75-459: Ilkley Town Hall , on Station Road, Ilkley , West Yorkshire , is a Grade II listed municipal building designed by William Bakewell of Leeds . It forms the centre of a small complex of public buildings, which also includes Ilkley Library (a Carnegie library ), and the King's Hall & Winter Garden theatre . The library, Town Hall and King's Hall opened in 1908 opposite Ilkley railway station ;
150-466: A pediment . The roof ridge contains a central clock turret, containing an illuminated hour-striking clock and bell installed in 1907 by Potts & Sons of Leeds. The Winter Garden, which being a later addition does not form part of the symmetrical layout, is attached to the right-hand side in a similar style. It has a decorated metal canopy which projects over the pavement. Governance in Ilkley began with
225-623: A 2011 list of "Top 10 UFO incidents in the UK". The moor forms part of the South Pennine Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It also forms part of the South Pennine Moors Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Friends of Ilkley Moor group was founded in 2008 and works with partners to preserve the moor. In 2008, Bradford Metropolitan District Council leased
300-601: A burial monument), known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’, was constructed 4,500 years ago, during the Early Bronze Age. Serious interest in the rock art of Ilkley began after the publication of the "Prehistoric Rock Sculptures of Ilkley" in 1879 by Romilly Allen in the Journal of the British Archaeological Association . The remains of a Roman fort occupy a site near the town centre. Some authorities believe it
375-516: A fountain and hanging baskets. Bettys , the Yorkshire tea room, has a shop in the town. Ilkley has little by way of industry or commerce but employers include the Woolmark Company , Spooner Industries and NG Bailey . The town is also home to three breweries, Ilkley Brewery situated on the outskirts, Wharfedale Brewery which is housed within the grounds of a former 18th century farmhouse in
450-573: A large outcrop, which allegedly imitates a cow, and a boulder, which imitates a calf. The site is also visited for its rock climbing routes. The Old Bridge just outside the town centre is the official start to the Dales Way , an 84-mile (135 km) walk through the dales to Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District . Darwin Gardens, to the south of the town, is a Millennium Green which commemorates
525-471: A local businessman and councillor, bought the estate at auction for £7,800, and sold part of it on to Ilkley UDC in March 1897 for £6270. The Council swiftly demolished Sedbergh House to allow for Station Road to be widened, but for several years allowed the future town hall site to lie empty while debate continued about what size and design it should take. The Council finally decided to move forward with building on
600-556: A portrait of Jackson. It was designed by J W Hudson, a watchmaker and jeweller on Brook Street, and expresses civic pride and gratitude. A local cultural charity group named the Friends of the King's Hall and Winter Garden was set up in 2000 due to anxieties about neglect of the buildings' condition. It co-operates closely with the officers of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, and raises money to fund restorations and refurbishments. Currently,
675-499: A prefabricated steel arched box-girder bridge. The river is prone to flooding the sports fields (and a few houses) that occupy the watermeadows . A person from Ilkley is called an Olicanian which is derived from Olicana , thought to be the name of the Roman fort Ilkley is built upon. The ethnic make-up of Ilkley's population is 98.02% White, 0.74% mixed, 0.72% Asian, 0.37% Chinese or other ethnic group and 0.14% Black. The largest age group
750-697: A railway connection offering about 35 trains to each destination per day from Ilkley railway station . The railway, before the Beeching axe , also connected to Addingham, Bolton Abbey and Skipton to the west, and to Otley , Pool-in-Wharfedale , meeting the main Leeds to Harrogate line at Arthington . The town partially straddles the River Wharfe in a valley, rising from the river at 230 feet (70 m) to 650 feet (200 m) above sea level, up Ilkley Moor (a bracken and heather covered moorland , with rocky outcrops, to
825-468: A relatively high percentage of residents working in education and health and social work. The town had a relatively low percentage working in transport and communication and manufacturing. The census recorded the economic activity of residents aged 16–74, 2.2% students were with jobs, 3.7% students without jobs, 5.8% looking after home or family, 2.7% permanently sick or disabled, and 1.8% economically inactive for other reasons. Ilkley's 1.8% unemployment rate
