Rural funding provides grist to educational mill in Dales

And a scheme to highlight the 230-year-old mill's rich industrial past has been given a major boost with an 80,000 grant.

The historic building in Wensleydale is already a hugely popular educational resource letting children and adults learn about science and engineering and find out more about the area's social and industrial heritage.

Now, the cash from the Yorkshire Dales Leader programme, part of the EU's "Liaison Entre Actions de Dveloppement de l'conomie Rurale" scheme, will ensure more of fascinating history is passed on to local school children.

Gayle Mill Trust chairman William Lambert said: "School visits will be hosted at Gayle Mill and this will showcase practical demonstrations, which will reinforce children's, their teachers' and parents' knowledge of our industrial past.

"It is envisaged that this will further stimulate their enthusiasm for local heritage, including sustainable development and the use of renewable technologies," he added.

The grant will let Gayle Mill to employ a dedicated heritage education and training co-ordinator for at least three years.