HORSEPOWER is being put to work as the restoration of a 18th Century North Yorkshire mill takes a step back in time.

The final phase of a project to turn Howsham Mill, near Malton, into an education and community centre has seen a horse and cart chosen as the best way of ferrying scaffolding and timber to the site next to the River Derwent.

The equine transportation system harks back to the mill’s working days before its closure in 1947. Since when it has lain derelict, but is now being given new life through a scheme led by the Renewable Heritage Trust (RHT) which has received £640,000 in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and financial support from the Country Houses Foundation.

Local building contractor Stephen Pickering, who specialises in working on listed and period properties, came up with the horse-and-cart method. He enlisted the help of Chris Wadsworth, from Guisborough, and Peter Coates, from Bingley, whose 15-year-old horse Nathan is now moving materials along the original cart track on a specially-designed trailer.

Mo MacLeod, RHT chair, said: “This has never been a straightforward project, and the main focus has always been on finding imaginative ways to undertake the rebuild without damaging either the natural or historic environment.

“Stephen has loads of experience of working on historic buildings for local estates, so we knew he’d be perfect for the job.”

Stephen said he was “delighted” to be involved in “an unusual and very worthwhile project”.

Chris said: “It’s fantastic to be able to use the appropriate technology.”