THE newest museum in Cleveland takes a bow on Yorkshire Day.

Redcar and Cleveland Council is proudly opening Winkies Castle, a tiny cottage in Marske High Street on Monday.

The ceremony will complete more than two years' work in restoring the home of the late Jack Anderson, the cobbler who bequeathed the cottage - and more than 6,000 artefacts - to the council.

But the creation of a folk museum could not have been achieved without the help of the community, galvanised by the Friends of Winkies Castle, whose membership now totals more than 200.

Mr Anderson's nephew, Ian, the Friends' president, will open the museum on August 1.

It has been restored to include four interpretative rooms, pantry, 19th century netty and a wash-house. Funding has come from various sources.

Ian Anderson said: "I am sure Jack would have been thrilled at what has been achieved - and amazed, too.

"I am just so pleased at how the community has warmed to this project. Everyone has been fantastic."

The council's museums curator Alan Pearce, who co-ordinated the scheme, said: "We have created something very special, but it has been incredibly hard work.

"The Friends have been magnificent supporters and given so many hours of help. At a rough estimate, we spent 4,500 hours sorting and cataloguing, then there has been the work on the cottage itself."

The council's cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, Coun Dave Fitzpatrick, said: "When the cottage was bequeathed, we all felt we were taking on a massive project. And even now it is hard to believe what we have achieved.

"We have a new museum for the borough, a fascinating look back to our past, and we think it will be a fitting memorial to Jack."

The museum will be open throughout next week, then every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am to 4pm until September 25.

An annual £10 family Friends membership gives free entry. Otherwise, admission is £1.50 adults and 75p children.

Anyone who wants to be a volunteer or book in a school or community group should contact Gordon Fisher on 01642 489489.

* Intrigue still surrounds how the cottage got its unusual name. The most popular theory is that it was named after Jack Anderson's cat. The Friends have adopted a black cat silhouette as their logo.

But older theories are that the cottage has been known as Winkies Castle for more than 100 years. When Jack Anderson and his cat moved in, the cat was also named Winkie.