First known record appears in the Domesday book in 1086 spelt as
Chichleai. There have been a variety of spellings: Kithelai, Keghelay
before the now accepted Keighley which should be pronounced as "Keethley".
In
the early 1800's Keighley industry was mainly worsted manufacture
due to having a good water supply and some coal seams in the locality.
Expansion of the wool trade continued, and by 1850's there were
over thirty mills operating in the area. The increasing need to
transport cloth meant it was necessary to link the area into the
rail network.
On
16th March 1847 Keighley station was opened providing a link to
Leeds and Bradford. On 13th April 1867 the Keighley and Worth Valley
Railway was officially opened. Find out more about the Keighley
and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) here...
Keighley
has a museum which is at Cliffe Castle. This was the home of Henry
Isaac Butterfield (1818 - 1912) who was a wealthy textile manufacturer.
Some of the rooms are furnished in the Victorian period, the rest
of the museum houses the collection of geological specimens, stained
glass and various artifacts. You can take a 360
degree view of the grounds here...
On
North St there is St Anne's Roman Catholic church which was built
in 1840. It was designed by the famous architect and designer, Augustus
Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852). He is famous for working on the
interior and exterior designs of the Houses of Parliament which
were built by Sir Charles Berry. Pugin's architecture was in the
Gothic style which he sought to emulate and not merely to copy.
Take a 360 degree view inside the church here...
Riddlesden
Hall a 17th-century manor house is situated about 1½ miles
from Keighley centre. It was bought in 1631 by James Murgatroyd,
the family had made their fortune in cloth manufacture. The Hall
was due to be demolished in the 1930's but was saved and is now
under the care of the National Trust. 360
degree view of the grounds here...
The
Vintage Carriages Trust (VCT) is situated next to the the Keighley
& Worth Valley Railway at Ingrow Railway Centre, which is about
a mile from Keighley centre. The VCT was formed in the late 1960s
by a group of volunteers whose interest was in wooden bodied carriages.
More
about the Vintage Carriages Trust here...