SECTION 10
#1732851584750900-402: A retired policeman, saw and photographed what he believed was an alien being on the moor . He said he saw the strange creature rush up the hill and give a signal to him with one of its arms as if telling him not to approach. He later saw a dome-topped craft at the top of the hill after following the being which shot into the air at a blinding speed. The Daily Telegraph included this event in
975-426: A surplus of architects; sixty entries were received. The assessor and judge of the competition was George Bertram Bulmer, President of the Leeds and Yorkshire Architectural Society. In May 1904 it was announced first place should go to William Bakewell of Leeds , second place to Reginald T Longden of Burslem , Stoke-on-Trent , and third place to Warwick & Hall of London. Bakewell's design, entitled "Economy" ,
1050-582: A variety of other religious groups. Ilkley's medieval parish church All Saints' , largely reconstructed in the Victorian era, houses artefacts of the site's ancient Christian heritage including three Saxon crosses and today operates within the Anglican Communion . An expanding congregation in the 19th century triggered plans in 1873 for a second church which became St Margaret's Church, designed by Richard Norman Shaw and completed in 1879. Worship at
1125-458: Is Olicana , dating to 79 AD, but the identification is not settled. A number of Roman altars have been discovered from the reigns of Antoninus Pius (138 to 161), and Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla (211 to 217). Ilkley Manor House stands on part of the site in Castle Yard and is home to various Roman artefacts, including an original altar dedicated to Verbeia , the goddess of
1200-497: Is 45- to 59-year-olds (20.73%). The town is a tourist destination and is used as a base from which to explore the famous moor and the countryside beyond. Ilkley is a shopping town that sells everything from game, fine wine, expensive fashions and fine art. The Victorian parades of the Grove and Brook Street have a selection of speciality shops. The town's original Victorian arcade has been restored as an indoor shopping walkway complete with
1275-605: Is a ward in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford and is represented by two Conservative councillors, Andrew Loy and David Nunns, and Ros Brown, a councillor for the Green Party . indicates seat up for re-election. indicates councillor defection. Nearby are the North Yorkshire hamlets of Middleton (1 mile (1.6 km)), Denton (2.7 miles (4.3 km)) and Bolton Abbey (6 miles (9.7 km));
1350-453: Is characterised by Victorian architecture , wide streets and floral displays. Ilkley Moor , to the south of the town, is the subject of a folk song, often described as the unofficial anthem of Yorkshire , " On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at ". The song's words are written in Yorkshire dialect , its title translated as "On Ilkley Moor without a hat." The earliest evidence of habitation in the Ilkley area
1425-554: Is from flint arrowheads or microliths , dating to the Mesolithic period, from about 11,000 BC onwards. The area around Ilkley has been continuously settled since at least the Neolithic, around 3000 BC; more than 250 cup and ring marks , and a curved swastika carving possibly dating to the period have been found on rock outcrops, and archaeological remains of dwellings are found on Ilkley Moor . A small stone circle (possibly
1500-622: Is home to the Michelin-starred Box Tree restaurant where Marco Pierre White trained. In 1991 Ilkley won the Entente Florale and in 1990 and 2004 the Britain in Bloom contest in the category of 'Town'. In 2006 Ilkley became a Fairtrade Town . The Manor House , one of the town's oldest buildings, houses a museum and art gallery. The museum contains prehistoric artefacts and documents
1575-543: Is large, with the smaller one sitting close to it, like a cow and calf . Legend has it that there was once also a " bull ", but that was quarried for stone during the spa town boom that Ilkley was part of in the 19th century. However, none of the local historians have provided any evidence of the Bull's existence. According to legend, the Calf was split from the Cow when the giant Rombald
SECTION 20
#17328515847501650-599: Is located close to Ilkley. There is a wide variety of sports clubs and facilities in and around Ilkley. Notable clubs include the Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, founded in 1880 (member of the Lawn Tennis Association ), which hosts an Ilkley Squash Open that has attracted world-class players such as Peter Barker ; and Ilkley Trophy , a distinguished tennis tournament for men (an ATP event) as well as women (an ITF W100 event). Furthermore, there are also
