CHILDREN under the age of 16 can get free entry at Coldharbour Mill during the Easter Holiday from Saturday (April 6) to Sunday, April 21, with a special Easter Steam Day on Bank Holiday Monday (April 22) which will transport visitors back to the age of steam.

The mill is one of the country’s best preserved 18th Century textile mills and visitors can discover fascinating stories of the industrial revolution, the Fox family and their fabrics – and their extraordinary life-saving contribution to the First World War – and about how wool is transformed from raw fleece into yarns and textiles.

The mill has been in continuous production since 1797 and now produces artisan yarns and woven textiles using traditional techniques on heritage machines – visitors can see all this as they explore the mill.

Children have two trails to help them explore the museum – an Easter Egg Trail and a Sheep Trail – with prizes. An indoor Victorian dressing up area is also available – for super ‘selfies’ – and an outdoor play area, with picnic tables for families to enjoy.

On the steam day popular ‘have a go’ sessions are on offer for all the family, where volunteers will share the delights of knitting, weaving, spinning, and other crafts highlighting the versatility of wool.