Ilkley

{{Main|History of Ilkley}}

File:Cup and Ring markings above Ilkley.jpg

The earliest evidence of habitation in the Ilkley area is from flint arrowheads or microliths, dating to the Mesolithic period, from about 11,000 BC onwards.{{cite web |url=http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/country/ilkley.shtml

|title=Discovering Prehistory on Ilkley Moor |publisher=TimeTravel-Britain.com |first=John |last=Abraham |year=2006 |access-date=11 June 2009 }} The area around Ilkley has been continuously settled since at least the Neolithic, around 3000 BC; more than 250 cup and ring marks, and a curved swastika carving possibly dating to the period have been found on rock outcrops,{{cite book|last=Beckensall|first= S.|year= 2009|title=Prehistoric Rock Art in Britain|location=Chalford|publisher=Amberley Publishing|isbn= 978-1-84868-626-7}} and archaeological remains of dwellings are found on Ilkley Moor. A small stone circle (possibly a burial monument), known as the ‘Twelve Apostles’, was constructed 4,500 years ago, during the Early Bronze Age. Serious interest in the rock art of Ilkley began after the publication of the "Prehistoric Rock Sculptures of Ilkley" in 1879 by Romilly Allen in the Journal of the British Archaeological Association.

The remains of a Roman fort occupy a site near the town centre. Some authorities believe it is Olicana,{{cite book|last=Shaw|first= Thomas|year= 1830|url=https://archive.org/details/historywharfdal00shawgoog |title=The History of Wharfedale|location=Otley|publisher= William Walker| page=[https://archive.org/details/historywharfdal00shawgoog/page/n79 70]}} dating to 79 AD, but the identification is not settled. A number of Roman altars have been discovered from the reigns of Antoninus Pius (138 to 161), and Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla (211 to 217).{{cite book|last=Shaw|first= Thomas|year= 1830|url=https://archive.org/details/historywharfdal00shawgoog |title=The History of Wharfedale|location=Otley|publisher= William Walker| pages=[https://archive.org/details/historywharfdal00shawgoog/page/n81 72]–5}} Ilkley Manor House stands on part of the site in Castle Yard and is home to various Roman artefacts, including an original altar dedicated to Verbeia, the goddess of the River Wharfe.{{Cite web |last=Babb |first=Nick |date=26 February 2022 |title=Re-telling the story of the Verbeia altar stones |url=https://www.ilkleychat.co.uk/post/re-telling-the-story-of-the-verbeia-altar-stones |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=Ilkley Chat |language=en}}

Three Anglo-Saxon crosses from the 8th century that stood in the churchyard of All Saints' Church have been moved inside to prevent erosion. The church site, as a centre for Christian worship, extends to 627 AD, and the present mainly Victorian-era church incorporates medieval elements.{{cite web |url=http://www.ilkleypc.co.uk/History2/history-of-the-building |title=Brief History of All Saints – Ilkley |access-date=7 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322193624/http://ilkleypc.co.uk/History2/history-of-the-building/ |archive-date=22 March 2012 }}

The Domesday Book, of 1086, records Ilkley (Ilecliue/Illecliue/Illiclei/Illicleia) as being in the possession of William de Percy 1st Baron Percy.{{cite web |url=https://www.angelfire.com/ms/middelton/domes.html |title=Ilkley a 'Ghost Town' in 1086 |first=David |last=Carpenter |date=18 February 1993 |work=Ilkley Gazette |access-date=11 January 2007 }} The land was acquired by the Middelton family of Myddelton Lodge, from about a century after the time of William the Conqueror. The family lost possession through a series of land sales and mortgage repossessions over a period of about a hundred years from the early 19th century.{{cite web |url=https://www.angelfire.com/ms/middelton/who.html |title=Who were the Middletons? |first=David |last=Carpenter |work=The Lords of Ilkley Manor – The Road to Ruin |year=1999 |access-date=11 January 2007 }} The agents of William Middelton (1815–1885) were responsible for the design of the new town of Ilkley to replace the village which had stood there before.{{cite web |url=https://www.angelfire.com/ms/middelton/biog.html |title=Middelton Mini-Biographies |first=David |last=Carpenter |work=The Lords of Ilkley Manor – The Road to Ruin |year=1999 |access-date=11 January 2007 }}

In the 17th and 18th centuries the town gained a reputation for the efficacy of its water. In the 19th century it became established as a fashionable spa town, with the construction of Ben Rhydding Hydro, a hydropathic establishment at Wheatley, a mile to the east, between 1843 and 1844.

