Keighley and District Local History Society

Keighley and District Local History Society 'PRESERVE and SHARE' is our core aim and you can join our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KDLHS/

The preservation and sharing of historical articles and information. We are dedicated to maintaining a physical archive and a digital archive of items related to Keighley and District. We hold monthly speakers meetings on the second Wednesday in each month, upstairs at 7.30pm in the Local Studies Library. All are welcome to attend and meet us to see the work we do on behalf of Keighley's Heritage.

This evocative advert for Timothy Taylor draught and bottled beer appeared in the Keighley News of Saturday 23rd June 19...
23/06/2026

This evocative advert for Timothy Taylor draught and bottled beer appeared in the Keighley News of Saturday 23rd June 1956. The advertising slogan for Timothy Taylor's at the time was that it was the drink 'for Men of the North' and this advert claimed "I'm a dyer. Time was when a dyer's hands were fantastically and permanently coloured by the dyes he worked in. Today, modern chemistry has made dyeing a much cleaner and healthier occupation. But producing the wide range of exact colours demanded by the industry, is still a hot, hard and exacting job. So I'm generally not only ready but waiting for a pint of my favourite beer - Timothy Taylor's - brewed for almost a century by the family brewers who really do know how to satisfy the man who has earned a drink."

It was one of a series of similar adverts that appeared in the mid-1950s. The photograph of the Knowle Spring Brewery sign on Queen's Road was taken by Tim Neal in 2022.

The foundation stone marking the overhaul and expansion of St. Anne's Catholic Church on North Street was laid on Saturd...
23/06/2026

The foundation stone marking the overhaul and expansion of St. Anne's Catholic Church on North Street was laid on Saturday 23rd June 1906.

The reasoning was explained in the Keighley News of 30th June 1906: "The need of an enlargement to the present church has long been realised by the local Catholic community. The existing structure, which was erected some seventy years ago, from the designs of Welby Pugin, the renowned Catholic architect, is of Gothic style, and at the time of its er****on was quite large enough for all requirements. Since then the Catholic population of Keighley and district who worship at St. Anne's has increased to nearly 4000, and the seating accommodation for 400 which the church provided was palpably insufficient. The enlargement which is now in progress will double the seating accommodation. At the present time the old church contains no sacristies; this deficiency, however, will be remedied in the new building, and the sanctuary or chancel, which is now at the east end of the church, will be changed to the west end, so that the principal entrance will be transferred to Skipton Road end. The new church will consist of sanctuary, side chapels, and two transepts, and the enlargement is estimated to cost £4000."

The Saturday of the foundation stone laying started with a procession, led by the Parish Priest, Father Joseph Russell (top middle inset), who had only been appointed just over a year before. The procession was made up of around 3,800 children and adults, including the Cowling Temperance Brass Band, St. Anne's Drum and Fife Band, and Marriner's Brass Band. It looped from the church, down North Street then High Street, Turkey Street, West Lane, Upper Green, and back along North Street.

Back at the church, in front of a crowd of nearly 5,000 people, the foundation stone was blessed by the Bishop of Leeds, the Right Reverend Joseph Robert Cowgill (bottom left inset), who then read the dedication service. The stone was laid by Mr. F. N. Mahony of Keighley, who was also presented with a silver trowel. There was then a speech by the Reverend Father Quinlan of Halifax and a collection tray was placed on the stone for people to make their offerings.

In the evening, a gala was held in a field belonging to the Cliffe Castle estate, with Marriner's band playing once more. The work on the church was completed in September 1907.

The portrait of Father Joseph Russell was taken in 1905 and has been copied from 'Catholics in Keighley 1835-2010' (PBK Publishing, 2010). The portrait of the Right Reverend Joseph Robert Cowgill, Bishop of Leeds, is from a postcard published by Harold Clarke, Manchester. The three colour photographs of the foundation stone and church exterior were taken by Tim Neal on a History Society visit to the church in November 2022. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

Two examples of commemorative pieces of pottery celebrating the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on 22nd June ...
22/06/2026

Two examples of commemorative pieces of pottery celebrating the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on 22nd June 1911 ("May their reign be glorious"). It shows portraits of King George V ("Born June 3 1865") and Queen Mary ("Born May 26 1867"), and records their marriage on 6th July 1893. These pieces were produced in their thousands by Devon Ware and S. F. & Co. of Stoke on Trent to be given away or sold as part of the celebrations. They were often individualised for particular towns or cities. These ones carry the Keighley coat of arms and the name of Sam (Samuel) Clough, Mayor of Keighley 1910-12.

