Keighley Bus Museum welcomes visitors after fire closure

The closure was due to a fire in July 2025 that forced the museum to make extensive safety improvements before welcoming visitors back.

Norman Shepherd, chairman of the Keighley Bus Museum Trust, said: "We’ve only just reopened from the fire, that happened last July 2025."

The fire broke out at Dalton Mills, and embers from the blaze were blown across to the museum, causing part of its roof to catch fire.

Following the incident, the fire brigade raised concerns about the building's safety, leading to its immediate closure.

Buses on Display (Image: Mick Berry)

Vehicles on display within the museum's building (Image: Mick Berry)

Excitement at reopening

In a statement on Facebook, the museum said: "Just a note on the re-opening of the Bus Museum at Keighley.

"The Board have turned around the building to make it a safer place to visit.

"Following the detailed instructions members of the board worked hard to achieve the correct protocols for fire safety."

Mr Shepherd explained the scale of the changes required.

He said: "After the fire in July 2025, they shut us down and we had to separate all the busses and make new walkways.

"We also had to redo the workshop and get rid of everything that wasn’t fire safety registered."

Items such as chairs and tyres that did not meet fire safety standards were removed from the building.

New walkways in accordance with the implemented fire regulations (Image: Mick Berry)

Buses on display (Image: Mick Berry)

Roof remains damaged

Much of the renovation work was carried out by staff and volunteers, including installing new fencing, laying concrete, and creating new walkways throughout the site.

However, the building itself has not yet been repaired and the roof remains damaged.

Mr Shepherd said: "There are still holes in it from the fire, it’s going to take 1.5 million pounds to repair."

He confirmed that there are currently no plans to refurbish the roof.

To celebrate its reopening, the museum held a Phoenix Open Day on August 23.

Mr Shepherd said: "It was a good turnout, 3000 people came."

The event featured vehicle displays and exhibits, and visitors were able to travel on museum buses free of charge.

A privately owned bus by a member of Keighley Bus Museum Trust. (Image: Mick Berry)

Bus service boarding at Worthbridge (Image: Mick Berry)

Entry was also free, with donations welcome.

The museum plans to continue its programme of running days and will take part in events across the district, including activities in Worth Valley over the August Bank Holiday weekend and the Keighley Show on September 5.

Reflecting on the open day, the museum said on Facebook: "The open day was a success, with families, enthusiasts and the general public enjoying the museum and the free journeys of some of the selected vehicles used."