{{cite book

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=27YHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA90

|title=Ben Rhydding: the Asclepia of England: Its Beauties, Its Ways, and Its Water-Cures

|publisher=John Shuttleworth

|location=Edinburgh

|access-date=30 June 2009

|last=Thomson

|first=Rev. R. Wodrow

|year=1862

}}

{{cite web| last=Shifrin| first=Malcolm | title=Ilkley: Ben Rhydding Hydro |work=Victorian Turkish Baths: Their origin, development, and gradual decline|date=3 October 2008| url= http://www.victorianturkishbath.org/6DIRECTORY/AtoZEstab/Hydros/BenRydding/BenRhyddingSF.htm |access-date=12 December 2009}} Charles Darwin underwent hydropathic treatment at Wells House when his book On the Origin of Species was published on 24 November 1859, whilst staying with his family at North View House (now Hillside Court).

{{cite web

|url = http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/content/view/25/38/

|title = Darwin Correspondence Project – The correspondence of Charles Darwin, volume 7: 1858–1859

|publisher = darwinproject.ac.uk

|access-date = 30 June 2009

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071028223832/http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/content/view/25/38/

|archive-date = 28 October 2007

|df = dmy-all

}} Tourists flocked to 'take the waters' and bathe in the cold-water spring. Wheatley was renamed Ben Rhydding after the Hydro, which has been demolished.

File:Ilkley Manor House.jpg

Development based on the Hydro movement, and on the establishment of convalescent homes and hospitals, was accelerated in August 1865 by the construction of the Otley and Ilkley Joint Railway, which linked to the Leeds and Bradford Railway and the North Eastern Railway.{{cite web|url=http://ilkley.org.uk/designstatement/sections/sect04.asp |title=Ilkley Design statement 2002 |publisher=ilkley.org.uk |access-date=30 June 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Butt-Stations|page=126}}{{cite book|last=Casserley|first= H.C. |year=1968|title=Britain's Joint Lines|location=London|publisher= Ian Allan|isbn= 0-7110-0024-7| pages =159–160}} The Midland Railway built a connection to Skipton via Bolton Abbey in May 1888.

Other Victorian visitors to the town included Madame Tussaud.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilkley.org/iguide/hist3.htm |title=Victorian Ilkley |publisher=ilkley.org |access-date=30 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829165803/http://www.ilkley.org/iguide/hist3.htm |archive-date=29 August 2009 }}

The only remaining hydro building is the white cottage known as White Wells House. The cottage can be seen and visited on the edge of the moor overlooking the town.

{{cite web

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/sense_of_place/ilkley1.shtml

|title=BBC – Bradford and West Yorkshire – A Sense of Place

|publisher=BBC

|access-date=30 June 2009

}}

;Ilkley Town Council

In May 2018, the parish council became a town council, with Cllr Stephen Butler serving as the first Town Mayor. The town consists of four wards and elects 14 councillors: Ilkley North (3 councillors), Ilkley South (3), Ilkley West (4) and Ben Rhydding (4). It meets in the 1908 Ilkley Town Hall on Station Road. The council precept is collected with the annual Council Tax to fund its running and to aid the development of local projects.{{cite web|url=https://towncouncil.ilkley.org/about-the-town-council/ |title=About Ilkley Town Council |publisher=Ilkley Town Council |access-date=5 February 2020 }}

;UK Parliament constituency

Ilkley is in the Keighley UK Parliament constituency, held since 2019 by Robbie Moore, the Conservative MP. He defeated John Grogan, who had himself defeated the previous Conservative MP, Kris Hopkins, in 2017. Hopkins was first elected in 2010, replacing Ann Cryer. Cryer held the seat between 1997 and 2010, and her late husband Bob held the seat between 1974 and 1983.