1725-562: Is now a cycle store. Ilkley Moor Ilkley Moor is part of Rombalds Moor , the moorland between Ilkley and Keighley in West Yorkshire , England . The moor, which rises to 402 m (1,319 ft) above sea level, is well known as the inspiration for the Yorkshire "county anthem" On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at (dialect for 'on Ilkley Moor without a hat'). During the Carboniferous period (325 million years ago), Ilkley Moor
1800-504: Is run by former UK champion Mark Outterside. Public facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and outdoor tennis courts at Ilkley's Lido . Constructed in 1935, it is one of only four public open-air swimming pools in Yorkshire and is a tourist attraction during the summer holiday season. Ilkley Town A.F.C. are a Charter Standard Community Football Club that provides football opportunities to over 650 members (male & female) from under 5's to SuperVets (over 45's). In 2021,
1875-680: The A65 road , which runs between Leeds and Kendal . The nearest substantial motorways are the M62 at Bradford, the M1 at Leeds and the A1(M) at Wetherby. The civil parish is served by two railway stations: Ilkley and Ben Rhydding . These are linked by the Wharfedale Line , along which Northern Trains operates services between Ilkley, Bradford Forster Square and Leeds stations. Leeds Bradford International Airport
1950-702: The Ilkley Golf Club , Yorkshire's third oldest golf club founded in 1890, and where Colin Montgomerie for some years practised the game; Ilkley Rugby Club; and Ilkley Harriers Athletics Club. There are a number of football, rugby and hockey teams. Ilkley Cricket Club play in the Aire-Wharfe League. The nearby Ben Rhydding Sports Club in Ben Rhydding is the home of Ben Rhydding Hockey Club, founded in 1901, and Ben Rhydding Cricket Club. An Ilkley Karate Club
2025-545: The Ilkley Town AFC was admitted into the North West Counties League Division One North. The town has seen a number of high-profile international cycle races pass through. The steep climb up to the Cow and Calf rocks at the edge of Ilkley Moor is normally the reason for the races to visit as it presents a short but challenging climb. For three consecutive years between 1994 and 1996, the climb
2100-610: The Local Board established in 1848, which held meetings above a shop in Brook Street. The Board was replaced in 1894 by Ilkley Urban District Council (UDC), which met in rented rooms on The Grove. The town, which being a fashionable, affluent spa resort on the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales with a population of 7,455, lacked the status symbol of proper public buildings, and the UDC
2175-430: The River Wharfe . Three Anglo-Saxon crosses from the 8th century that stood in the churchyard of All Saints' Church have been moved inside to prevent erosion. The church site, as a centre for Christian worship, extends to 627 AD, and the present mainly Victorian -era church incorporates medieval elements. The Domesday Book , of 1086, records Ilkley ( Ilecliue/Illecliue/Illiclei/Illicleia ) as being in
2250-577: The West Riding of Yorkshire , Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within the City of Bradford. Approximately 12 miles (19 km) north of Bradford and 17 miles (27 km) north-west of Leeds , the town lies mainly on the south bank of the River Wharfe in Wharfedale , one of the Yorkshire Dales . Ilkley's spa town heritage and surrounding countryside make tourism an important local industry. The town centre
2325-574: The Church of the Sacred Heart ( Roman Catholic ) and the Ilkley Society of Friends' ( Quaker ) Meeting House , which opened in 1869. Churches Together in Ilkley exists to encourage co-operation amongst member churches. The former Wesleyan Chapel at the junction of Skipton Road and Bolton Bridge Road was built in 1834 but in 1892 it became Ilkley's first museum. In 1914 it became a commercial garage and
Ilkley Town Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue
2400-520: The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. Until 2006 Ilkley civil parish consisted of Ilkley ward, which includes Ben Rhydding, and the north half of Rombalds ward. The latter ward housed the villages of Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston. The population of the parish in 2001 was therefore considerably higher than it is today, consisting of 24,954 residents. In 2006, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston established their own parishes and today Ilkley consists only of Ilkley ward (13,828 residents). The town
