A NEW museum opens in Swaledale next week.

The Calvert family have been blacksmiths in Gunnerside for at least six generations and on Thursday their collection of artefacts, documents and photograph,s collected over 200 years, will go on public display.

Stephen Calvert, the current blacksmith, uses the same forge as his great-great-great-great-grandfather John Calvert, who was born in 1782.

Stephen Calvert and his wife, Jackie, had the idea of opening a museum some five years ago and won immediate backing from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. They also received grant aid from the Yorkshire Tourist Board and Yorkshire Forward, but the bulk of the cost has been met from their own pocket.

"It has taken us a while, because there was so much to catalogue, but we are looking forward to the opening on Thursday," said Mr Calvert, who also runs a typical small Dales farm.

Visitors will be able to see Mr Calvert working in the smithy, producing everything from imposing wrought iron gates to small fireside utensils.

They will then be able to tour the museum and see the many artefacts, including some of the records which list every item and every customer since 1840.

The family collection in its original setting is described as unique. It stands just above the car park in the centre of the village, overlooking Gunnerside Gill.

The official opening will be performed at 1.30 on Thursday by Bill Mitchell, former editor of The Dalesman.