Keighley has two claims to fame, the first being the pronunciation of it’s name Keeth-lee. The second item amused me when Bill Bryson asked why the Army used beautiful countryside for munition target practice, rather than a place like Keighley.

What to do On a Visit

1. Visit Cliff Castle museum to see a good collection of fossils, geological samples, Victorian stuffed animals and the grotto pictured above. Set in a parkland with hillside walks.
2. Keighley is the home base of the Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway. ‘The steep gradient up the Worth Valley from the Keighley terminus has been a challenge for locomotives ever since the line opened on 15th April 1867. The sound of a steam engine tackling this climb echoes from the steep sides of the valley, while great clouds of steam and smoke add drama to the scene.’ from KWVR site
3. Keighley has been a location for several films and TV dramas the best known being  The Railway Children. Others include Blow Dry and the film of the Pink Floyd musical The Wall plus several Asian documentaries.
4. The TV series episode Sharpe’s Justice, which focuses on the roots of the title character, is actually set in and around Keighley. The local Utley cemetery contains the grave of war hero Christopher Ingham, a veteran of the 95th Rifle Regiment and conflicts against Napoleon. Some local historians believe Mr Ingham’s heroism may have inspired the author Bernard Cornwell’s saga about Major Richard Sharpe, played by Sheffield-born Sean Bean.
5. Timothy Taylors has been brewing in Keighley for 150+ years and has supplied Madonna with Landlord a much loved and good strong ale.
6. The 17th century East Riddlesden Hall’s tumultuous past, which includes tales of ghosts and dastardly deeds is now managed by the National Trust.
7. Keighley has far less textile engineering than in better days but the shopping and indoor market is good value to cheap, reflecting the hard time some of the community are suffering.
8. Read the Keighley News for local colour and latest information.
9. I am struggling to find 10 items of note even though the rivers Aire  and Worth meet in Keighley I can’t say it creates a local beauty spot.

“I’ll tell you now and I’ll tell you briefly, I don’t never want to go to Keighley.” John Cooper Clarke

Now you can also Pronounce on Keighley here