2475-423: The Ilkley campus of Bradford and Ilkley Community College closed despite opposition. The campus had occupied a 15.64 acres (6.33 ha) site at Wells House , which was sold for housing after its closure. According to Census 2001, 75.64% of Ilkley residents are Christian. The second largest group are people with no religion who account for 15.53% of residents. 7.48% did not state their religion and 1.34% fall into
2550-548: The King's Hall was the location of various rallies, including ones addressed by Suffragette Adela Pankhurst , William Booth of The Salvation Army , and Robert Baden-Powell . It has also held the Wharfedale Music Festival since opening, and had cinema equipment installed in 1910. To its west was a terrace garden which was replaced by the Winter Garden, opening with another ceremony on 22 June 1914, coinciding with
2625-569: The Origin of Species was published on 24 November 1859, whilst staying with his family at North View House (now Hillside Court). Tourists flocked to 'take the waters' and bathe in the cold-water spring. Wheatley was renamed Ben Rhydding after the Hydro, which has been demolished. Development based on the Hydro movement, and on the establishment of convalescent homes and hospitals, was accelerated in August 1865 by
2700-460: The Roman fort of Olicana – remains of which are exposed at the back of the building – as well as the rise of Ilkley as a Victorian spa town. Ilkley Toy Museum has a collection of toys dating from 350 BC and a collection of English wooden dolls. Ilkley's rural surroundings attract walkers and cyclists to the area. The landmark Cow and Calf rocks, which overlook the town on Ilkley Moor , consist of
2775-632: The Town Hall is home to Ilkley Visitor Information Centre, Town Clerk's office, and Town Council's meeting chamber. Further services were provided by Bradford MDC until 2014, such as a staffed reception and cash office, but withdrew these, stating "the limited public use of the reception does not justify staff costs". Ilkley Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire , in Northern England . Historically part of
2850-459: The Winter Garden was added to the west in 1914. The frontage to Station Road is a symmetrical composition featuring the central Town Hall, with two wings – the library to the left and the King's Hall to the right. Everything is of two storeys and constructed of local ashlar stone with mullioned windows and steep, hipped slate roofs. The main entrance is recessed within Ionic columns and topped with
2925-614: The church is conducted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition and in 2005 was led by David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes . When the Archbishop of York resigned he became vicar at Ilkley until his retirement in 2006. Other places of worship in Ilkley include Ben Rhydding Methodist Church ( Methodist ), Christchurch ( Methodist / United Reformed ), Ilkley Baptist Church ( Baptist ), Kingdom Hall, Ilkley ( Jehovah's Witnesses ), St John's Parish Church, St Margaret's Church, Ben Rhydding ( Anglican ),
3000-622: The construction of the Otley and Ilkley Joint Railway, which linked to the Leeds and Bradford Railway and the North Eastern Railway . The Midland Railway built a connection to Skipton via Bolton Abbey in May 1888. Other Victorian visitors to the town included Madame Tussaud . The only remaining hydro building is the white cottage known as White Wells House. The cottage can be seen and visited on
3075-484: The design of the new town of Ilkley to replace the village which had stood there before. In the 17th and 18th centuries the town gained a reputation for the efficacy of its water. In the 19th century it became established as a fashionable spa town , with the construction of Ben Rhydding Hydro , a hydropathic establishment at Wheatley, a mile to the east, between 1843 and 1844. Charles Darwin underwent hydropathic treatment at Wells House when his book On
Ilkley Town Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue
3150-567: The development of local projects. Ilkley is in the Keighley UK Parliament constituency , held since 2019 by Robbie Moore , the Conservative MP. He defeated John Grogan , who had himself defeated the previous Conservative MP, Kris Hopkins , in 2017. Hopkins was first elected in 2010, replacing Ann Cryer . Cryer held the seat between 1997 and 2010, and her late husband Bob held the seat between 1974 and 1983. Before 1974 Ilkley
3225-454: The edge of the moor overlooking the town. In May 2018, the parish council became a town council, with Cllr Stephen Butler serving as the first Town Mayor. The town consists of four wards and elects 14 councillors: Ilkley North (3 councillors), Ilkley South (3), Ilkley West (4) and Ben Rhydding (4). It meets in the 1908 Ilkley Town Hall on Station Road. The council precept is collected with the annual Council Tax to fund its running and to aid
