A CAMPAIGN is gathering momentum to save from demolition the oldest part of Keighley College’s former North Street building.

As previously reported by the Keighley News, local historian Jan Perkins has gathered more than 50 supporters and is planning meetings to combat Bradford Council’s demolition plans.

To support the campaign, David Kirkley, her colleague on Keighley Heritage Group, has written about a renowned building originally on part of the college site – Keighley Mechanics Institute – which was destroyed by fire in 1962.

He writes:

There had been a Mechanics Institute in Keighley for many years, being founded by four local worthies: John Farish, John Haigh, John Bradley and William Dixon, who set about forming “A society for mutual instruction and establishing a library for the same”.

Meetings were held in various places, including the Free Grammar School in Cooke Lane, but then in 1835 it was decided to erect the first institute building in North Street – one of the first to be built in the north of England.

Many events were held at the new building, including a lecture by the Rev Patrick Brontë. His daughters were said to have used the ever-expanding library on many occasions.

By the 1860s, the Institute in its present building – which many older Keighley people will remember as the later Yorkshire Penny Bank, at the junction of North Street and Bow Street – was outgrowing its demands and it was decided to build a new grand institute at the junction of North Street and Cavendish Street.

The foundation stone for the new building was laid on December 12 1868 by Isaac Holden and opened by the Duke of Devonshire on September 30 1870. A good part of the cost was from public subscriptions by the people of Keighley.

For almost a century, the Municipal Hall was the centre for such things as civic events, meetings, concerts, theatrical productions, and from 1871 it housed the Keighley Trade School and Art School.

Additions were made over the years including, in 1892, a clock on the main tower erected in memory of local manufacturer, Prince Smith.

It was at a rock and roll night on March 2, 1962 when someone threw away a cigarette end that ignited curtains, and the fire spread, which destroyed the much of the clock tower and hall.

Fire brigades attended from all over the district and, it was said, as the Haworth appliance approached Keighley, one fireman got the impression the whole town was ablaze.

Much of the Grammar School was saved, and so loved was the 'Mechanics' that within days a fund had been set up to rebuild the heart of the town.

The clock was replaced in the damaged tower almost immediately and that marked the time until the whole damaged part building was demolished in 1967 to be replaced by the Technical College building, itself now marked for replacement.

Surely, on this particular site, something must be erected that is, once again, the heart and pride of Keighley and a resource for the whole of the community.

l Anyone wishing to support John Perkins's campaign should visit the Facebook page entitled Save Keighley Boys Grammar School.