Ian Dewhirst in Keighley Library Then and Now!

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Ian Dewhirst was the Reference Librarian in Keighley Library from 1967 until his retirement in 1991.  Here are images of him doing a talk in 2015 and working in the library at the start of his career in Keighley.

Ian Dewhirst 2015

Keighley Public Library has the distinction of being the first in England substantially paid for by the Scots-born American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The Borough council was to provide the site and adopt the Free Libraries Act. An architectural competition was held and the design of McKewan and Swann of Manchester was chosen. The design of the building was described as ‘Edwardian Free Style with Art and Craft influence which presages future 20th century developments in architecture more than it reflects 19th century eclecticism.’ (Sarr 1980)

Ian Dewhirst 1967

Where Town Meets Country

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In the BBC’s ‘Countryfile’ programme of Sunday 17th May Anita Rani returned to her home turf of Bradford to explore the countryside on the edge of the city. She discovered the rural gems right on her doorstep and the journey that has been made for centuries from the urban sprawl to the fresh air of the nearby moors.

Bowling Iron WorksImages from the collection of Bradford Local Studies Library were shown in the programme including pictures of the Bowling Iron Works in 1861. The Bowling Iron Works had been established c 1780 in the southeast of Bradford. The process involved mining coal and iron ore, smelting and refining, casting and forging. By 1840 Bradford was known for having some of the most smoke-filled air in Britain, however these images also demonstrate the proximity of the local moors and countryside surrounding Bradford.

Countryfile also featured coverage of Saltaire and Baildon including Roberts Park, Shipley Glen Tramway and Baildon Moor.

80 Years of Ilkley Lido

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The bathing pool opened in May 1935.  It was an immediate success and enhanced Ilkley’s reputation as an inland health and holiday resort. There were several water slides and the popular ‘wedding cake’ fountain. The diving board was of international standard.

During the second world war, the bathing pool was a popular centre during the Holiday at Home weeks.  In May 1942 it was announced ‘in order to avoid the use of fuel, the water at the bathing pool will not be heated this year.’

In 1950 when this photograph was taken the pool was open from 9am until 9pm each day and in the evening was illuminated by ‘fairy lights’.

The official opening of the Ilkley Lido this year will be on 23rd May.

Ilkley Lido

Local Studies visit the Bradford Club

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Bradford Local Studies Library was represented at an event organised by the Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society.  The event was a day-school called “Bradford In 1851” and featured guest speakers giving talks on the Bradford Poor Law, Bradford Architecture, The Census, and the Religious Census.

Showing a Map

The well attended event took place at the historic Bradford Club in Piece Hall Square (the manager even gave an impromptu short talk on the history of the Club!). Bradford Libraries stall featured an original map of the city centre from 1851, examples of Acts of Parliament relating to Bradford from the 1850s, early examples of Electoral Registers, giving details of Bradford luminaries of the time such as Titus Salt and much more.

The stall proved very popular with those attending the event, and we have already seen some of them visit the library as a result of what they saw.

Local Studies Display

Top 20 Issuing Local Studies Books March 2015

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Here are the top 20 books issued by our Local Studies Library for March 2015.  Yes you can borrow books too….

Position Author Title
1 Hadfield, Charles, 1909- The canals of Yorkshire and North East England
2 Firth, Gary Bingley : past & present / Gary Firth
3 Liddington, Jill, 1946- Female fortune : land, gender and authority : the Anne Lister diaries
4 Malik, Kenan, 1960- From fatwa to jihad : the Rushdie affair and its legacy
5 Mowbray, M.J Route 66 : A journey around the football grounds of Yorkshire
6 Redmonds, George, 1935- Surnames, DNA, and family history
7 Bennett, Eddie Weight for it : A Life of Lifting
8 Birdsall, Michael Illustrated history of Bradford’s suburbs
9 Briggs, David A pair of Wharfedales : the story of Gilbert Briggs and his loudspeakers
10 CUDWORTH, William Rambles round Horton : historical, topographical, and descriptive 1886
11 CUDWORTH, William Round about Bradford : a series of sketches of 42 places within 6 miles of Bradford
12 CUDWORTH, William Round about Bradford Vol. 2
13 Castle, William B. Ron Creasey : The last of the horselads
14 DELIUS, Clare Frederick Delius:memories of my brother
15 Davis, Mark Voices from the asylum : West Riding pauper lunatic asylum
16 Duckett, R. J. (Robert John), 1942- Bradford : history and guide
17 ECCLESHILL LOCAL HISTORY GROUP. Memories of Eccleshill
18 Fieldhouse, Joseph Bradford
19 Firth, Paul Four minutes to hell : the story of the Bradford City fire
20 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND MUSEUM Geology of Yorkshire coalfield