3300-550: The end of the Carboniferous period more than a thousand metres of coal-bearing rocks have been completely removed from the area by erosion. During the last million years, Ice Age glaciers modified the shape of the Wharfe valley, deepening it, smoothing it, and leaving behind glacial debris. The millstone grit not only gives character to the town of Ilkley but gives the area its acid soils, heather moors, soft water, and rocky scars. To
3375-499: The fitting out was complete by the time of the Ilkley UDC's first council meeting in the new chamber on 6 May 1908. It occupied the building until abolition in 1974, when its functions were taken by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council . An Ilkley Town Council was re-established for the parish, which now uses the meeting room, retaining its original furniture, oak panelling and central lantern light . Subsequent to opening,
3450-690: The late Neolithic or the Bronze Age. While some carvings consist of simple cups, others, such as the Badger Stone, Hanging Stones, and the Panorama Rocks, have a complex series of patterns (or motifs) combining many different elements. Rombald's Moor has the second-highest concentration of ancient carved stones in Europe, with carvings as far away as Skipton Moor. There is also a small stone circle known as The Twelve Apostles . On 1 December 1987, Phillip Spencer,
3525-418: The local rate, and with the mason bound to use stone from local quarries on Ilkley Moor . In April 1905 a deputation of ratepayers presented a petition to postpone building. They were concerned by a severe depression in trade, the reduction in rates because of empty houses, an abnormal increase in poor and education rates and the special Boer War taxes. Nevertheless, the sanction to borrow the requisite £10,000
3600-443: The north, where the moor drops steeply towards the village of Ben Rhydding , a satellite of the town of Ilkley , are two millstone grit rock climbing areas: Rocky Valley and Ilkley Quarry. Ilkley Quarry is the site of the famous "Cow and Calf", a large rock formation consisting of an outcrop and boulder, also known as Hangingstone Rocks. The rocks are made of millstone grit , a variety of sandstone , and are so named because one
3675-633: The northern edge of Ilkley Moor is a swastika -shaped pattern engraved in a stone, known as the Swastika Stone , also referred to as a fylfot . The image at the bottom-right of the picture is a 20th-century replica; the original carving can be seen at the bottom left. This stone is just one of many carved rocks on the moor; well-known others include the 'Badger Stone', ' Nebstone ', and 'St Margaret's Stones'. These are earthfast boulders, large flat slabs, or prominent rocks that have cups, rings, and grooves cut into them and that are thought to date from either
3750-537: The official birthday celebrations of George V . This acted as an annexe to the King's Hall for meetings, dances (sprung floor) and refreshment serving. The Town Hall complex is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II listed building , having been designated on 20 May 1976. Grade II is the lowest of the three grades of listing, and is applied to "buildings that are nationally important and of special interest". The Winter Garden
3825-457: The openings included a half-day paid holiday for local residents and a free performance for ratepayers of The Belle of Mayfair . As part of its research for the new building, council members had visited other local town halls, and had admired the recently rebuilt council chamber in Batley . This led to the order of its furniture from Waring & Gillow . The interior had cost £3,900 to furnish and
SECTION 50
#17328515847503900-514: The possession of William de Percy 1st Baron Percy . The land was acquired by the Middelton family of Myddelton Lodge, from about a century after the time of William the Conqueror . The family lost possession through a series of land sales and mortgage repossessions over a period of about a hundred years from the early 19th century. The agents of William Middelton (1815–1885) were responsible for
3975-410: The route. In 2018 the stage 2 finish line was at the Cow and Calf rocks, its first ever summit finish. Ilkley town centre is a tourist attraction with a high number of small independent shops. Of particular note is Lishman's of Ilkley, an award-winning butcher shop whose owner, David Lishman, became one of Rick Stein's superheroes in 2003. Ilkley is one of five towns to feature a Bettys tearoom and
4050-473: The scaffolding, which collapsed. Four men fell, two men were trapped under the stone and killed. As soon as 5 October 1907, the library was opened, though the building was incomplete, by Robert Collyer , a well-known Unitarian clergyman , when he was visiting England from America to receive a doctorate from the University of Leeds . This was followed by the opening of Town Hall on 27 April 1908 by Jackson, who