Future Keighley Mayor and textile mill owner, Samuel Clough was born in 1864. He was the son of County Alderman Thomas Clough and older brother to Robert – later Sir Robert Clough. In 1904 he bought and moved into Steeton Hall, later bequeathing the hall to his niece Dorothy Clough. He served for four years as president of the town’s Chamber of Commerce. For a long period he was Chief Superintendent of the Keighley Corps of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade.

He became Mayor of Keighley in 1910, following his brother Robert who had been Mayor from 1907 to 1908. He was the first Mayor of Keighley to be appointed from outside of the council and having no real experience of municipal affairs. He was a keen advocate of the Westgate slums clearance. While in his second year, he and his wife presented the Borough of Keighley with a Loving Cup to mark the occasion of the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on 22nd June 1911. It was made by Fattorini & Sons Ltd. of Bradford. When he relinquished the role of Mayor he was actively involved with the Spencer Street Auxiliary War Hospital. He was head of John Clough & Sons.

The items are stored in the History Society's physical archive. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

Eight days of activities and events were held in June 1976 to celebrate the centenary of the Keighley Friendly Societies...
19/06/2026

Eight days of activities and events were held in June 1976 to celebrate the centenary of the Keighley Friendly Societies' annual gala. One highlight was the 'Grand Procession' from Lund Park down to Victoria Park, held on Saturday 19th June 1976.

Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Leeds East, Denis Healey took part in the procession, along with a float featuring members of the cast for the musical 'Stan' (based on the 1920s Boy painting of Stanley R. Boardman).

Keighley News, Friday 25th June 1976: "Thousands of people lined the centenary gala procession route on Saturday and officials reckoned there was a record attendance at the gala itself... Former Keighley boy Denis Healey, now Chancellor of the Exchequer, opened the gala. He said it was the first Keighley Gala he had attended since 1941. He had moved to Keighley with his parents at the age of five, and the family lived there until the end of the 1939-45 war. It was at Keighley Gala where Mr. Healey met a student friend from Oxford who was teaching in Keighley. He resumed the friendship with the girl and later married her. The gala queen, Miss Beverley Mapplebeck, of Halifax Road, Keighley, was crowned by Mrs. Healey."

The 'Stan' float, created by HYT Theatre Group, won second prize in the 'Best Tableau (Any Subject)' category. The winners were Thwaites Brow Townswomen's Guild with their 'London Pride' float.

Advert from the Keighley News of 11th June 1976. Photograph of Dennis Healey from the personal collection of Allan Smith. Photograph of the 'Stan' float loaned by Eileen Whitley. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

The main events of the Keighley Jubilee Gala and Carnival were held on Saturday 19th June 1926. These included a proces...
19/06/2026

The main events of the Keighley Jubilee Gala and Carnival were held on Saturday 19th June 1926. These included a procession that set off from outside Lund Park. There were dozens of historical tableau created for the procession, including an entry from Ingrow St. John's Sunday School depicting 'Joan of Arc burned at Rouen', which won the competition for best processional tableaux. Various activities were held in Victoria Park. These included a funfair and there were also three parachute descents; one made by Keighley motorcyclist and engineer Alec Jackson. The night was closed with a thirty-minute firework display from 10.30pm. As usual, the Gala was held to raise funds for the town's Victoria Hospital.

The occasion was written up in the Keighley News of 26th June 1926: "The great crowds who witnessed the passage of the mile-long, beautiful procession through Keighley's streets on Saturday - and the 30,000 or 35,000 people who good humouredly submitted to the many inconveniences incidental to the overcrowding of the beautiful Victoria Park in the evening in order to witness the triple parachute descent, the various competitions, and, not least, to have their fling in the pleasure fair which grows as the years go by, afforded a fine tribute to the Keighley Victoria Hospital on whose behalf the day's events were arranged."

