A UNIQUE opportunity to earn a place in Saltaire’s history has been launched at an event in the World Heritage Site’s famous mill.

Its owner Maggie Silver hosted a business breakfast in Salts Mill to announce the ‘Adopt-a-Box’ Scheme to support the ‘Saltaire Stories’ project in its work to help the world learn about Saltaire’s heritage, by promoting its unique archive.

The archive is owned by Shipley College, in trust for the community, and has a dedicated room in the College’s learning and resource centre.

A group of volunteers, assisted by experienced archivists and part funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant have this year been working to establish a conservation and management plan for the historical documents, images, press cuttings and artefacts held there.

Each specially created Archive box holds items that range from private papers of the Salt and Robert’s families to personal collections donated over time by people who lived in the village or who worked in Salts Mill or both.

To succeed in the second phase of the project and to get key aspects of the archive accessible on line for learners of all ages it is hoped that businesses, residents and community groups will “Adopt-A-Box”.

Adopters will receive an ‘adoption certificate’ and have their name entered in a special ledger to be retained in the Archive.

A minimum contribution of £100 for each box is being sought in order that a target of £14,000 can be raised.

Speaking after the successful event which attracted some 40 possible adopters, Maggie Silver said:”I’m really pleased that so many people attended and this was a great start to the campaign.

Molly Kenyon is a trustee of a new charity, the Saltaire World Heritage Education Association which produces Saltaire Stories

“It’s been quite a journey and we’ve really worked to bring out all the educational potential of the new charity which needs the residents’ support.

“It’s an example of partnerships working to promote learning - Saltaire really is a World Classroom, as we call it where anyone can come and learn virtually anything.

For more information email: saltairestories@gmail.com