THIS week I was able to enjoy a stroll around the long-disused railway line linking Helmshore with Rawtenstall.

I was also able to meet Ian Gibson who gave me an update on the restoration of the Helmshore Mills.

These are due to open in 2007 and will ensure that, along with Queen Street Mill in Burnley, the textile history in Lancashire will be properly celebrated.

It may come as a surprise that Helmshore has one woollen mill and one cotton mill. Actually Higher Mill was a fulling mill built in 1789 and working until 1967.

Still intact is the huge waterwheel and the huge hammer-like machinery called FEET. This replaced the old method of pressing wool to compact the fibres and thus make it much tougher. This involved using human feet and explains the place name of Walk Mill at Cliviger near Burnley.

The other mill at Helmshore is described as a condenser cotton spinning mill.

Why condenser? This is because this mill used what was formerly regarded as waste. This waste was condensed and then spun into thread. This could be sent to other mills and woven into sheets, towels and cleaning cloths.

Inside this mill, which was built in 1857 and closed at Christmas 1978, some of the original machinery remains and also a number of very famous machines have been preserved.

Here is the only Arkwright Water Frame remaining in the whole of the north. Textile experts and TV companies worldwide have used Helmshore for many years and once the impressive development is complete it will be a real attraction.

Helmshore also has its share of countryside and there is excellent walking country.

You should however, visit Queen Street Mill at Harle Syke in Burnley and eagerly anticipate the 2007 opening of Helmshore.