The main picture is a Hall & Siggers postcard (loaned by Patricia Slater), showing a tableau of the burning of Joan of Arc. Below is an advert for the Gala from the Keighley News of 19th June 1926, and a selection of photographs (including one of the Joan of Arc tableau) that appeared in the Keighley News of 26th June 1926. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

The annual Keighley Friendly Societies' Procession and Gala was held on Saturday 17th June 1916. One of the main feature...
17/06/2026

The annual Keighley Friendly Societies' Procession and Gala was held on Saturday 17th June 1916. One of the main features of the day was the procession that wove its way from Lund Park down to Victoria Park. The Procession Marshal was Mr F. S. Murray, the Procession Committee Chairman was Mr J. R. Wilson, Treasurer Mr H. Binns and Honorary Secretary Mr W. Binns of Byrl Street, Keighley.

The day was written up in the Keighley News of 24th June 1916: "Glorious weather favoured the fortieth demonstration and gala organised by the Friendly Societies' Gala Committee on behalf of the Keighley Victoria Hospital on Saturday last. The organisation of this annual event has in normal times always involved a great amount of labour - work undertaken voluntarily and enthusiastically - but this year the exigencies of the war not only added considerably to the committee's work, but they had the effect of reducing the proportions of the procession, and the entries in the various competitions, and on the top of all this the collection of the amusements tax occasioned unpleasant crowding at the entrance gates to Victoria Park... The procession, which was marshalled in Lund Park and was witnessed by many thousands of people in its passage through the principal thoroughfares to Victoria Park, was much shorter than usual, but what it lacked in length it made up for in picturesqueness... Those who took part in the procession and the ladies were entertained to tea as usual at the mansion. Excellent service was rendered in the park by the special constables... To the disappointment of everybody, particularly the children, there was no fireworks display this year."

The booklet that gave details about the upcoming gala described the different competition classes. There were fourteen classes in all: Class 1: Best Groomed Horse (won by W. and S. Summerscales); Class 2: Light Horse (won by Walter Lamb); Class 3: Best Decorated Horse (won by J. Hornby); Class 4: Best Tableaux - Sunday Schools only (won by Upper Green Congregation Church Sunday School with "A Thrilling Tale of the North Sea£"); Class 5: Boy Scouts (won by the Sutton troop); Class 6: Best National or Colonial Costume (won by Hilda Fearnside of Cottingley, dressed as an Egyptian maiden); Class 7: Girl Guides (won by the Bingley troop); Class 8: Best Tableaux (won by Temple Street Boy Scouts with "Headquarters"); Class 9: Best Female Impersonator - foolish characters not allowed (won by Frank Driver); Class 10: Best Get-up in Fancy or Character Dress (won by Harry Ormondroyd as Charles I); Class 11: Miscellaneous Class (won by Fielden Waddington with "Latest on Women Workers"); Class 12: Best Get-up in Fancy or Character Dress - girls (won by Janet Wainwright as "Old Scottish Woman"); Class 13: Best Get-up in Fancy or Character Dress - boys (won by F. Rigby as an officer); and Class 14: Miscellaneous Class (won by Willie Halligan as "Blue Man").

The 12-page booklet was donated to Keighley and District Local History Society by Tim Neal in 2020 (and can be viewed in full on Flickr). The postcards are from the History Society's archive on Flickr. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

Theatre company manager Forbes Russell brought his touring production of 'Three's a Family' to the Hippodrome in Keighle...
17/06/2026

Theatre company manager Forbes Russell brought his touring production of 'Three's a Family' to the Hippodrome in Keighley for one week, commencing Monday 17th June 1946. The comic play was by American husband and wife team Phoebe and Henry Ephron, and it played twice nightly at Keighley until Saturday 22nd June 1946. It arrived sandwiched between two weeks of variety shows.

The actors were described as "an All-Star West End Cast" and the main named attraction was Leonard Henry (1890-1973), a popular BBC Radio comedian. The rest of the cast was made up of Renee Croome, Maud Long, David Kennington, Stephanie Mead, Walter Randall, Elizabeth Grant, Joan French, George Percy, Stuart Ryman, Patricia Lindsey, Betty Nye, Judy Olan, Joan Strong, George Bell, Billy Allan, and Tony Bellamy. The play was directed by David Kennington.

The play was reviewed in the Keighley News of Saturday 22nd June 1946: "The performance is first rate, the dialogue witty and the situations droll in the extreme. Audiences are compelled to laugh till their sides ache. There is little respite all through, for one thing happens after another in this story which concerns a New York family (husband, wife and sister) whose two-bedroomed apartment is invaded by a younger generation who either are, or who are about to become, parents. Leonard Henry as the father, Maud Long as the sister, and Renee Croome as the mother are excellent as the long-suffering older generation."