4125-454: The site in 1902, now with Cllr Jackson as its chair, after learning of the possibility of a generous donation from Andrew Carnegie , a philanthropist who endowed 660 libraries in Britain. In November 1903, the UDC promoted an architectural competition with a prize of £100 to design a town hall, library and assembly hall. Holding competitions was a popular method of getting the best design from
4200-404: The south) and to 540 feet (160 m) across Middleton Woods in the north. The river runs through the northern extent of the town from west to east, and is crossed by four bridges, in order: a 16th century three-arched stone bridge, now closed to road traffic; a 19th century single-span wrought-iron bridge; a suspension bridge for foot traffic only (a set of concrete stepping stones) and
4275-603: The town centre along the A65. As a direct consequence of the success of the Tour de France its organisers, ASO, established the Tour de Yorkshire . Ilkley features in Stage 3 of the inaugural Tour, with the race set to enter from the west along the A65, before turning to climb up past the Cow and Calf. The annual Tour de Yorkshire which is a spin-off from the 2014 Tour de France includes Ilkley as part of
4350-550: The town centre and Bini Brew Co a modern craft brewery near the town centre. According to the 2001 UK census, the industry of employment of residents aged 16–74 was 18.8% property and business services, 14.8% retail and wholesale, 13.4% education, 13.1% health and social work, 9.6% manufacturing, 5.7% finance, 4.8% construction, 4.8% public administration, 4.4% hotels and restaurants, 4.2% transport and communications, 0.6% energy and water supply, 0.5% agriculture, 0.1% mining, and 5.2% other. Compared with national figures, Ilkley town had
4425-518: The town's links with English naturalist Charles Darwin . The Green features a maze, whose design was influenced by the Swastika Stone carving, and includes monuments with an evolutionary theme. Ilkley is home to the largest and oldest literary festival in the North of England , the Ilkley Literature Festival . The 1984 British comedy film A Private Function , written by Alan Bennett ,
4500-437: The two local relay transmitters (Wharfedale and Addingham). Local radio stations are BBC Radio Leeds on 95.3 FM, Greatest Hits Radio Harrogate & The Yorkshire Dales on 107.1 FM, Capital Yorkshire on 105.6 FM, Heart Yorkshire on 107.6 FM, Drystone Radio on 102 FM and Rombalds Radio, a community based radio station that broadcast online. The IIkley Gazette is the town's local weekly newspaper. A free school
4575-401: The villages of Addingham (3.1 miles (5.0 km)), Burley-in-Wharfedale (3.8 miles (6.1 km)) and Menston (5.4 miles (8.7 km)); and the towns of Guiseley (7.6 miles (12.2 km)) and Skipton (8 miles (13 km)). The town is within the travel-to-work radius of Leeds and Bradford . Leeds is 18 miles (29 km) away and Bradford 15.6 miles (25.1 km) by road, with
SECTION 60
#17328515847504650-784: Was Headmaster until his death on 5 November 1922. Formerly an all boys School, Ghyll Royd has been a co-educational preparatory school since 1999, accepting children from two years old until they leave at eleven in Year 6. Ilkley also has one secondary school , Ilkley Grammar School . In 1975, David Gayle founded the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars which brought distinguished names in dance, like Alicia Markova , to Ilkley College of Education. In 1978, Ilkley College of Education merged with Bingley College of Education to become Ilkley College. In 1982, Ilkley College merged with Bradford College to become Bradford and Ilkley Community College. In 1999,
4725-417: Was an urban district , a type of local government district. Ilkley Urban District Council shared local government responsibilities with the West Riding County Council . The Local Government Act 1972 dissolved urban districts and in 1974 Ilkley adopted its current status as a ward of the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford . Services provided by the urban district council are now run centrally by
4800-458: Was announced that a stretch of the River Wharfe at Ilkley would become the first river bathing place to be added to the list of designated bathing places in England under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 , which hitherto included coastal sites and lakes. This followed a campaign by the Ilkley Clean River Campaign . Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire . Television signals are received from one of
