Farnhill Village Web Portal

The family of John Brigg MP (pictured), members of which lived as the tenants of Kildwick Hall from the 1880s to 1946, played a major part in the life of the village throughout that period.

Information about the history of this family prior to their arrival in the village is sparse, but a brief summary is available in the pages of “Textile Manufacture, and Other Industries, in Keighley” by John Hodgson, first published in 1879. Read them here.

As you might expect, the vicars of Kildwick were a mixed bunch; and this article has been subtitled "the good, the bad; the loved, the hated; and at least one who was of "unsound mind". You can read about them all here.

June 2026 marks 100 years since the death of Thomas Appleby who took on the role of headmaster of Kildwick School in 1900. From then until his death he became so involved in village life that his neighbours and friends thought he was worthy of no less than three memorials.

It seems appropriate to remind people about this remarkable man. Click here to read more about Thomas Appleby and the memorials erected to him.
 

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.

In his wonderful two-part WWII memoir about his service aboard HMS Kildwick, see below, Cyril Dennis described how he was witness to the sinking of the MV Silvermaple. The History Group has recently been contacted by a relative of the captain of the Silvermaple with further information. Here's our full set of articles on the two fighting ships that carried the name HMS Kildwick:

HMS Kildwick

Part 1 of Cyril Dennis's wartime memoir
Part 2 of Cyril Dennis's wartime memoir

The sinking of the MV Silvermaple
 

The 1845 tithe map and 1846 tithe commutation document provide a lot of information about what Farnhill was like in the middle of the nineteenth century. We've updated our article on the tithe commutation document with information from the 1841 and 1851 censuses, to help show how the village was changing at that time.

The owners and tenants.
and
The tithe map (1845)
 

Another addition to our collection of group photographs. This one is dated 1954 and shows a group of young people outside St. Andrew's church. We know some, but not all, of the names, but we have no idea why the group was photographed - although it looks as if they were dressed for some sort of pageant.

If you can help with any of the missing names, or information on the event, please email Farnhill and Kildwick History Group.

Click the image opposite to view.
 

We've updated our slideshow made up of photographs taken during the building of the Keighley to Kildwick dual-carriageway (1986 -1988).

Click the image opposite to view.
 

Our archive doesn’t contain many aerial photos of Farnhill and Kildwick, but the ones we have are very interesting.

Recently we’ve taken advantage of the publically available LiDAR images of the area, to look at fine detail of the terrain – mostly odd lumps and bumps. These are also very interesting.

Click the image opposite to view.
 

We've updated our short piece on the back-story behind one of interesting items in our archive - a small photograph of 1935-36 Kildwick Athletic Football Club team.

After the end of WWI a very impressive memorial to the former pupils who died in the war was unveiled in the school. Then, some years later, it disappeared. We don't know what happened to it, but we have found a photograph.

Read our short piece on the memorial.

In December 1920, two years after the appalling confusion over Arthur Whitaker’s death in service, his body was laid in its final resting place.

Read the updated article on the three Farnhill men from the Whitaker family, all of whom were involved in the war one way or another. Part of the Farnhill WW1 Volunteers project.