This years theme for Heritage Open Days was ‘Architecture’ and as part of our exhibition in the Museum & Archive we drew inspiration from the diary of a former worker. In 2020, during the global pandemic, work continued on various elements of the regeneration of Sunny Bank Mills.
June Pearce, former Mender and Burler at the mills, watched the works unfold from her window overlooking the mills. She kept a diary and took photographs, some of which are presented below alongside her words.
The facelift was a major undertaking. She was old but the need to stay beautiful is something we can all connect with. Yes, she was careworn after years of neglect, but then when she was young life hadn’t been easy either.
When the ‘team’ arrived suited and booted with tools of the trade ready, I was slightly anxious – was she going to be OK? Would she change much? Preparation took a while. Lots of metal was used structurally to hold things in place, then slowly covered over in a blanket of white protective material and the face lift began.
Work was continuous, I watched the team arrive daily but how the treatment was working I could only guess. Each day I looked out at the dazzling white sheet protecting her face and wondered how long the process would be, would I recognise her or would she look different. Silly of me I suppose but she has been a big part of my life, in fact she has been there all my lifetime and still today I look out upon her face and see her in all moods.
I have watched the snow blur her lines, morning mist lay softly upon her, rain beating around leaving puddles that reflect her and frost that sits like a snowy white cap on her sloping head.
At night she shines from lights hidden within. You never know from day to day which side of her personality you might see, or the people she draws towards her.
But at last the ordeal is over. I watched the protective sheet slowly peeled back, the structure emerging, the facelift uncovered. The sun shone bright on her honey coloured structure and yes, she was young again. What a joy! All my fears dispersed, she looked beautiful and as if to join the celebration, the evening skies danced in shades of pink and blue. The blackbird sang joyfully in the tree opposite and the colours slowly dissolved into night.
She will live on for another century, fulfilling a different purpose to the life she was built for.
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Museum & Archive Regeneration