A lot has changed

over the past 200 years

Throughout the decades, and all the change, Keighley College has remained dedicated to providing expert education for all.

1868

Women were admitted to universities and awarded degrees

Black and white image of the back of female university graduates wearing caps and gowns

1880

Education became compulsory

Black and white image of an old fashioned classroom with students sat facing a blackboard

1888

The first horseless carriages developed into the cars we know today

Black and white image of a man sat on a horseless carriage

1930

Trains changed steam locomotives for diesel and electric variants

Black and white image of a steam train

1969

Man landed on the moon

Black and white image from Apollo 11 moon landing

1983

The internet was invented

Black and white image of an old fashioned computer room

Discover the history of 
Keighley College

Tens of thousands of students have taken their educational journey with us – from those first few who came through the doors of Keighley Mechanics in 1825 to the couple of thousand who now take a course, or courses, with us each year.

1825

The Keighley Mechanics Institute founded by four local tradesmen, for the ‘benefit of the working man’.

Keighley College building in 1825

Hannah Lord Montague of NY created the first detachable shirt collar.

1834

New building in North Street was opened, meaning learning, meetings and the library could all be under one roof.

The Great Fire of 1834 destroyed both Houses of Parliament, and many other buildings on the site were destroyed. – J.M.W. Turner depicted the fire in The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons.

1848

Female Improvement classes were introduced, 140 women joined.

Keighley College prospectus cover from 1890

Elizabeth Gaskell’s first novel, Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life, was published anonymously in London.

1864

The Institute had grown to a considerable size, with 445 members and over 200 students attending classes.

Work started on the Worth Valley branch line – from Keighley to Oxenhope (opened 1867).

1870

The new Institute building opened its doors. It included classrooms, studios, committee rooms, a library, an exhibition gallery and a public hall and a capacity of 1,200.

Keble College Oxford opened.

1877

Scholarships became available for the most talented students from poorer backgrounds. These students were routinely specially selected to feature in exhibitions.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell was published.

1887

The building was extended, primarily for the teaching of textile manufacturing.

Black and white photograph of textile students in Keighley College learning to do dress fittings in 1933

Arthur Conan Doyle’s first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet was published.

1895

Foundation of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband premiered at the Haymarket Theatre in London.

1956

The Institute and the Keighley School of Art and Crafts merge to become Keighley Technical College.

Greetings card printed design by the School of Art & Crafts Keighley College 1936

Britain’s first surface electric trains began running on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

1962

A fire caused significant damage to the old Keighley Technical College building.

The Beatles released their first records.

1956

Minister for Education grants £170,000 for a new building for Keighley Technical College.

Greetings card printed design by the School of Art & Crafts Keighley College 1936

700th anniversary of Parliament.

Now

Keighley Technical College was later built on the site of the former institute, and in 2010 the college opened a new £30 million campus – on Bradford Road, near Keighley railway station – where it remains today.

Video Transcript

The video opens with a shot of two smiling female members of staff sat behind a table. One wears a blue short sleeved top and is holding a copy of the Keighley College prospectus with both hands. Next to her a woman wearing a cream jacket holds a copy of the Keighley College prospectus in her left hand, and a small black microphone in her right hand. On the table in front of them can be seen another Keighley College prospectus and some leaflets. Behind them a number of posters can be seen, as well as a banner stand.

They speak in unison: Here’s to 200 years at Keighley College

The shot changes to show a woman standing in black coat and blue headscarf, she holds a small black microphone to her mouth, in her right hand and a Keighley College prospectus in her left hand. Over her right shoulder can be seen a tote bag. Behind her is a table draped in a black cloth on which sit some tote bags and a drinks flask. In the background people can be seen sitting, standing and walking around, chairs and tables and bunting strung across the ceiling.

She says: Congratulations on 200 years Keighley College

The shot changes to show a man standing in a blue shirt, he is wearing a lanyard. Behind him can be seen people walking and sitting. The man’s arms are spread and he says: Here’s to 200 years of Keighley College.

The shot changes to show two smiling female members of staff standing – the one on the left of the shot wears a tan coloured blazer, black top and glasses, next to her her colleague wears a black top, black jacket and jeans. The woman on the right of the shot holds a small microphone in her left hand. Both wear lanyards. In the background to the right of the shot a woman can be seen. Behind the two members of staff is a banner stand and you can see black cloth-covered tables.

They speak in unison: Congratulations on 200 years of Keighley College

The shot changes to show a woman standing in front of a low glass wall topped with a metal railing – she is wearing a pink blazer over a black t-shirt and wears a lanyard. She holds a small black microphone in her left hand.

She says: We are so proud to be celebrating 200 years at Keighley College, here’s to many more.

Keighley College 200 years logo

Here’s to 200 years of expert education and student care and here’s to the next 200!

Set up for the ‘benefit of the working man’, the College, in all its forms, has always focused on providing quality education. The benefit of all people, no matter where they have come from or their ambitions, sits at the heart of all we do.

We are privileged to have been a part of so many journeys over the decades and we look forward to continuing to celebrate our students as they go far in this world.

If you have a story to share about Keighley College? We’d love to hear from you.

Contact

Images sourced from:

Several graduates don women’s liberation signs [Photograph] Retrieved from: https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/2021/03/21/history-women-higher-education/ BOSTON GLOBE/ GETTY IMAGES

Elementary Education students in class [Photograph] Retrieved from: https://www.designtechnology.org.uk/news/150-years-of-state-education-a-time-to-reflect/

Group of men in horseless carriage [Photograph] Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/horseless-carriage-our-day-self-driving-cars-j-j-murrin/

FA vintage steam locomotive begins its journey from the station [Photograph] Retrieved from: https://science.howstuffworks.com/steam-technology.htm RYASICK / GETTY IMAGES

Images from Apollo 11 moon landing [Photograph] Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49060410, GETTY IMAGES

Man working on a old computer [Photograph] Retrieved from: https://blog.tonerden.com/2020/01/24/who-invented-the-internet

All other images are courtesy of Keighley Local Studies Library: https://www.bradford.gov.uk/libraries/find-your-local-library/keighley-local-studies-library