4875-480: Was filmed in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding. The town was also one of the locations used for the 2003 British comedy film Calendar Girls . The BBC programme Psychoville is set, in part, in Ilkley. The Ilkley Gazette is the town's weekly newspaper. A complementary medicine festival has been held in Ilkley since 1988 and is currently held twice a year, attracting 2,000 visitors. Since 1969 Ilkley has been twinned with Coutances in France. In December 2020 it
4950-476: Was first established in Ilkley by a Mr Marshall who in 1608 bequeathed £100 for its endowment. Current schools include four primary schools , All Saints' C of E Primary School, Ashlands Primary School, Ben Rhydding Primary School, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Ben Rhydding; three preparatory schools , Moorfield School, Westville House School, Middleton, and Ghyll Royd School and Pre-School. Augustus Wooldridge Godby founded Ghyll Royd School in 1889. He
5025-417: Was fleeing an enemy and stamped on the rock as he leapt across the valley. The enemy, it is said, was his angry wife. She dropped the stones held in her skirt to form the local rock formation The Skirtful of Stones. In July 2006 a major fire on the moor left between a quarter and half of it destroyed. The BBC Television series Gunpowder (2017) used Ilkley Moor as a location. On the Woodhouse Crag on
5100-400: Was given a separate listing on the same date, also at Grade II. In 1991, the fine key from the 1908 opening ceremony of the Town Hall surfaced in an Alaskan antiques dealership. It had been presented by the architect to Jackson, the driving force behind the creation of the municipal building, and bore detailed enamel work of a photograph of the buildings, the seal of the council, and
5175-447: Was in need of a permanent base from which to administer the town. There was also no free public library (though a private library was open to subscribers) or municipal assembly hall. The Sedbergh Estate, which was opposite the railway station and formerly owned by the leading Bradford businessman Edward Hirst Wade, contained a farmyard with the crumbling Sedbergh House and various broken-down outbuildings. In July 1896, John Thomas Jackson,
5250-509: Was low compared with the national rate of 3.3%. The City of Bradford has a relatively low proportion of people who were self-employed compared to the whole of England, but Ilkley's rate of 11.9% was well above both the district and national figures. Ilkley bus station is the focal point for services to Keighley, Leeds, Leeds Bradford Airport, Skipton, Grassington, Malham and Otley . The main operators are First Leeds , Keighley Bus Company and North Yorkshire County Council . Ilkley lies on
5325-441: Was one of Edwardian elegance. The estimated cost before construction was £13,000 (equivalent to £1,769,000 in 2023). The finance for the buildings came from two main sources: £3,000 for the library was donated by Andrew Carnegie, and the outstanding £10,000 from a 30-year bank loan to the UDC. As it was a time of economic depression, contracts were awarded to local builders, with stipulations that workers should be paid at least
5400-451: Was part of a sea-level swampy area fed by meandering river channels coming from the north. The layers in the eroded bank faces of stream gullies in the area represent sea levels with various tides depositing different sorts of sediment. Over a long period, the sediments were cemented and compacted into hard rock layers. Geological forces lifted and tilted the strata a little towards the south-east, producing many small fractures, or faults. Since
5475-472: Was presented with a key of solid silver and fine gilt. At this celebration, the members of the Council gave speeches and walked down The Grove in procession from their former rented premises to the new building, which was illuminated in the evening by flashing electric lights. The adjacent King's Hall also opened in 1908 and gave the town a venue for theatrical productions and public meetings. Celebrations relating to
5550-542: Was received in July and the contractors were appointed to begin work in August. A foundation stone laying ceremony was held in 1906, carried out by Councillor Jackson. Further funding was found to be required to purchase additional land to the rear to make space for a stage in the King's Hall, and construction was also delayed when an accident occurred in January 1907; a cornice stone was being hoisted into position when it fell through
5625-509: Was used as part of the Leeds Classic, which was part of the World Cup series of events. In both 2005 and 2007, the town hosted stages of the Tour of Britain race, with Ilkley Moor being a categorised climb on each occasion. In 2014, the town had its biggest cycling moment to date when the Tour de France passed through. The route approached the town on the A65 from Otley and passed through
#749250