| An article describing my hometown | | | | skateboard on. |
| Keighley with details about living and | | | | Nights Out |
| working in the town and tourism. | | | | There has always been a lot of pubs in |
| 'The dark satanic mill town of Keighley' | | | | the area, maybe because we have an award |
| I have never forgotten that headline | | | | winning brewery in the town. If you want |
| from a national newspaper in the late | | | | to eat out there are many restaurants |
| 60s. The article was about the Keighley | | | | offering different cultural meals. |
| rugby league team who are now called | | | | Nightclubs are a bit thin on the ground |
| Keighley Cougars. | | | | with just 2 catering for different age |
| Back then wherever you looked on the | | | | ranges and they aren't that good. |
| horizon you could see mill chimneys | | | | However there are plenty of good clubs |
| towering over the rest of the town. The | | | | within travelling distance in Bradford, |
| mill chimneys were gradually demolished | | | | Leeds and even further afield at |
| and now as Keighley sits in a valley you | | | | Wakefield. |
| can see fields and trees in the distance | | | | Tourism |
| from almost any viewpoint. | | | | Keighley is part of Bronte Country, only |
| Keighley in the West Riding of Yorkshire | | | | a couple of miles from Haworth where the |
| was a huge manufacturer of textiles, but | | | | famous Bronte literature family lived. |
| now the mill buildings that have not | | | | Apart from traditional means, you can |
| burnt down or been vandalised have been | | | | travel to Oxenhope via Haworth on the |
| converted into smaller units offering a | | | | Keighley and Worth Valley Line from the |
| wide variety of businesses or homes. | | | | Keighley station on a steam train in the |
| The population was over 51,000 at the | | | | summer. It is a heritage line and has |
| 2001 census and apparently is the third | | | | been used for several film locations |
| largest civil parish in England. | | | | that include the Railway Children, Yanks |
| Approximately 18% of the population are | | | | and the film of Pink Floyds 'The Wall' |
| of ethnic minorities, adding a multi | | | | musical. |
| cultural aspect to the town and some | | | | At the first stop 300 yards from where I |
| fine Indian, Italian and Chinese | | | | live in Ingrow there is a Museum of Rail |
| restaurants. Keighley is pronounced | | | | Travel. It is also the starting place |
| 'Keeth lee' but to the inhabitants | | | | for Thomas the Tank Engine days out. |
| annoyance many people outside Keighley | | | | I took my grandchildren last summer and |
| insist on calling the town Keeley. | | | | they could clamber on board Thomas and |
| Transport | | | | pull the whistle. There was a show |
| Travelling to and around Keighley is not | | | | performed several times during the day |
| difficult. We have a train station and | | | | for the children and several stalls. |
| an award winning new closed in bus | | | | After the show we were able to travel on |
| station in the town centre with regular | | | | steam trains all day for one low cost |
| transport in and around the area and | | | | fee. At each stop there were more shows |
| easy access to many cities. Bradford is | | | | and stalls making it a very good day |
| just 10 miles away and Leeds 20 miles | | | | out. Towards Christmas there is a Santa |
| away and of course the Leeds/Bradford | | | | Special steam train day. |
| airport is easily accessible. | | | | Haworth attracts a lot of American and |
| There are lots of reliable taxi firms in | | | | Japanese tourists who want to steep |
| Keighley and I have found that with | | | | themselves in the history of the |
| using a combination of different | | | | Brontes. There is a Bronte museum up a |
| transport facilities and on foot I | | | | steep cobbled street, the Bronte |
| really do not need my own transport | | | | Waterfall and of course the moors where |
| because everything is within easy reach. | | | | the fictional Cathy and Heathcliffe |
| It also works out cheaper than having my | | | | roamed. There are lots of antique shops |
| own petrol guzzling transport. | | | | and tea rooms and some good hotels. |
| Shopping | | | | Skipton, 'The Gateway To The Dales' is |
| We have a modern shopping centre and | | | | 10 miles away. A good starting point for |
| several industrial estates offering just | | | | hiking holidays for those who want to |
| about everything that you might want to | | | | enjoy the beautiful countryside. Skipton |
| buy. If I want to buy some new clothes | | | | also has one of the most complete |
| that are a little bit different I make a | | | | medieval castles in the country and is |
| day out of it and take a 20 minute train | | | | over 900 years old. Historical |
| journey to Leeds and either shop in the | | | | re-enactment events, archery and |
| city centre or visit the White Rose | | | | jousting are often hosted at Skipton |
| Centre. | | | | Castle. |
| Keighley has a permanent closed in | | | | 10 miles in the other direction is the |
| market and quite regularly we have | | | | city of Bradford where you will find the |
| visiting continental markets offering a | | | | National Media Museum, which is the most |
| wider range of goods. | | | | visited museum outside London. Bradford |
| Leisure | | | | hosts several festivals, including the |
| We have several parks in the area with | | | | Bradford Festival in June and the |
| lots of green space for children to run | | | | Bradford Mela which is the largest |
| about on and safe fenced off | | | | festival of its type outside Asia. There |
| playgrounds, bowling greens etc. We have | | | | are 4 theatres in Bradford and for those |
| a leisure centre in Victoria Park where | | | | who enjoy plays it isn't difficult to |
| you will find a modern swimming pool | | | | get to Harrogate and their playhouse. |
| with slide and a fitness centre. | | | | Living In Keighley |
| Victoria Park hosts our yearly gala | | | | Although Keighley has often been knocked |
| during the summer and occasional | | | | in the press and by some inhabitants I |
| visiting circuses and fairs. Within the | | | | do not think that it is a bad place to |
| park you will find Victoria Hall where | | | | live. I feel safe in my home and walking |
| functions and gigs are often held. | | | | around the streets and I have easy |
| There is a museum at Cliff Hall in the | | | | access to everything that I want. |
| grounds of Cliff Castle where | | | | Housing is inexpensive compared to many |
| exhibitions are often held. For families | | | | other places in the UK. You can still |
| there is a fenced off playground and a | | | | get a 2 bedroom terrace for less than |
| café. Picnic tables are provided for | | | | £100,000 or any other type of dwelling |
| those like my grandchildren who prefer | | | | at comparatively low prices. |
| to picnic in between running around. | | | | I have never found it difficult to get |
| There was a small zoo with guinea pigs | | | | employment in or around Keighley and the |
| and a few different birds the last time | | | | employment opportunities are diverse. |
| I went in the summer. Years ago there | | | | The inhabitants are friendly and very |
| were monkeys, but now all of the monkeys | | | | much down to earth. We speak with a |
| in the area seem to reside at a house | | | | Yorkshire accent that is not as broad as |
| next door to my mother. Over 50 would | | | | some of the surrounding rural areas, I |
| you believe! | | | | certainly do not say 'ee bah gum' on a |
| In Lund park you will find 2 | | | | regular basis! |
| playgrounds, one for older children and | | | | The area in and around Keighley offers |
| a fenced off area for the younger ones. | | | | much more than I have mentioned but |
| There is a bowling green and a putting | | | | hopefully this article gives you a good |
| green and a bicycle track with gradients | | | | idea of my hometown. |
| which my 4 year old grandson loves to | | | | |