11th - 13th September 2026
Explore our atmospheric Mills which produced some of the finest cloth in the world! Drop in to our Museum & Archive for a special Everyday Histories exhibition, discover unseen areas of the Mills on a Heritage Tour, visit The Magic Show exhibition in the Gallery, explore our Artists’ Studios (Sat & Sun only) as part of Leeds Open Studios, including our pop-up studios in the Main Yard and search out more Everyday Histories across the site.
Dating from 1829, Sunny Bank Mills was an important woollen and worsted mill, with a stimulating history. It is still owned by the Gaunt family who helped found the Mills in late Georgian times. Come along and learn more about its past during our weekend celebrating heritage, art & creativity!
This event is part of Heritage Open Days and Leeds Open Studios 2026 ( 12th & 13th Sept only).
Heritage Tours
Hear the story of Sunny Bank Mills and its people during an 1-hour long tour led by a Family Company Director who worked here whilst it was a working cloth mill and is now driving its future.
You’ll visit hidden historic spaces not normally open to the public and hear atmospheric industrial soundscapes whilst we tell you all about the Sunny Bank Mills and its regeneration with plenty of opportunities to ask those burning questions you’ve always wanted answering!
Friday 12:00 | 14:00 Saturday 10:00 | 12:00 | 14:00 Sunday 10:00 | 12:00 | 14:00
BOOK YOUR TICKETS. |£6 for adults | Free for carers & under 12s |
Accessible Heritage Tours
This year we are delighted to offer a family friendly, wheelchair and buggy accessible tour as part of the Festival. Hear the story of Sunny Bank Mills and the people who worked here on this half-hour tour led by the former Head Designer who was part of the Mills when it was still producing cloth. With first-hand experience and a deep knowledge of the site, Sarah Osgerby will bring its history vividly to life.
As you explore the accessible outdoor spaces, (contingency planned for bad weather), you’ll hear engaging and often amusing anecdotes about the workers and their daily lives, suitable for adults and children alike.
Spaces visited during this tour will be buggy and wheelchair accessible.
Saturday 11:30 | 14:30 Sunday 11:30 | 14:30
BOOK YOUR TICKETS. |£4 for adults | Free for carers & under 12s |
Museum & Archive Drop-In
Visit for free all weekend! Our Museum & Archive is a unique resource representing over 180 years of cloth production at the Mills and the lives of those who worked here. It contains more than 60,000 lengths of cloth, 8000 fabric designs, 5000 dye cards, 300 guard books and numerous artefacts associated with nearly 200 years of cloth production, which it aims to preserve for the community and future generations.
This year’s special Heritage Festival exhibition will focus on Everyday Histories – the theme of Heritage Open Days 2026. The exhibition will take a deeper dive into some of the more unusual stories we have collected from those who worked here alongside historical photos of former workers at parties, on trips to the seaside and on tea breaks.
While you’re here get involved with the pop-up showcase as part of the West Yorkshire Calico Dress Project from WOVEN in Kirklees.
Friday 11th – Sunday 13th September 10:00 – 16:00
No pre-booking required | Free entry as part of Heritage Open Days.
Clocking In Trail
During your visit to the Mills, follow the family friendly ‘Clocking In Trail’. Look for Everyday Story spots around the site signposted by colourful bunting and archival photos, stamp your card at each of the 6 spots, and win a prize!
Visit the Main Yard, Bobbin Room or any set of studios to get started.
FREE drop-in | Donations welcomed on the day | Suitable for all ages
Everyday Histories in the Bobbin Room
Visit the Bobbin Room throughout the weekend to:
- Create your own personalised cardboard locker inspired by stories from former Mill workers as part of Clocking -In.
- Hear updates on our 3 year National Lottery Heritage funded Dyevolution project – an inspiring journey into colour, cloth, and collaboration. There will be an update from the history team on some of the everyday stories they have unearthed from the dye ledgers and the collection. You can also discover the magic behind natural dyes, delve into our dye garden, and uncover the innovative ways Dyevolution will connect people, plants, and textiles.
FREE drop-in | Donations welcomed on the day | Suitable for all ages
Open Studios
Visit our Spinning Mill, Twisting and Red Lane Mill Studios to see what artists do all day! Meet talented makers and artists, discover their processes and buy new work direct from independent artists and craftspeople.
Visit the Main Yard to meet even more local creatives, showcasing their work as part of our first Pop-Up Open Studios as part of the city wide Leeds Open Studios weekend.
Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th September 10:00 – 16:00 | Spinning Mill, Twisting & Red Lane Mill Studios
No pre-booking required | Free entry
OTHER THINGS TO SEE & DO
ACCESSIBILTY
The Museum & Archive is based in Red Lane Mill off Water Lane and is accessible with a level entrance.
Standard Heritage Tours will involve some uphill walking and stops in buildings with step-only access. Accessible Heritage Tours are wheelchair accessible, but the tour will gradually work its way up the Mills’ hill. If you have any questions or concerns about access please email heritageevents@sunnybankmills.co.uk.
The Gallery building is located on Farsley Town Street. The main entrance on Town Street has a flight of stairs. The Gallery can also be reached by a flat access entrance to the rear of the building, through the Mills’ Main Yard.
There are disabled toilets in each building on site, as well as free accessible parking in each car park.
If you need any assistance throughout the weekend, find a member of staff wearing a lanyard or a pink hi-vis vest.
Assistance Dogs ONLY within the Museum & Archive and on Heritage Tours. Dogs are allowed in most other areas across the site.
![What was it really like to start work at Sunny Bank Mills?
As part of our partnership with the Heritage Network's Digital Heroes programme, volunteers explored oral history recordings from former mill workers and transformed their memories into new digital content inspired by everyday life in the mill.
Our first guest blog, written by Digital Heroes volunteer Laura Barnes, imagines a young apprentice's first day at Sunny Bank Mills. From learning the trade and fetching tea for the loom workers to navigating workplace characters, rules and routines, the story brings to life the experiences of generations of textile workers.
It's a wonderful example of this year's Heritage Open Days theme, Everyday Histories, celebrating the ordinary people and everyday moments that have shaped our communities.
Read the blog via our LINK IN BIO.
With thanks to Laura Barnes and the Heritage Network Digital Heroes for helping us share these memories with new audiences.
[Image: White enamel mug resting on a worn wooden workbench bathed in sunlight inside a workshop.]
#HeritageOpenDays #EverydayHistories #SunnyBankMills #HeritageNetwork #DigitalHeroes #OralHistory #TextileHistory #WestYorkshireHeritage #CommunityHistory](https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)