We've created a number of slideshows in order to display some of the material in our archive.
Views from the Bridge First published 27/4/2024
The approach to St. Andrew’s Church from Kildwick bridge was a particular favourite of early photographers, and our archive contains a large number of images of this view taken throughout the 20th century.
For most of them it’s difficult to be precise about the date, but, by looking at small changes to the landscape over time, it is possible – for the majority – to suggest a sequence.
So here are some “Views from the Bridge”; some not quite from the bridge; and a few of the bridge itself.
Kildwick Gas Works, which stood on the site occupied by the petrol station - behind St. Andrew's Terrace
Crosshills, closed in 1955 and was demolished in the mid-1960s. The late Dennis Laycock's father, Fred, was
manager of the works when it closed and, after his own retirement, Dennis wrote a notebook providing a short
history of the works and details of its operation.
You can also view a
short slideshow of pictures from Dennis's notebook and others of the gas works from our archive. Click on the image opposite.
Mapping Farnhill and Kildwick slideshow Updated 25/11/2023
Our archive includes a number of maps of Farnhill and Kildwick. Here are some, dating from 1577 to 2015 in approximately chronological order, made into a slideshow. It's interesting to see how views of the area have changed.
We've updated this slideshow with some items recently donated to the History Group.
Click the image opposite to view.
Farnhill Mill fires - 1905 and 1906 Updated 24/09/2023
Two destructive mill fires in Farnhill, one in December 1905 and the other in March 1906,
effectively ended industrial development within the village, as well as causing significant unemployment and hardship. We've updated our slideshow of photographs of the mill fires - including the only known image of Farnhill Mill before it burned down.
Paintings and Drawings of Farnhill and Kildwick Updated 31/12/2021
The History Group archive contains a number of scans of paintings and drawings of the two villages – some of them quite old, others more recent.
Many are unsigned and/or undated. This slideshow contains a selection of them, in approximate chronological order.
Click the image opposite to view.
Pre-WW1 photos of Kildwick School pupils First published: 31/12/2022
The History Group archive contains a number of photographs of Kildwick School pupils. For many of these we have dates and the names of some or all the children shown.
Some, however – which may be among the oldest items in our archive – come without names and/or dates. They are, nevertheless, lovely photos.
Click the image opposite to view.
A George Whiteoak slideshow Updated 26/11/2022
Between 1906 and the start of WWI, George Whiteoak of Sutton took some of the very best photographs of Farnhill and Kildwick. With a good eye for what constituted an interesting picture, photographs bearing Whiteoak's trademark "GW" signature are so much better than any other amateur efforts of the period.
Click opposite to view the Whiteoak photographs that have been contributed to our archive. Including one contributed recently, showing the interior of the Farnhill Methodist Chapel.
Farnhill Chapel - a photographic record First published 26/06/2021
Just a few weeks after Farnhill Chapel closed its doors for the last time, members of the History Group were allowed in to take photographs. This slideshow is a selection of the pictures we took that day.
Kildwick war memorial Updated 29/05/2021
We've updated our slideshow on the men commemorated on the
Kildwick WW1 war memorial with more information on its unveiling on 3rd May 1921.
This slideshow uses material drawn from the excellent "Craven's Part in the Great War" website,
www.cpgw.org.uk.
Building the Keighley to Kildwick dual-carriageway Updated 27/07/2019
Do you remember when the dual-carriageway between Keighley and Kildwick was built ? Some photographs of the construction at the Kildwick end of the road have been donated to our archive and we've made them into a short slideshow.
Click the image opposite to view.
Keighley's "1920's Boy" - a Farnhill connection First posted 27/04/2019
In the 1970s, Stanley Boardman, formerly a sign-writer in Keighley, created a series of paintings and drawings of scenes from his childhood. They were subsequently collected under the title "1920's Boy".
Before starting on these iconic pieces, however, Stanley created a number of murals for Kildwick & Farnhill Institute.
Slideshows of some of Stanley's "1920's Boy" pictures, along with images taken recently in the Institute building, have been created by Tim Neal of Keighley and District Local History Society.
Between 1909 and 1914, the last Saturday in July would see up to 5000 people gather on both banks of the river Aire, below the bridge, to watch the annual swimming carnival.
J.W. Teal's photograph album - c.1900 to 1910 Posted 30/12/2017
Earlier this year the History Group was gifted an album of old photographs of Farnhill, Kildwick and nearby townships, by a man from Australia.
His grandfather had emigrated at the end of the nineteenth century and for the next 5 to 10 years had received photographs and postcards sent by family members back home. These were kept, in excellent condition, in an album, the contents of which have now been converted into a slideshow.
Click opposite to view the contents of this remarkable piece of history:
Advertisements from the Cross Hills Almanac (1898 to 1918) Posted 29/10/2016
The History Group has recently been given scanned copies of "Cross Hills and Silsden Almanac" for a number of years 1898 to 1918, by Keighley and District Digital Archive.
The almanac is mostly made up of advertisements for local businesses. Most of these are for businesses in Crosshills, Silsden, and some of the larger stores in Keighley.
However, there are some for businesses in Farnhill and Kildwick which provide an interesting insight into the two communities.
Quick, while the weather's not too bad ... Here's an update to our slideshow of some of the
really bad weather we've had in the past;
including pictures of the flooding that happened over Christmas 2015.
Click on the image opposite to start the slideshow.
1950 Church millenary festival First posted 25/07/2015
Early in the 20th century, six Anglo Saxon stone crosses were discovered in Kildwick church. They were dated to around 950AD and so, in 1950, the church celebrated 1000 years of christian worship on the site with a millenary festival.
Kildwick old railway station First posted 27/06/2015
Did you know that Kidwick has had not one, but two railway stations ?
The first of these was next to the level crossing on the Eastburn road. We've made a
slideshow from some of the old photographs of it. Click the image to view.
George Hepworth lantern slides First posted 29/06/2014
We've been contacted recently by the Pennine Horizons Digital Archive (PHDA), who made us aware of two sets of lantern-slides taken by George Hepworth of Brighouse around 1910. The lantern-slides now form part of the Hebden Bridge Local History Society image collection, cared for by the PHDA, and we are grateful to both organisations for the links below.
Kildwick Hall - above and below stairs First posted 25/01/2014
This
short slideshow combines photographs of the Brigg family, from around 1900 to
1930, with photographs of the Kildwick Hall staff, from around 1910 to the early 1920s.
Preserving our Village Past - Village Events First posted 26/10/2013
One of the slideshows shown at the "Preserving our Village Past" event, on October 5th 2013. This one looks at
social events that took place in Farnhill and Kildwick.
Click the image opposite to start.
Preserving our Village Past - A Stroll through the History of Farnhill and Kildwick First posted 26/10/2013
One of the slideshows shown at the "Preserving our Village Past" event, on October 5th 2013. This one takes you
on a stroll through the history of Farnhill and Kildwick.
Click on the image opposite to start.
Preserving our Village Past - Display Boards First posted 26/10/2013
We've taken the display boards used at the "Preserving our Village Past" event, on October 5th 2013 and turned
them into a slideshow.
Click the image opposite to view.
Repairs to Farnhill Pinnacle 2000 & 2010 First posted 29/06/2013
A piece of recent history. Click opposite to view a slideshow of photographs illustrating
the repair work done to Farnhill Pinnacle in 2000 and 2010.
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