Forty years ago, Hollywood came to Keighley! The climactic finale of the film ‘Yanks’ was filmed at Keighley railway station and the goods yard at the end of Cavendish Street (now Sainsbury’s car park) in the summer of 1978. Filming also took place at Steeton where an entire US Army Base was recreated. The film was directed by John Schlesinger and starred Richard Gere alongside over 800 extras including many recruited from the town. The film is available on Blu-ray and DVD from Monday 3rd December.
Yanks director John Schlesinger in a publicity shot taken in the railway goods yard at the end of Cavendish Street. The Victoria Hotel can be seen in the background.
The railway goods yard at the end of Cavendish Street, before it was cleared to make way for Sainsbury’s. Photograph by G. L. Kitchen, taken from the History Society’s digital collection.
The railway goods yard as it is today – the Sainsbury’s car park. Photograph taken by History Society member Tim Neal in 2018.