;Previous governance

Before 1974 Ilkley was an urban district, a type of local government district.{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10153499|chapter= Ilkley UD|title= Visions of Britain|access-date= 29 June 2009}} Ilkley Urban District Council shared local government responsibilities with the West Riding County Council.{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10200120 |chapter=West Riding|title= Visions of Britain|access-date= 29 June 2009}} The Local Government Act 1972 dissolved urban districts and in 1974 Ilkley adopted its current status as a ward of the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford. Services provided by the urban district council are now run centrally by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Until 2006 Ilkley civil parish consisted of Ilkley ward, which includes Ben Rhydding, and the north half of Rombalds ward. The latter ward housed the villages of Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston. The population of the parish in 2001 was therefore considerably higher than it is today, consisting of 24,954 residents. In 2006, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston established their own parishes and today Ilkley consists only of Ilkley ward (13,828 residents).

;Local Councillors for the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council

The town is a ward in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford and is represented by two Conservative councillors, Andrew Loy and David Nunns, and Ros Brown, a councillor for the Green Party.{{cite web | title = Your Councillors by Ward | url = https://bradford.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 | website = bradford.moderngov.co.uk | publisher = City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council | access-date = 5 February 2020}}

File:Ilkley Ward 2004.png

File:Ilkley-ward-2019.jpg]

{{Color box|#99CCFF|border=darkgray}} indicates seat up for re-election.

{{Color box|#C0C0C0|border=darkgray}} indicates councillor defection.

File:TheOldBridgeIlkley.jpg

File:White Blanket Over Ilkley.jpg

Nearby are the hamlets of Middleton ({{convert|1|mi|km}}), Denton ({{convert|2.7|mi|km}}) and Bolton Abbey ({{convert|6|mi|km}}); the villages of Addingham ({{convert|3.1|mi|km}}), Burley-in-Wharfedale ({{convert|3.8|mi|km}}) and Menston ({{convert|5.4|mi|km}}); and the towns of Guiseley ({{convert|7.6|mi|km}}) and Skipton ({{convert|8|mi|km}}).{{Cite web|url=https://ukdistance.com/route/ilkley/skipton|title=Distance from Ilkley to Skipton|website=ukdistance.com|language=en|access-date=18 December 2018}}

The town is within the travel-to-work radius of Leeds and Bradford. Leeds is {{convert|18|mi|km}} away and Bradford {{convert|15.6|mi|km}} by road, with a railway connection offering about 35 trains to each destination per day from Ilkley railway station. The railway, before the Beeching axe, also connected to Addingham, Bolton Abbey and Skipton to the west, and to Otley, Pool-in-Wharfedale, meeting the main Leeds to Harrogate line at Arthington.{{cite book|title=The Railways of Wharfedale|first=Peter E. |last=Baughan |year=1969|publisher= David & Charles (Publishers) Ltd}}

The town partially straddles the River Wharfe in a valley, rising from the river at {{convert|230|ft|m}} to {{convert|650|ft|m}} above sea level, up Ilkley Moor (a bracken and heather covered moorland, with rocky outcrops, to the south) and to {{convert|540|ft|m}} across Middleton Woods in the north. The river runs through the northern extent of the town from west to east, and is crossed by four bridges, in order: a 16th century three-arched stone bridge, now closed to road traffic; a 19th century single-span wrought-iron bridge; a suspension bridge for foot traffic only (a set of concrete stepping stones) and a prefabricated steel arched box-girder bridge. The river is prone to flooding the sports fields (and a few houses) that occupy the watermeadows.{{cite news |last=Greaves |first=Amanda |date=21 May 2009 |title=Environment Agency tackles Backstone Beck |url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/4386873.Work_to_end_flood_threat_begins/ |access-date=15 June 2009 |work=Ilkley Gazette |publisher=Newsquest Media Group}} Below the historic Ilkley golf club house, in Middleton, the access to Nesfield is regularly restricted due to the river closing the road.

