[4] In 1820, a group of local clothiers set up a co-operative venture in Farsley to share the cost of rent.[10] By 1900, it was one of the biggest textile manufacturers in Leeds, producing fine cloth recognised globally for its quality.[13] The family then began an extensive restoration project which involved providing premises for a range of businesses - numbering over 70 and employing over 350 people, in 2020.[12] The oldest buildings on the site, dating to 1829, were restored[12] and five-thousand square feet of green space was created.[12] Since 2022 the mills have served as the new filming location for series 8 onwards of The Great British Sewing Bee.[5] There are plans for an arts festival of Leeds' artists and a sculpture trail in 2023 as part of a city-wide celebration of culture.
