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Thousands of textile treasures preserved in new project at Helmshore Mills
Overview
A new database project called Cottoning On is cataloguing around 4,000 historical items stored for decades at Helmshore Mills Textile Museum in Lancashire. A team of 13 trained volunteers are reviewing the objects, which include spinning frames, weavers' tools, and pay tallies, to protect and preserve the region's industrial heritage for future generations.
Key points
- Around 4,000 items stored for decades at Helmshore Mills Textile Museum are being checked and added to a new database.
- The preservation effort is part of the Cottoning On project, aimed at protecting Lancashire's textile industry history.
- Stored items include spinning frames, weavers' tools, clocking-in machines, and personal objects with owners' initials etched into them.
- A team of 13 skilled volunteers is helping catalogue the collection, which was previously largely inaccessible to visitors.
- Local officials highlight that the project ensures the stories of Lancashire's textile history and workers continue to be shared with new generations.