Tag: Library

Butchers in the Library

A massive thank you to Karl-Heinz Wustner who spoke to the History Society at the Local Studies Library yesterday (Wednesday 1st October). His talk was entitled ‘Meeting the Meat Demand’ and told the story of how many German families came over to Keighley and West Yorkshire in the 19th century and successfully set themselves up as pork butchers in the town.

Over forty society members and visitors were present in the Library, several being the descendants of these families. The event was a great success, and our thanks to the staff of the Library who made us so welcome.

The History Society’s next talk is ‘Parachutes, Escape Maps and Wedding Dresses’, on artificial silk weaving in the area, to be given by textile experts Pam Brook and Helen Farrar on Wednesday 8th October at 7.15pm in the Civic Centre on North Street.

German Butchers Come to Keighley

The History Society has arranged a bonus talk for October, with a visit from Karl-Heinz Wustner, coming to talk about German immigration to West Yorkshire in the 19th century. The talk is called ‘Meeting the Meat Demand’ and will take place in Keighley Local Studies Library on Wednesday 1st October at 2.30pm. There is a £2 entry charge.

This presentation is a joint event between the History Society and Keighley Local Studies Library.

Comparing Then and Now

History Society committee member Tim Neal will be giving his talk “Lilywhite Postcards: Then & Now” at Keighley Local Studies Library on Saturday 20th September from 2pm. Entry is free and no need to pre-book.

Tim has an extensive collection of postcards of the town and surrounding areas, and uses some of those produced by the company Lilywhite Ltd. in the 1910s to 1950s to compare the view from back then to the same view today in the 21st century.

The presentation is a joint event between the History Society and the Local Studies Library, and is being given as part of the Heritage Open Days season. There will also be photographs and plans of various major buildings in Keighley on display for visitors to browse.

Showbiz History

Keighley Local Studies Library is hosting a special afternoon with musicians Bruce and Linda Russell on Saturday 4th October 2025. The pair were seen as Keighley’s rock’n’roll pioneers – from skiffle to the town’s first rock’n’roll group, The Presidents. They recorded their music and performed on the northern club circuit, at foreign air bases and Butlin’s holiday camps, and had a residency at Batley Variety Club.

This is the chance to hear tales about the top stars of the day – Shirley Bassey, Des O’Connor, Louis Armstrong, The Hollies, The Walker Brothers, Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black, Gene Pitney, Robert Plant – and Frankie Howerd!

Tickets (only £2) are selling fast and places are limited so get in touch with the Library soon to book your place.

Summer reading…

August’s History Society meeting (on 13th August 2025) explores the life and works of vicar and crime novelist Austin Lee. If you fancy any summer reading in advance of the meeting, plenty of Austin’s books are available in Keighley Local Studies Library (just ask at the desk) – including some he wrote under his pen names of Julian Callender or John Austwick. We recommend ‘Murder in the Borough Library’ – set in a library inspired by Keighley’s own library (which is where Austin wrote it!).

A selection of books by Austin Lee, available to read in Keighley Local Studies Library. Photos: Tim Neal.

Asa Briggs Exhibition at Library

A small exhibition on Keighley-born historian Asa Briggs (1921-2016) is available to view in Keighley Local Studies Library for the next few months. He was educated at Keighley Boys’ Grammar School then at Cambridge. His main areas of interest were the social and cultural histories of the past two hundred years, resulting in books ranging from the Victorians to a comprehensive history of the BBC. He also wrote about his time working at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

Asa Briggs exhibition at Keighley Local Studies Library, July 2025. Photographed by Tim Neal.

A short leaflet on Asa Briggs is available at the library, and in August a new biography is to be published by Harper Collins. The author is Adam Sisman and he visited Keighley Local Studies Library last year to research his subject’s links with the town.

Library Archive Session

Be like Princess Anne, and check out the stereoscopic (3D) images of Keighley from over 120 years ago as part of the members-only session at Keighley Local Studies Library next Saturday (31st May 2025 10am-1pm). [We don’t actually know if HRH is looking at pictures of Keighley – but you could be if you come along!] £2 per person. Please let Tim know if you are thinking of coming.

(Photo (c) Press Association/Aaron Chown)

Library Closed for Refurbishment

Keighley Library is closing for a number of weeks from THURSDAY 13th MARCH. The main library will be operating a ‘click & collect’ service, but the LOCAL STUDIES LIBRARY have a different system. Read below for details.

Thursday 13th and Friday 14th March: The Local Studies Library will offer a by-appointment service only to visitors who need to access publications and original records for their research. Visitors will be required to book their visit in advance to use the appointment service. Visitors should then turn up at the entrance on Spencer Street at the allotted time and will be taken up to the Local Studies Library.

Week commencing Monday 17th March: The Local Studies Library will be closed completely for one week to allow for essential collections work. During this time, the team will respond to urgent enquiries via email only.

From Tuesday 25th March: the by-appointment service will resume. This will last for the duration of the refurbishment work which is expected to last for about three weeks.

Please check the library website and social media for updates

www.bradford.gov.uk/libraries