The programme was saved by Margaret Archer and was donated to Keighley and District Local History Society by Brian R. Clough. The advert is from the front page of the Keighley News of 15th June 1946. The 'Radio Favourites' cigarette card is from the personal collection of Tim Neal. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

Keighley's new covered market, located off Low Street, was officially opened on Wednesday 16th June 1971. The ceremony w...
16/06/2026

Keighley's new covered market, located off Low Street, was officially opened on Wednesday 16th June 1971. The ceremony was conducted by the Mayor of Keighley, Alderman Sydney Bancroft (inset), who unveiled a plaque that can still be seen in the market today. By this point the market had already been trading successfully for two weeks.

Keighley News, Friday 18th June 1971: "The Mayor was introduced by the chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee (which is responsible for the market), Coun. Edgar Harker, who welcomed visitors, who included Mr. B. A. Waddington, architect to Halifax Corporation, who as Keighley's Borough Architect designed the market, representatives of the main contractors, J. Totty and Sons Ltd., of Bradford, and Mr. Tom Gallagher, a former member of the council, who was chairman of the former Markets committee for about 12 years."

The photograph (top left) from the Keighley News of 18th June 1971 shows the Mayor and Mayoress, Town Clerk J. A. Caesar, Tom Gallagher and Mary Heaton, who had worked selling flowers on her father's market stall 76 years ago (her father was John Hindle). Other photographs from the KDLHS Flickr archive. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

This postcard of Cavendish Street in Keighley was posted to Skipton on Wednesday 15th June 1921. Sadly the postal rate f...
15/06/2026

This postcard of Cavendish Street in Keighley was posted to Skipton on Wednesday 15th June 1921. Sadly the postal rate for a postcard had gone up just two days earlier, to one-and-a-half pence, so the one pence stamp didn't cover it and the recipient had to pay the difference plus a half-penny fine!

The Cavendish Hotel on the right of the photograph is still recognisable today, plus the shops just beyond that on the other side of the junction with Lawkholme Lane. And in the distance you can just make out the Library.

But the rest of the skyline is very much changed over the intervening 100+ years. The spire of the United Methodist Free Church disappeared, along with the rest of the church, in 1953 (it was replaced by Keighley Technical College but that has gone now too). The Mechanics Institute, with its clocktower, stands proud at the head of Cavendish Street, but a fire in 1962 left it badly damaged and it was demolished five years later. What little remained was adapted and rebuilt as an expansion of Keighley Technical College but that too is now gone.

On the left we have the shops between Hanover Street and Lawkholme Crescent, but these were demolished as part of the town centre redesign in the 1960s, and that part of town is now some modern shops beneath a multi-storey car park.

The postcard is from the personal collection of Tim Neal.

The photographs of these four sanitation vehicles accompanied an article entitled "Greater Cleanliness in a Yorkshire To...
15/06/2026

The photographs of these four sanitation vehicles accompanied an article entitled "Greater Cleanliness in a Yorkshire Town" that appeared in an edition of The Commercial Motor dated 15th June 1926.

The article stated: "The sanitary department of the Keighley Corporation, which serves the needs of over 42,000 persons, provides one of the many examples of the introduction of mechanical power against horse-power which is typical of many throughout the country. The horse has already been almost eliminated, and in its place has been put the mechanically propelled vehicle... The introduction of the steam gully emptier, with the suction apparatus to lift the sludge, provides a means for working which was impossible until some method of applying more than man or horse-power was available. Further, the motor road sweeper and collector provides a means for picking up the objectionable refuse which was left on the roadside to be the sport of the wind... The equipment of the sanitary department, which is under the direction of Mr. John Foy, the sanitary inspector and cleansing superintendent, comprises four 1-ton Ford wagons and two 2-ton Vulcan agons used for refuse collection, in conjunction with two horses. In contrast with this was a fleet of wagons and 12 horses in 1919."

The photographs were taken by George Crowther and the cutting is from a scrapbook kept by George of photographs he took and articles he wrote for various publications. Crowther (d: 1960) spent 50 years with the Bradford and District Newspaper Company until his retirement in 1956. He started out as a press photographer in the 1920s and ended with six years as editor of the Keighley News (1950-1956). He was active in the St. John Ambulance Brigade and served on the Council of the Bronte Society. Many more cuttings kept by George can be found on the History Society's Flickr site. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

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