Mountains of broken ceramics and bottles dating from Victorian times have been recovered from the banks of the River Aire in Keighley.
The items were collected during a clean-up headed by staff from historic East Riddlesden Hall, whose grounds border the river.
And now young visitors to the 17th-century National Trust property are being invited to help clean and log the artefacts, which will eventually form part of artwork to be displayed at the site.
The river clean-up, which was supported by volunteers from the Aire Rivers Trust and Bingley Angling Club, was part of wider plans to rejuvenate 40 acres of community green space.
As well as collecting the pieces of crockery and bottles – remnants from a tip once located across the river at Marley – the team also recovered debris ranging from old tyres to drinks cans.
Among the items found was a Bovril jar dating from about a century ago.
“The rejuvenation of the green space was made possible by a £20,000 donation from Bovril, so finding the jar was really exciting and a great coincidence,” said Carla Weatherall, the hall’s visitor experience manager.
“We collected about ten sackfuls of objects and there are some really interesting pieces. Once children have helped clean and record those, the idea is to get an artist involved and create a mosaic.”
The hall and gardens open from 10.30am to 4.30pm, Saturdays to Wednesdays. For more details, phone (01535) 607075 or e-mail carla.
weatherall@nationaltrust.org.uk.
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