The developers behind a massive mill conversion in Shipley will create a museum detailing the site's rich history.

The display will be housed within the Victoria Mills site, which is undergoing a dramatic transformation into a self-contained village comprising 407 luxury apartments.

The mini-museum will contain artefacts unearthed during the development process and the memories of those who worked in the worsted mills, which were known as Mason's Mills and then Jerome's Mills.

An original cast-iron loom, large wicker baskets, bobbins and even a 125-year-old urinal are among the historic items set to be displayed.

Newmason Properties, which is carrying out the development, has also discovered a mountain of old paperwork, including a pile of five shilling share certificates emblazoned with the name Henry Mason, who opened the mills in 1873.

Payment receipts, price lists and balance sheets dating back to the 1920s also make for interesting reading.

Now Alec Newsham and Andrew Mason, the businessmen who co-founded Newmason Properties, are calling for anyone with recollections of the mending rooms to come forward with their memories.

Mr Mason, born in Shipley, said: "We've got lots of information about the mill, but we don't know much about what went on in the mending rooms.

"The museum will be a lasting record of the history which can be enjoyed by future generations.

"When you have possession of something like this, you almost have a duty to do it. To forget its history would be a crime."

Newmason says the museum is primarily aimed at making future residents fully aware of their historic surroundings, rather than being a facility open to the wider public.

The developers are also keeping a pictorial record of the ongoing transformation of the mills and a photographer comes to the site every three months.

Mr Mason said: "When we first got the mill, we read as much as we could about it and looked for details in the mill which we could find and preserve.

"It's been a tremendous journey and we have had people coming up and telling us little bits about it. Some ask if we've heard about the ghost.

"There's also a wonderful story about the rivalry between Sir Titus Salt's mill and Mason's or Jerome's mill.

"Apparently, the foremen got on well so if anything went wrong at either mill in the evening, there was good dialogue and they would help each other out, but the communication always broke down in the day-time."

e-mail: will.kilner@bradford.newsquest.co.uk