1829 – Beginnings
Sunny Bank Mills is founded by group of local clothiers who invest together to purchase land and build a woollen scribbling and fulling mill, known as The Farsley Club Mill. John Gaunt is appointed as one of the trustees to run the mill.
1882 - Edwin Woodhouse
Edwin Woodhouse purchases the majority shares in Sunny Bank Mills and becomes the outright owner. He greatly expands the Mills over the next three decades and commences worsted spinning and weaving.
1912 – Ives and Co.
Edwin Woodhouse has no son to pass the Mills on to and sells his interest to James Ives & Co. of Yeadon. The Mills has a renowned reputation for producing fine worsted cloth.
1917 - William C Gaunt and World War I
William C. Gaunt, the wool tycoon, buys Sunny Bank Mills as part of a rapid expansion during the 1st World War. He now owns mills throughout the world.
1929 – Hard times
The Great Depression destroys W. C. Gaunt’s finances and all his mills fall under the control of the Inland Revenue and five leading banks. Future profits are used to pay his creditors in full.
1943 – Alfred Gaunt
Six months after W. C. Gaunt’s death, his son Alfred reaches a settlement with the banks and regains control of Sunny Bank Mills.
1950s & 1960s – The Mill Prospers
A period of great prosperity for the Mills. It builds an export business and consolidates its reputation as one of the finest cloth producers in the world.
1975 - Changing Times
The Mills reinvests in weaving and ceases its combing and spinning operations.
1990 – Disruption
The Gulf War disrupts trade in the Mills most important market; sales were never to fully recover.
2008 – The end of an era
Production of fine worsted cloth ceases at Sunny Bank Mills after 180 years and eventually it moves to Huddersfield.
2010 – A new beginning
John and William Gaunt start a multi-million pound regeneration programme of Sunny Bank Mills as a creative space for business with the vision of reclaiming its status as the biggest centre for employment in the area.
2012 - Artistic impulses
Sunny Bank Mills Gallery hosts its first art exhibition.
2015 – The mills grow
A planning permission agreement is reached with Leeds City Council allowing a flexible redevelopment of the whole Mills site with a variety of uses. This is a significant step in securing the future of the Mills.
2021 - Weavers' Yard
The transformational Weavers’ Yard project created over 60,000 sq. ft. of open space at the heart of Sunny Bank Mills by clearing some of the disused weaving and scouring sheds.
2023 - A Big Celebration
In 2023, we celebrated 10 years of Arts and Culture at the Mills! We are home to a celebrated contemporary Art Gallery, a unique textile Museum & Archive, a large studio artists’ community and the Old Woollen venue. We host festivals and events such as our Print Festival (March), Threads Textile Festival (May), Heritage Festival (September) and famous Christmas Market (November) as well as a year-round workshop and engagement programme.
2026 - Here and Now
There are currently 126 businesses occupying the Mills’ ranging from creative businesses to artists and makers to destination retail and boutique bars.
Learn more about the Mills - past, present and future
