'Keighley heritage is open to visitors’ (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

'Keighley heritage is open to visitors’

7:04pm Sunday 9th September 2012 in News By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter

Court re-enactments from the 1950s were on offer at Bradford City Hall at the weekend as part of the nationally organised Heritage Open Days.

Many events took place across the district to mark the open days which allowed some of England’s finest architecture and culture to be on public display.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Dale Smith , took part in one of the four City Hall sessions where visitors could also watch footage of the Queen’s Coronation and wedding and view the Lord Mayor’s Scrapbook from 1952 to find out what Alderman John Shee did during his civic year.

The Banqueting Hall was also transformed into a Jubilee Street Party Style Cafe as part of the Lord Mayor’s Diamond Jubilee Heritage Open Day.

Bradford Grammar School pupils had their stitch-work placed in the Lord Mayor’s Office for Saturday’s City Hall event.

Emma Tomlinson, modern languages teacher at the school, who runs the Stitch Club, said: “I am thrilled the girls have received this accolade they have worked very hard on this project.”

Meanwhile, the Bradford Reform Synagogue in Bowland Street, opened its doors yesterday. Synagogue chairman Rudi Leavor said that the open day was for people to look around the Grade II-listed building.

“They could see our special dishes and scrolls we use during our services which are on display,” he said.

Otley Courthouse in Courthouse Street, Otley, also held guided tours of the former police station, cells and magistrates’ courts on Saturday as their contribution. All Saints Parish Church in Otley also held displays, a history trail and live organ music on Saturday and Sunday while the Farfield Friends Meeting House in Bolton Road, Addingham , was open.

Villas of west Ilkley was the subject of an Ilkley Heritage Guided Walk yesterday.

Walkers met at the Memorial Garden in Grove Road, or at Ilkley Railway Station and Gomersal Methodist Church, in Latham Lane, known as ‘Pork Pie Chapel’ due to its shape, opened at the weekend.

Visitors to Cartwright Hall at Lister Park were also given access to the premises actor playing the part of Samuel Lister, the venue’s benefactor.

A Keighley heritage day was held to show off traditional skills such as dry-stone walling and the art of the blacksmith.