Events

The HLF backed Restoration of the Park is complete. There is just some gilding needed to finish the Dolphin Lamp and Main Gates to the Drive. Come along to see the new glasshouses, dome house and the Park’s two Italian marble fountains and original pond in their newly restored splendour. There is much more to see.

The Park and Museum are both stunning and the new Cafe IS NOW OPEN.

  • A local artist has been making a pictorial record of the HLF Restoration of the Park.

  •   See her Blog for a stunning view of what has been going on

    Exhibition - to Sunday 18 November - Keighley's War - Fighting at the Front, building disinfecting machines, working in the shell factories, opening War Hospitals and developing a ground-breaking Food Saving campaign; everyone in Keighley was affected by the war. From photos and medals to paintings and toys, this new exhibition celebrates and commemorates the contribution of those in the district whose lives were changed by world events during the First World War.

    Exhibition - to Sunday 25 November - War and Peace: the art of Percy Smith. Sketches of war-ravaged countryside, death and destruction plus work exploring the landscapes that so inspired the Brontes.

    Thursday 20 September - CCPCG Meeting in the Gardeners Lodge at Cliffe Castle. Details to follow.

    Sunday 23 September - Punch and Judy Puppet Show - at 12 noon and at 2 pm. Free entry.

    Sunday 7 October - Music in the Museum - The Silsden Singers perform from 2 pm in the Bracewell Smith Hall

    Tuesday 23 October - Poppy Making - A Free Family Drop In event from 1 to 3 pm in the Museum. For inspiration visit the Poppy Field of Remembrance in the Bracewell Smith Hall. This poppy field was made by nine community groups to commemorate the Bradford Pals and other soldiers from the district who lost their lives in the First World War.

    Sunday 4 November - Music in the Museum - The Haworth Band performs from 2 pm in the Bracewell Smith Hall.

    Sunday 2 December - Music in the Museum - The Windstruments Flute Orchestra performs from 2 pm in the Bracewell Smith Hall.

     

    Past events

    2018

    Saturday 25 August: Men of Worth - The Keighley Riots. A talk by Andy Wade brought to life the riots that broke out in Keighley towards the end of August 1914.

    Saturday 4 August: The WW1 Event commemorated the centenary of the end of WW1 with a range of activities, including costumed characters, craft activities and the chance to try trench cake and one of the alternative bread recipes that Keighley created during the wheat shortage.

    Sunday 24 June: Shakespeare Performance - As You Like It - in the Park.

    Sunday 10 June: Garden Party in the Park and Crafts at the Castle with entertainment and stalls.

    Sketchwalks - provided the opportunity to try out location sketching led by Urban Sketcher Louise Garrett, developed with Deborah Rehmat ( (See her Blog). There will be more Sketchwalks in future. Please   for more information and to book your place on future Sketchwalks. Beginners and seasoned Sketchers welcome. Free event.

    The Circus was celebrated on Tuesday 3 April with Circus themed craft activity and on Saturday 7 April with Circus skills in the Park.

    On Saturday 31 March the Rabbits and Guinea Pigs came back to their new homes in the Park. A family of 13 Degus came too plus their toys and wheels. The birds will be back in their new aviaries as soon as the weather warms up.

    On Saturday 31 March there was Rabbit mask making to welcome the animals back

    Music in the Museum concerts. The last of this series was given by Two Rivers Concert Band on 25th March. More concerts will take place later in 2018.

    Drawing the Work to Sun 14 Jan 2018. A case in the Breakfast Room displayed the work of artist Deborah Rehmat, who has been recording the Heritage Lottery funded work in Cliffe Castle Park. Displayed alongside the case were reproductions of Deborah's sketchbooks. To see more please visit
  •   Deborah's Blog

    2017

    On Sunday 10th December a Festive Celebration and re-opening of the restored Park was held. There was fun for all during this joint event with Cliffe Castle Museum.

