THE owner of artists’ brush making business in Cowling who counts Prince Philip as a customer has said her business is putting Craven on the international map.

Rosemary Thompson, owner of Rosemary and Co Artists’ Brushes, was last week given the go ahead to build a workshop in the grounds of her Georgian mansion off Carr Head Lane - despite the planned work being criticised by Historic England and a strong recommendation of refusal by Craven District Council planning officers.

Councillors at the Planning Committee meeting were told the proposed ‘substantial’ two storey Georgian style workshop in the grounds of Carr Head Hall already had an access road leading to it and a 15 space car park, which were currently ‘under investigation’.

And, they were recommended by officers to refuse the application on several grounds, including it being associated with an unauthorised business, that it was not sustainable, and because it would result in the ‘substantial harm’ to the setting of the grade two listed hall.

But Ms Thompson said she had always dreamt of living in a Georgian house had spent thousands of pounds in the restoration of the property and its grounds, and with her business was putting Craven on the map.

She said restoration of the 53 windows alone had cost each £3,000, that she was bringing the previously divided into apartments Carr Head ‘back to life’ and that she believed the original owner of the property would approve of what she was doing.

Ms Thompson said in addition to making brushes, she was passionate about art, and staged workshops at the hall, which so far, always sold out. She employed several people, including someone to deal with the moles, and those who attended workshops patronised businesses in the area and further into the Dales.

In just three years, some 278 students had attended workshops at the hall, she added.

“With our international students, we are showing there is more to Britain above the Watford Gap,” she said, adding that she ‘lived and breathed my beautiful home’.

Ward councillor William Mercer said he supported the application and described the business as an ‘asset to Cowling’.

“There will be more jobs and more local people in employment, I wholeheartedly wish this business well, “ he said.

Cllr Brian Shuttleworth said he too was strongly in favour of the new workshop which he felt had been carefully thought out. He added that the site was so secluded, there was no danger of it being seen from the road, although it could possibly be seen from Wainman’s Pinnacle, some one and a half miles away.

“I think it deserves our support, the applicant is known globally and we can attract people abroad to come and study and to appreciate the landscape, it can only do Craven some good.”

Councillors agreed to break with planning policy and to allow the workshop because it complimented the main hall, and because it would create employment.