A person from Ilkley is called an Olicanian which is derived from Olicana, thought to be the name of the Roman fort Ilkley is built upon. The ethnic make-up of Ilkley's population is 98.02% White, 0.74% mixed, 0.72% Asian, 0.37% Chinese or other ethnic group and 0.14% Black. The largest age group is 45- to 59-year-olds (20.73%).{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6098719&c=ilkley&d=14&e=15&g=379186&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1244561983063&enc=1&dsFamilyId=276 |title=Age Structure (KS02) |work=2001 Census |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=April 2001 |access-date=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604051600/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6098719&c=ilkley&d=14&e=15&g=379186&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1244561983063&enc=1&dsFamilyId=276 |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}

The town is a tourist destination and is used as a base from which to explore the famous moor and the countryside beyond. Ilkley is a shopping town that sells everything from game, fine wine, expensive fashions and fine art. The Victorian parades of the Grove and Brook Street have a selection of speciality shops. The town's original Victorian arcade has been restored as an indoor shopping walkway complete with a fountain and hanging baskets. Bettys, the Yorkshire tea room, has a shop in the town.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/linfo/localguides/localilkley/localilkleytourism/

|title=Local Ilkley Tourism

|work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus

|access-date=11 June 2009

}}

Ilkley has little by way of industry or commerce but employers include the Woolmark Company, Spooner Industries and NG Bailey. The town is also home to three breweries, Ilkley Brewery situated on the outskirts, Wharfedale Brewery which is housed within the grounds of a former 18th century farmhouse in the town centre and Bini Brew Co a modern craft brewery near the town centre.

According to the 2001 UK census, the industry of employment of residents aged 16–74 was 18.8% property and business services, 14.8% retail and wholesale, 13.4% education, 13.1% health and social work, 9.6% manufacturing, 5.7% finance, 4.8% construction, 4.8% public administration, 4.4% hotels and restaurants, 4.2% transport and communications, 0.6% energy and water supply, 0.5% agriculture, 0.1% mining, and 5.2% other. Compared with national figures, Ilkley town had a relatively high percentage of residents working in education and health and social work. The town had a relatively low percentage working in transport and communication and manufacturing.{{cite web |title=KS11a Industry of employment – all people: Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8306&More=Y |date=3 February 2005 |access-date=15 June 2009}} The census recorded the economic activity of residents aged 16–74, 2.2% students were with jobs, 3.7% students without jobs, 5.8% looking after home or family, 2.7% permanently sick or disabled, and 1.8% economically inactive for other reasons. Ilkley's 1.8% unemployment rate was low compared with the national rate of 3.3%. The City of Bradford has a relatively low proportion of people who were self-employed compared to the whole of England, but Ilkley's rate of 11.9% was well above both the district and national figures.

File:Bus Station - Station Road - geograph.org.uk - 475502.jpg

Ilkley bus station is the focal point for services to Keighley, Leeds, Leeds Bradford Airport, Skipton, Grassington, Malham and Otley. The main operators are First Leeds, Keighley Bus Company and North Yorkshire County Council.{{Cite web |title=Ilkley Bus Services |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=21 September 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/ilkley |quote=}}

Ilkley lies on the A65 road, which runs between Leeds and Kendal. The nearest substantial motorways are the M62 at Bradford, the M1 at Leeds and the A1(M) at Wetherby.

The civil parish is served by two railway stations: Ilkley{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/ilk/details.html |work=National Rail Enquiries |title= Station Facilities: Ilkley (ILK)|access-date= 28 June 2009}} and Ben Rhydding.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/bey/details.html |work=National Rail Enquiries |title=Station Facilities: Ben Rhydding (BEY)|access-date= 28 June 2009}} These are linked by the Wharfedale Line, along which Northern Trains operates services between Ilkley, Bradford Forster Square and Leeds stations.{{Cite web |title=Timetables and engineering information for travel with Northern |work=Northern Railway |date=May 2023 |access-date=21 September 2023 |url= https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables |quote=}}

Leeds Bradford International Airport is located close to Ilkley.

There is a wide variety of sports clubs and facilities in and around Ilkley. Notable clubs include the Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, founded in 1880 (member of the Lawn Tennis Association),{{cite web |url=http://www.iltsc.co.uk/index.php |title=Welcome to ILT&SC |access-date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626053106/http://www.iltsc.co.uk/index.php |archive-date=26 June 2009 }} which hosts an Ilkley Squash Open that has attracted world-class players such as Peter Barker;{{cite news |url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/sport/sportgeneral/4277996.Ilkley_welcomes_top_players/ |title=World's top squash players in Ilkley Open |first=Rachel |last=O'Connor |work=Ilkley Gazette |date=8 April 2009 |access-date=10 June 2009 }} there is also the gym and Ilkley Trophy, a distinguished tennis tournament for men (an ATP event) as well as women (an ITF W100 event).[https://www.lta.org.uk/major-tennis-events/trophy-series/ilkley-trophy/]Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Retrieved 19 June 2019.

