Historic England’s moves to preserve Britain’s textile mill buildings (Report, 20 November) are welcome, but reopening the world’s only steam-powered cotton mill would be a better contribution than more building restorations. Burnley’s Queen Street Mill closed last year when Lancashire county council ran out of funds. It is a unique steam-powered operational weaving shed with a full range of machinery. Helmshore Textile Museum, with distinctive spinning mules, also closed. The county council sought other operators but few can take on projects of this scale. The National Trust did not intervene and Historic England offered advice but has not taken on a commitment. The national lottery provided funds to make Queen Street Mill accessible for visits, but this funding will be wasted unless reopening happens. These places should be among the north’s leading visitor attractions, capable of helping local regeneration. Instead austerity means that significant industrial heritage will slowly rot while money is found to prop up yet another stately home.
Roger Backhouse
Upper Poppleton, North Yorkshire
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