    The Glasshouses were official opened after the Ingrow/Longlee schools' Keighley Christmas Carol performance in the Museum. Families met the real Father Christmas, visited the Christmas Market and enjoyed music from a Brass Band, Barrel Organ plus songs from Holy Family Catholic School choir in the Bracewell Smith Hall. There was a free self guided story trail around the Park with a chance to see the new glasshouses, heritage features and landscaping and laugh at the jokes on Cracker Hill!

    Sunday 29 October - Pop-Up Café @ the Museum - the swansong for a very popular offering of scrumptious sweet & savoury bites run by the Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group. These Pop-Up s have been enjoyed by a large number of people and helped raise funds that will be used to benefit the Park and its visitors.

    Saturday 28 October - Manorlands Halloween Monster Dash. was a fun and scary event which raised funds for the Sue Ryder Hospice - Manorlands .

    Members of Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group have been leading Free guided tours of the Park, explaining how its historic features are being restored. More walks will be planned for the future. Please   CCPCG for more information on future dates or if you are interested in joining one of these Walks.

    Sunday 30 July - Cliffe Castle Garden Party: was a day of music, fun and frolics for all in the Park and Museum, continuing the tradition of summer music events at Cliffe Castle.

    Music at the Museum: a series of free music events have been held. For details future performances look for Cliffe Castle Museum's events on  Bradford Museum's website

    Tuesday 18 April - Professor Keith Davies presented a Punch & Judy Puppet Show with puppet making activities.

    From February until April - there has been an occasional Pop-Up Park Café @ the Museum in the Learning Room serving hot & cold drinks, sweet & savoury bites. Run by the Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group this has been enjoyed by a large number of people and helped raise some funds that will be used to benefit the Park and its visitors.

    2016

    What the Dickens? - Over the festive season a display of plans for the restoration of the Park plus 'A Cliffe Castle Christmas Carol', four panels that tell some of the story of Cliffe Castle and the current restoration of the Park (with apologies to Charles Dickens) were in the Conservatory. The Ghosts of Jacob Marley, Christmas Past, Present and Future acted as guides, leading Scrooge to a happy ending!

    On Sunday 11 December talented students from Holy Family School entertained a large audience with seasonal songs in the Bracewell-Smith Hall

    A POP UP Park was in Airedale Shopping Centre for a week in early December. It showcased the Heritage Lottery Fund Restoration project and future events at Cliffe Castle Park. Members of Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group were on hand to talk about the role they play in safeguarding the park and putting on activities and events. Representatives from local community groups such as Airedale Bee Keepers, RSPB, West Yorkshire Bat Group and the Forest of Bradford were also there to discuss the important role they play in the Parks. Visitors were invited to add their comments to a short Questionnaires to find out what type of activities they would like to see in the Park in the future and what they would like to eat in the Cafe!. There was also a Memory Wall to which many people added their recollections of times spent in the Park, what they saw and what they did there. CCPCG members will archive this information for future generations visiting the Park.

    Sunday 20 November - Guided Tour of the Restoration of the Park. Visitors were taken on a walk around the Park and shown progress on the restoration works. They were also given a behind the scenes peep at plans and some artefacts awaiting restoration - and the cacti safely awaiting transfer to their newly built home in 2017.

    Sunday 23 October - the local RSPB Falling Leaves Event provided free wildlife and craft activities and guided bird watching walks in the grounds. See  the RSPB website for details.

    Sunday 28 August - The first of a series of guided tours of the Restoration of the Park was given by members of CCPCG providing the chance to learn more about the Heritage Lottery Funded restoration of Cliffe Castle Park.

     Sunday 12 June - Cliffe Castle to Park Wood Walk via East Riddlesden Hall. This was an opportunity to see some of Keighley's many attractions, meet up with others and finish the jaunt with a tour of Park Wood and a Picnic! GO TO the WALKS page for links to Google Maps showing four walking and cycling routes linking up these locations and also Keighley Redcar Tarn.

    At the end of February Keighley Library featured a two-week long display on 'Keighley Valleys and Rivers' a new leaflet which features four routes that link together Keighley Redcar Tarn, Cliffe Castle, East Riddlesden Hall and Park Wood to create a circular walk or cycling route that showcases Keighley's most scenic and historic features. See Walks for more details.

