THE fashions may have changed but the traditional craft skills used more than 100 years ago are still alive and well in North Yorkshire.

As a group of specialist workmen refurbish part of the historic manor house at Mount Grace Priory, near Osmotherley, a photograph showing some of the original skilled workers has been donated by an anonymous visitor.

The current work at the manor house is part of a £150,000 project by English Heritage to restore two rooms, which were given an Arts and Crafts makeover in the 1890s.

Now, a photograph dating to the time of the works has emerged, offering the conservationists a window on the past.

The sepia picture was handed in anonymously by a local man who found it in an old drawer, and shows workmen employed by priory owner Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell.

Sir Isaac, who made his fortune by virtually founding Teesside’s steel industry, was a keen advocate of the Arts and Crafts movement and hired some of the local masons, glaziers and carpenters pictured to give the manor house a new lease of life.

The manor house was built in medieval times as a guest house for people visiting the Carthusian monks of Mount Grace Priory, which was founded in 1398.

Becky Wright, English Heritage custodian at Mount Grace Priory, said: “There are more than 20 workmen shown in the photo, and that’s just about same number of people we have today reviving the two Arts and Crafts rooms. They played a big part in preserving the priory and we would be very interested to learn if anyone recognises any of them.”

The two new rooms will open to the public later this year.

For visitor and ticket information, call 01609-883494 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk.