PENDLE'S Higherford Mill will appear on BBC TV's Restoration Village tonight as it bids for almost £2million cash for a makeover.
The mill, in Barrowford, is one of three buildings from the North bidding for viewers' votes in the series, fronted by Griff Rhys Jones. It was saved from demolition in 1999 by the Heritage Trust for the North West, which now has ambitious plans to restore the mill and create workshops and exhibition spaces.
Around £2million is needed to bring back the waterwheel at the mill, and to restore the imposing building which lies a few hundred yards from the Pendle Heritage Centre. The trust already has £1million and has begun restoring part of the mill complex.
The winner of the show will get about £1.7million but the trust also needs cash to deal with the expected extra visitors and requests for information which will result from its raised profile.
Pendle Council has contributed around £50,000 to promote the project.
Dorothy Morris, of the council, said: "The BBC Restoration programme is a unique opportunity to attract visitors to the boroughl."
A series of events to promote the mill have been held in the run-up to the programme including an open weekend and a vintage bus tour around Lancashire.
The mill will also be open this weekend as part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme from 10am-5pm.
The programme will be broadcast at 9pm tonight on BBC 2 and supporters will have until Tuesday evening to vote by calling 09013 600 500.
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