A KEIGHLEY construction company has earned acclaim for its renovation of a 17th-century Quaker meeting house.

Lawkholme Lane-based RN Wooler & Co spent six weeks painstakingly restoring Farfield Meeting House, in Addingham.

The 1689-built premises, visited by people from across the world, have been extensively refurbished in a £40,000 scheme which the firm said had been “a very interesting heritage project”.

A company spokesman said: “The restoration of the Grade II listed building included the re-roofing of the existing Yorkshire slates and general roof timber repairs, and installation of a new floor slab plus various repointing, repairs and redecoration.

“Furthermore, we refurbished the bespoke timber pews and settles in our specialist joinery workshop.

“We found the client a pleasure to work with at all times.

“Our company was established in 1985 and over the years we have undertaken many projects involving buildings of historical and architectural significance.

“Our expert use of traditional techniques and craftsmanship has earned the company a fine reputation for heritage work.”

Farfield Meeting House had changed little since it was built, and last year it was included in a Historic England list of the ten most historically significant faith and belief places in the country.

A fundraising appeal to carry out the restoration was organised by the Friends of Farfield Meeting House, a group which oversees the building.

The focus of the work was to reduce damp in order to preserve the structure and the original timber work.

A spokesman for the Friends said: “RN Wooler & Co worked skilfully to ensure that the inside of the building retained its unique quality of a structure that has remained virtually untouched for 330 years.

“Hundreds of people from all over Britain and countries across the world – including Canada, the USA, Australia, Africa and New Zealand – visit Farfield every year, often stopping off as they walk the Dales Way.

“Between January this year and closure for refurbishment last month, 432 wrote in the visitors’ book and their comments bear witness to the awe felt by people experiencing this wonderful building.”