ROBIN Brooke of Ontario is trying to establish a link between her ancestors and those of Mark Brooke, director of the Brooke’s Mill Office Park in Armitage Bridge.

Miss Brooke was alerted to the possibility of a link in an article last month, which described Mark’s ongoing co-operation with Huddersfield University history students in creating a special exhibition on his own family, the mill and its long history.

Mark is the 16th generation of Brookes to operate mills in the Holme Valley – and can trace his family’s involvement in the woollen industry back through 469 years to the reign of Henry VIII.

Founding father was Roger Brooke of Holme, born in 1503, who acquired land for a ‘new mill’ in Wooldale in 1541 and took the lease of Cartworth Mill two years later.

The family ran mills in New Mill, Honley and – from 1790 – in Armitage Bridge.

When the woollen industry hit hard times, brothers Mark and Massimo Brooke were instrumental in turning the mill into industrial units and forming a heritage business park in 1994.

Now, Mark’s plan is to stage a permanent exhibition which will enable visitors to learn about the mill itself, the Brooke family and the history of Armitage Bridge.

Robin believes the two families are linked through her great great grandfather George Frederick Wilkison Brooke, who was born in Huddersfield between 1827 and 1829.

“From what I read about the Brooke family history, George Frederick appears to be related to the Armitage Bridge Brookes,” said Robin.

“It is very hard to retrieve more facts because many of the family with direct knowledge have passed away and letters from the cousins in Huddersfield have gone missing.”

George Frederick moved to Canada and married an Eliza(beth) Webb in Montreal, Quebec in January, 1861 before moving on to Ontario.

A team of third-year history students has begun to research the history of Armitage Bridge and are probing the close links between the mill and the local church, the bowls club, the cricket club and other community organisations.

Whether they will find any connection with Brookes who established another branch of the family in Canada remains to be seen.

The end product of that research will be an exhibition at the North Light Gallery, part of the Brooke’s Mill complex.

The students have issued an appeal to the local community for help, asking anyone who worked at Brooke’s Mill – or have family members who did so or have been involved with any of the local clubs and institutions – to share their memories.

People who can help should ring 01484 472606 and leave details to enable the student team to get in touch.