In 2011 military historians from the Men of Worth Project carried out a survey of all war memorials in the Keighley area removed from churches and other buildings because of their closure.

One of these was from Cross Roads Primitive Methodist Sunday School.  A photograph of the original memorial was included in an album in the Keighley Local Studies Library but the whereabouts of the memorial was a mystery.

In 2015 the photographs were discovered listed in archive BK115, Cross Roads Primitive Methodist Chapel records. At some time in its history the photographs had been taken out of the frame to preserve them from water damage and stored in the Keighley archives for conservation purposes.

Once these images came to light, historians from the Men of Worth project set about recreating the memorial with the original photograph as a guide. Using copies of the original photographs, the images were digitally enhanced and a replica of the memorial was made.

Business people in the town assisting in the making of it including Robert Riley of R & J  Riley Joiners who built the frame while M J Framing on High Street cut and made the mount for the sections. Sheila Butler carried out calligraphy for the men’s names.

Congratulations to all involved, especially Ian Walkden and Andy Wade from Keighley’s Men of Worth project for all their painstaking work in bringing this piece of history back to life, commemorating the bravery of local men from the First World War.

The replica memorial features names and photographs of many men. However sadly, some of the photographs are not present. These are:

Pte. Alfred Firth
2^nd South Staffords

Pte. Fred A. Pickles
1/6^th Duke of Wellingtons

Pte. Arthur Dinsdale
6^th West Riding Regiment

Pte. John R. Bowker
Somerset Light Infantry

Pte. Asa Aspinall
Royal Fusiliers

Perhaps photographs of these men may exist in private collections and come to light in the future.

The completed memorial is presented to Cllr Tito Arana of Haworth Cross Roads and Stanbury Council at a presentation event attended by military historians from Men of Worth project, local tradespeople and library staff.

Ian Walkden (back right) from Men of Worth project speaking to a group in Keighley Local Studies Library