A MUSEUM dedicated to the heritage of the Yorkshire Dales is changing hands after nearly 30 years.

Swaledale Folk Museum, in Reeth, was opened in 1974 by Erica Law and her late husband Donald, who converted the village's old Methodist Sunday school.

Mr Law died 15 years ago and, after investigating the possibility of setting up a trust, Mrs Law, now 83, and her daughter Barbara decided to sell it with the deal soon to be finalised.

The new owners are Oxfordshire couple Helen and Alan Bainbridge, who have links with Arkengarthdale.

Helen works for the Victoria and Albert Museum, in London, Alan is a potter, and in the past, they helped clean and care for the museum as friends of the Law family.

Barbara Law said the building would be preserved as a museum for at least five years, adding: "My mother is selling the building only. The exhibits will continue to be displayed, although anyone who has loaned anything and wants to have it back can do so."

She said the new owners planned to develop the museum and raise its profile and were keen to include Mrs Law in their plans.

Published: 24/01/2004