    2015

    Santa’s North Pole Workshop came to the Aviaries in Cliffe Castle Park once again. They were transformed into a free Christmas display by volunteers from Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group.

    Christmas Music - Sunday 6th December - Holy Family School Choir brought joy to an appreciative audience in the Bracewell Smith Hall of the Museum. Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group has helped establish a tradition of Christmas music at Cliffe Castle and this year's event proved even more popular than ever thanks to the hard work and talent of students from nearby Holy Family School. It was a huge success!

    Christmas Craft Workshop Saturday 5th December Enthusastic participants braved the rain for a walk around Cliffe Castle park and woods to gather natural materials and then went into the Museum to make Christmas decorations. This free event was organised and led by Annie Berrington. Contact Annie on 07974 935105 or   or see  the Go:Walking website for details of future events.

    Sunday 25 October - RSPB Falling Leaves Event There were wildlife and craft activities for families and a guided bird watching walks in the grounds. See   the RSPB website for details.

    Family Fun Walk to Cliffe Castle Park - Saturday 24th October This was a FREE half term Family Fun event for children, parents and grandparents in Cliffe Castle grounds, including games and other outdoor activities. Contact Annie on 07974 935105 or   for details.

    Saturday 19 September - Hackfall Wood, a unique woodland. In a free talk, David Mason, a Woodland Trust volunteer photographer, took his audience on a virtual tour of Hackfall Wood, near Masham with photographs, historical notes and details of the recent heritage project to put Hackfall back on the map!

    Tuesday 11 August - Teddy Bears' Picnic - There was a visit from the Bookstart Bear, balloon modelling, storytelling and rhymes, exciting craft activities and the Museum was open for families to enjoy.

    2014

    Sunday 14 Dec - Postcards of Keighley - The team from arts group Small World demonstrated how they produced the paintings in the Postcards of Keighley exhibition.

    Sunday 14th December - Holy Family Students' Choir - performed seasonal and other music in the Bracewell Smith Hall in Cliffe Castle Museum.

    Summer Walks - Three free guided walks were organised by Keighley Healthy Living in partnership with Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group in August. These gentle walks with a qualified walk leader explored the Cliffe Castle Park and surrounding woodland. More walks will be held in the future - check this EVENTS page or contact KHL on 01535 677177 or   or see  the KHL website for details and to be kept informed.

    August 19 also saw the last Bandstand Concert with Horsforth Leeds City Band entertaining visitors to the Park

    Tuesday 5 August - Grand Teddy Bears' Picnic. This annual event, which for four years has been organised by Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group in partnership with Cliffe Castle Museum and Keighley Library, was even bigger this year with many other children's and family organisations joining in. There were Bears of all shapes and sizes and lot of other 'special friends' too. Cliffe Castle has a special association with Teddy Bears. The Butterfield family who lived at Cliffe Castle when it was a Mansion House were related to U.S. president Teddy Roosevelt after whom all Teddy Bears are named.

    Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 August - The Aire Do - Keighley’s biggest music event organised by Keighley Town Council brought fun, music and entertainment for all the family to the Park - website  The Aire Do

    Sunday 6 July - Tour de France Grand Depart the world’s largest annual cycling event passed right by Cliffe Castle Park,through Keighley and the Worth Valley before making its way into Calderdale via Hebden Bridge. For more information see the website of  Worth the Tour, a community-based umbrella group creating projects and events around Le Tour and the 100 Day Cultural Festival.

    Armed Forces Day - Saturday 28 June - A first for Keighley, this was organised by the Keighley Branch of the Royal British Legion with Air, Army & Sea Cadets.

