I completed a job in Keighley (pronounced Keethly) in West Yorkshire earlier than expected and had several hours to explore the town which I have visited several times before. I was free to wander until 19:01 when my train left for Leeds. Then it was over the bridge to join a CrossCountry train to Durham, my TransPennine connection having been cancelled owing to a shortage of train drivers. No matter: all the money back under Delay Repay!
The station at Keighley is well located for visits. First, a walk north of the town for Cliffe Castle Museum and Park. This was originally the home of Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer Henry Issac Butterfield. The house was completed in the 1880s and was a showpiece of international art and French decoration. Sir Bracewell Smith, then Lord Mayor of London, bought the Castle in the 1950s and turned the gardens into a grand public park and remodelled the Castle to be a free museum for the people of the district. Zero expenditure except for a voluntary donation.
Walking back into town, one can admire the impressive war memorial, and in the corner of the park is a new memorial to Captain Sir Tom Moore, born in the town where he attended the Grammar School before joining the army. He was created a Freeman of the town even though he lived in Bedford in later life.
I was unsure if the National Trust’s East Riddlesden Hall, a fine 17th century country Manor House, would be open, but it was only five bus stops away (on the useful Shuttle 662 bus towards Bradford) from the station to find out. Now open Saturday to Wednesday, I discovered, there was a wedding party in full swing on the Thursday afternoon and it would have to wait for another time.
As luck would have it I arrived back at Keighley ten minutes before the last round trip to Oxenhope on the heritage line, Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Being school holidays, it was Timetable A in operation, the most frequent, with both steam and diesel traction in use. Most heritage railways now use this system, shown on the photo with different time tables depending on likely demand and availability of volunteers.
K&WVR has six separate timetables linked to a calendar of their operating season. I bought a ticket for £13.50 (concessions were available) and travelled the five mile length of the line, stopping at Oakworth station which became famous through the 1970 film The Railway Children. Do you remember at the end Jenny Agutter crying out “Daddy, my Daddy!”? Then on to Oxenhope for an ice cream and back calling at all six stations.
Finally, only 100 yards from the station I found Keighley’s top rated Indian Restaurant, the Curry House. Whilst not particularly imaginative in name, the food, and accompanying Kingfisher beer, was first rate so from going in at 17:45 to leaving ten minutes before my train, I was royally treated, which is why I fell asleep on the train to Leeds, and had to be woken up by the train conductor.
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John Short