Keighley College

The college in 2010, while part of Leeds City College

Keighley College is a further education college in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England. It traces its origins to Keighley Mechanics' Institute, founded in 1825.[1][2] IFrom 2006 to 2017 it was part of Park Lane College Leeds and Leeds City College, branded as their Keighley Campus, but is now once more a freestanding college, within the Luminate Education Group.[3]

History

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The Mechanics' Institute building

Keighley Mechanics' Institute was founded in 1825 as "a society for mutual instruction, and to establish a library for that purpose". Patrick Brontë, father of the literary sisters, became a member in 1833, and his daughters attended a lecture there by his curate William Weighton in 1840.[2] The institute opened a new building in 1834, holding a concert with professional musicians to celebrate.[2]

This original building, on the corner of North Street and Bow Street, was outgrown by the 1869s and a new building was built at the junction of North Street and Cavendish Street. The foundation stone was laid by Isaac Holden on 12 December 1868 and it was opened by the Duke of Devonshire on 30 September 1870. Keighley Trade School and Art School was established there in 1871.[4] A report in The Builder in 1871 describes Keighley Trade School, and declares that it "inaugurates a new era in the educational history of the neighbourhood", with activities including science lectures and art classes.[5]

Nikolaus Pevsner described the building as "By Lockwood & Mawson, 1868, N. extension 1887. Gothic with a tower. The dominating building of Keighley", but notes in the Addenda that the building was damaged by fire in 1962 and that in 1964 "plans ... were being discussed to replace the building with an extension to the Technical College".[6]

The bridge linking the buildings across Lord Street, seen in 2011

The building was demolished in 1967, despite local protest.[7]

A new building for Keighley Technical College was built in 1955–1956, described by Pevsner as "By Hubert Bennett, the then County Architect. Next to the Mechanics' Institute. A building of moderate size and wholly up-to-date style. Stone and glass, of pleasing composition."[6] It was linked by a corridor footbridge across Lord Street to the older building.[8]

In 2007, the college merged with Park Lane College Leeds to become Park Lane College Leeds and Keighley, which then merged into Leeds City College in 2009.[9] The Keighley site was known as the Keighley Campus.[2]

In 2010, the college opened a new £30 million campus, near Keighley railway station, moving away from the former site on Cavendish Street, which was in need of repair and has since been demolished.

The college today

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The college provides courses for A-levels. T-Levels, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, adult education, and special education.[10]

The college includes an Industrial Centre of Excellence and a nationally acclaimed Star Centre facility,[11] designed to encourage more young people to study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This features a mock mission control centre, a planetarium, a simulated rocky planet surface and many other space-related items.

The Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon, visited the college in October 2023 as part of the "Love Our Colleges" campaign.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Keighley College is Back". Keighley College. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Alexander, Christine (2006). "Keighley Mechanics' Institute". Oxford Companion to the Brontes. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198662181.
  3. ^ "The members that make up Luminate Education Group". Luminate. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ Knights, David (27 May 2016). "The fateful night in 1962 when Keighley Mechanics Institute burned down". Keighley News. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Keighley Trade School". The Builder: 44. 21 January 1871.
  6. ^ a b Pevsner, Nikolaus; Radcliffe, Enid (1967). "Keighley and Addenda". Yorkshire: The West Riding (2nd ed.). London: Penguin. pp. 282, 633. ISBN 0140710175.
  7. ^ Knights, David (2 May 2016). "Campaign to save former Keighley College from wrecking ball". Keighley News. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ^ Shand, Alistair (31 August 2019). "College rises from ashes of Keighley institute". Keighley News. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Principal of Leeds City College to be chair of 157 Group". feweek.co.uk. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Home". Keighley College. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  11. ^ "STAR centre may be leading light in next space race". Keighley News. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  12. ^ "Two ministers make visit to Keighley". Rombalds Radio. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
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53°52′06″N 1°54′03″W / 53.8683°N 1.9007°W / 53.8683; -1.9007

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