    Saturday 21st June - A Family Bike Ride from Saltaire to Cliffe Castle was organised by   using part of the National Cycle Route along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal and the new cycle route from Stockbridge to Utley. This leads directly to the Beechcliffe entrance to Cliffe Castle Park

    2013

    Sunday 15 December - a busy day with Santa Claus and an Open mic event at Cliffe Castle Café ALSO on Sunday 15 December the popular Bingley Hand Bell Ringers gave a free concert of seasonal music in the newly restored Bracewell Smith Hall in Cliffe Castle Museum. The event was organised by the Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group. LOOK OUT for 2014 dates for another return of this popular group of entertainers.

    Saturday 24 August - Cliffe Castle Museum celebrated the re-opening of the renovated Museum.  www.bradfordmuseums.org

    THE AIREDO - popular music festival Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August.

    Tuesday 30 July - Teddy Bear' Picnic 11 - 3 pm PLUS Opening of the new Play Area

    MEDIEVAL DAY - Sunday 7 July. A fun event that celebrated the Park's mock medieval design. There was a 'Tug Of War Tournament', Coat Of Arms on 'Heraldic Hill', wet sponges thrown at the knave in the stocks!The brave can took part in a Dragon Hunt!In the 'Garden Of Life' there were tales from a medieval storyteller and an exhibition of medieval themed art by Keighley Art Group.On the Bandstand the 1st Haworth Brownies danced, whilst visitors enjoyed the free 'Shield Making Workshop'.

    In the afternoon there was a Children's Medieval Fancy Dress Competition and 'MyPlace' exhibited the recent work they have been doing with schools in the Park. YE OLDE PLANT SHOPPE sold delights for the garden. The Miniature Ponies were firm favourites with young and old alike

    Saturday 16 March - The Big Dig. Volunteers and members of Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group tidied up and pruned shrubs in the Beechcliffe Enclosure as well as planting foxgloves as part of the national Big Dig event.  The Big Dig

    Keighley BigK Run/Walk - Sunday 10 March supported the Sue Ryder charity passing through some of Keighley's historic places, including Cliffe Castle Park. For more details visit   Keighley BigK Run/Walk

    Keighley & Craven Cross Country events in the Park Their Open Cross Challenge is an Open Age opportunity to join in. For more details visit  www.kcac.co.uk

    A historic Victorian path through the edge of Moorhouse Wood has been uncovered after two days’ effort by members of a working party organised by Chris Ward from JAMES (KVC) & Rachel Deadman from BEES, supported by members of the CCPCG. It is an example of early asphalt path edged with stone and is shown on the old maps of the area within the grounds of Henry Butterfield’s estate.

    2012

    CHRISTMAS at the CASTLE - on Sunday December 9th in Cliffe Castle Coffee Lounge children had fun making decorations THEN, back by popular demand, Bingley Hand Bell Ringers gave a free Christmas Concert

    On Sunday 23 September Members of SANGAT, KAWACC, the Italian Citizens of the Third Age, the Ukranian Centre and CCPCG held a Jubilee Celebration of Food. There was a tempting array of food from some of Keighley's outstanding Communities plus handicrafts and other attractions. The event was funded by the Keighley Local Area Committee

    Sat/Sun 8/9 September Keighley Heritage Weekend On Saturday CCPCG members led History Walks in the Park. On Sunday afternoon, the Loose Connexion Jazz Quinteet performed on the Bandstand.

    At The Teddy Bears' Picnic on Tuesday 24 July there was free fun for all the family provided by Keighley Library and the Conservation Group.

    On Sat/Sun 28 & 29 July The Aire Do included the Keighley Jubilee Carnival Parade, chart-topping bands, acoustic Marquee, Jam Radio Marquee, food, fun, children's rides, fortune telling, fancy dress and stalls!

    Sunday 10 June - Bandstand Concert - Baildon Ukulele Club

    Friday 8 June - A Bat Walk led by Ian Butterfield of West Yorkshire Bat Group saw Pipistrelles in the Park. Ian will be back in 2013.

    Friday 14 February - The Musicians Centre, Keighley planted a tree in Cliffe Castle Park as their gift to the planet.

    On SUNDAY 25 MARCH - A VICTORIAN TEA PARTY was held in the Museum conservatory.