North Yorkshire
| NORTH YORKSHIRE |  | | | CLEVELAND | | | COUNTY DURHAM | | |
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Restoration projects vie for rural awards
THREE of North Yorkshire's most successful rural restoration projects will battle it out for the top accolade at an awards ceremony this month.
Gayle Mill, near Hawes, the Old Station Yard, in Masham, and The Station, Richmond, have all been shortlisted for the restoration prize at this year's Yorkshire Rural Awards.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Harrogate on May 22, hosted by author Gervase Phinn.
The awards have been set up to highlight the people and businesses who are leading its rural revival.
Gayle Mill, a 19th century cotton mill, was left abandoned and derelict for almost 20 years but it is now welcoming visitors to an extraordinary piece of industrial history dating back 230 years. Runner-up in the BBC Restoration series, the building has been restored with original Victorian woodworking machinery and reinstated with its historic waterpower systems.
The Old Station Yard was brought back to life as a holiday caravan and camping park by 61-year-old Flo Grainger. She said: "It was very unexpected to be shortlisted, and of course we are delighted."
The Station in Richmond is another disused railway station, this time reborn to shops, restaurants and a cinema.
Linda McFadzean, of organiser The Dalesman, said: "There are some wonderful old buildings dotted around the countryside, rich in history but perhaps struggling to find a new role.
"They can be critical to the appearance of an area, or they can be rotting eyesores.
"With imagination and effort, they can be reborn at the very centre of local life, and that we what we aim to celebrate."
For more details, visit www.yorkshireruralawards.co.uk.
7:58am Tuesday 29th April 2008
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