A NEW extension has been opened to the visitor centre celebrating the life and work of Robert Thompson, the famous "Mouseman" of Kilburn, near Thirsk.

The work of the legendary craftsman, who died in 1955, is to be found in cathedrals and village churches throughout the world and today thousands of tourists flock to the workshops which still create furniture in his inimitable style.

The new visitor centre has been created by converting an old blacksmith's shop and two former thatched sixteenth century cottages and features not only Thompson's work and even his bed, but also life in Kilburn.

Ian Cartwright Thompson, a great-grandson, said: "The centre features one's man work from start to finish. The centre includes room settings recreating his own cottage as well as an audio visual room looking out on to the very oaks that one day will become a classic piece of Robert Thompson furniture."

Mr Thmposon has scoured the length and breadth of Britain to track down some of Robert Thompson's finest pieces, with success, and bought them to feature in the new centre which includes his original workshop.

The centre now has a growing number of school parties among its 30,000 visitors annually and more are expected with the development of the new centre and its adjoining restaurant.

Nearby Ampleforth College houses the largest collection of Mouseman furniture.

Drawings of some items Robert Thompson made for York Minster have only recently come to light, including those for the bishop's chair and a memorial door.

The centre is furnished with Mouseman furniture made and collected over the years. Visitors are able to see today's craftsmen working with English oak in the old workshop, still using the method's employed by Thompson.

One of the features of the new complex is its gardens and the impressive view of the White Horse of Kilburn (see page 25).

On show too is the original mouse carved by Thompson, a self-taught craftsman who devised his internationally-famous trademark of the mouse after one of his craftsmen said there were all as poor as church mice.

During his early years of experimenting with traditional, somewhat primitive, tools, he developed a technique of finishing the furniture's surface with an adze, a medieval tool used for roughing out ship's timbers. It creates a slightly rippled effect which is still found on all Thompson tables today, said Mr Cartwright Thompson.

Trophy winners

YOUNG trophy winners at the recent North Yorkshire County Show were as follows. -

North Yorkshire County Show Junior Cup (11 and under): 1 Rachel Foster; 2 Sophie Glover. Perpetual Challenge Trophy, 12-16yrs: Fiona Sanderson. Collage Trophy: Thirsk Primary School. Abbeyfield Exhibition Award (donated by Maxwell's of Northallerton): Emma Kelly, Ainderby Steeple.