how a place once at the heart of Yorkshire’s textile industry continues to be a vibrant centre for creativity and culture.
Founded in 1829, Sunny Bank Mills was once home to more than 900 workers, producing some of the finest woollen and worsted cloth in the world. Today, the Mills remain in the ownership of the Gaunt family, alongside a thriving community of artists, makers, businesses and cultural organisations.
Visitors will be able to explore this history through a special Everyday Histories exhibition in the Museum & Archive, where the Mills’ collection of objects, photographs, cloth samples and stories offers a glimpse into the working lives of the people who made the site what it is today.
There will also be opportunities to step inside previously unseen areas of the Mills on guided Heritage Tours, while a family-friendly Clocking-In Trail will encourage visitors to explore the site and discover six ‘Everyday History’ spots featuring archival photographs and stories.
The Festival isn’t only about looking back.
The weekend coincides with Leeds Open Studios, giving visitors the chance to meet almost 50 contemporary artists and makers working across Sunny Bank Mills’ Spinning Mill, Twisting and Red Lane Mill studios. For the first time, the Festival will also feature pop-up studios in the Main Yard, bringing together local artists and makers who normally work from home studios.
A new collaborative exhibition by Kim Coley and Mel Davies will also be on display in the atmospheric Spinning Mill Loft, while visitors can enjoy creative activities, refreshments, independent shops and further opportunities to explore the Mills’ unique mix of heritage, art and making.
Rachel Moaby, Sunny Bank Mills’ Heritage Director:
“Heritage Open Days and our Heritage Festival are always a highlight of Sunny Bank Mills’ cultural calendar, and this year we’re inviting visitors to really step into the everyday life of a textile mill – the people, sounds, skills and stories that have shaped this extraordinary place.
There’s so much to discover across the weekend, from funny and fascinating stories of working life in Farsley to unseen parts of the Mills and the collection. Visitors can get a glimpse behind the scenes of our National Lottery-funded Dyevolution project, discovering the secrets of natural and synthetic dyes, hearing about our latest research and seeing how our new dye garden is bringing this history to life.
We’re also delighted to be working with WOVEN to showcase the Calico dress, with free sewing activities and the chance to get hands-on with textile making alongside our expert weaver.
And there’s creativity everywhere you look. From the sights and sounds of a former working mill and the wonderful art in the Gallery’s Magic Show exhibition, to almost 50 resident artists and makers opening their studios and pop-up studios with local artists as part of Leeds Open Studios, there will be something new around every corner.
We’re really looking forward to welcoming curious visitors of all ages for a lively, activity-filled weekend. Whether you’re fascinated by industrial history, passionate about textiles, love art and making, or simply want to explore somewhere you’ve never seen before, the Heritage Festival is a chance to experience Sunny Bank Mills’ story for yourself and discover how its creative spirit continues to shape the place today.”
Sunny Bank Mills Heritage Festival takes place Friday 11 – Sunday 13 September 2026: 10am–4pm.
Open Studios, 12th and 13th September only.
Entry is free and no booking is required for the main Festival activities apart from the paid-for guided tours.
For more information about the Heritage Festival visit here.
Sunny Bank Mills is one of the most exciting and respected cultural and community hubs in the Yorkshire region. It is home to an acclaimed contemporary Art Gallery, a large artists’ studio community, a textile Museum & Archive, and many other creative independent businesses on site. This Living Mill of the North is situated in the heart of the thriving village of Farsley in West Leeds.
Photographs courtesy of Sunny Bank Mills unless otherwise credited.