Furthermore, there are also the Ilkley Golf Club, Yorkshire's third oldest golf club founded in 1890,{{cite web|url=http://www.ilkleygolfclub.co.uk/clubhouse/ilkleygolfclubhi.html |title=Ilkley Golf Club: History |access-date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421172407/http://www.ilkleygolfclub.co.uk/clubhouse/ilkleygolfclubhi.html |archive-date=21 April 2009 }} and where Colin Montgomerie for some years practised the game;{{cite web |url=http://www.ilkleygolfclub.co.uk/clubhouse/ilkleygolfclubth.html |title=Ilkley Golf Club : The Clubhouse |access-date=9 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421172648/http://www.ilkleygolfclub.co.uk/clubhouse/ilkleygolfclubth.html |archive-date=21 April 2009 }} Ilkley Rugby Club;{{cite web|url=http://www.ilkleyrfc.co.uk/|title=Welcome to Ilkley Rugby Club|publisher=Ilkley Rugby Club|access-date=29 June 2015}} and Ilkley Harriers Athletics Club.{{cite web|title=Ilkley Harriers|url=http://www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk/|publisher=Ilkley Harriers AC|access-date=29 June 2015}} There are a number of football, rugby and hockey teams. Ilkley Cricket Club{{cite web|url=http://www.ilkleycc.co.uk/|title=Welcome to IlkleyCC.co.uk|publisher=Ilkley Cricket Club|access-date=29 June 2015}} play in the Aire-Wharfe League.{{cite web|url=http://www.aire-wharfecricket.org.uk/|title=Welcome, the season is now underway|publisher=Airedale & Wharfedale Senior Cricket League |access-date=29 June 2015}} The nearby Ben Rhydding Sports Club in Ben Rhydding is the home of Ben Rhydding Hockey Club, founded in 1901,{{cite web |url=http://www.brhc.co.uk/about.php |title=About BRHC |access-date=11 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905002012/http://www.brhc.co.uk/about.php |archive-date=5 September 2009 }} and Ben Rhydding Cricket Club. An Ilkley Karate Club is run by former UK champion Mark Outterside.{{cite web |url=http://www.ilkleykarate.co.uk | title= Ilkley Karate Club |access-date=28 April 2010}}

Public facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and outdoor tennis courts at Ilkley's Lido. Constructed in 1935, it is one of only four public open-air swimming pools in Yorkshire{{cite web |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver.merrington/lidos/lidos2.htm#_Toc2087952 |title=1930s Lidos in the United Kingdom – outside London |date=October 2007 |first=Oliver |last=Merrington |access-date=11 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109104655/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver.merrington/lidos/lidos2.htm#_Toc2087952 |archive-date=9 January 2007 }} and is a tourist attraction during the summer holiday season.{{cite news |title=Lido clocks up record crowds |url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/843409.lido_clocks_up_record_crowds/ |first=Paul |last=Langan |work=Ilkley Gazette |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |date=20 July 2006 |access-date=11 June 2009 }}

Ilkley Town A.F.C. are a Charter Standard Community Football Club that provides football opportunities to over 650 members (male & female) from under 5's to SuperVets (over 45's). In 2021, the [https://www.ilkleytownafc.co.uk/ilkley-town Ilkley Town AFC] was admitted into the North West Counties League Division One North.

The town has seen a number of high-profile international cycle races pass through. The steep climb up to the Cow and Calf rocks at the edge of Ilkley Moor is normally the reason for the races to visit as it presents a short but challenging climb. For three consecutive years between 1994 and 1996, the climb was used as part of the Leeds Classic, which was part of the World Cup series of events.{{cite news|title=Leeds chosen for start as English route is unveiled|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jan/17/tour-de-france-2014-olympic-park|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=17 January 2013|location=London|first=William|last=Fotheringham|date=17 January 2013}} In both 2005 and 2007, the town hosted stages of the Tour of Britain race, with Ilkley Moor being a categorised climb on each occasion.{{cite web|title=Spectators turn out in Ilkley to see Tour of Britain riders pass through|date=14 September 2007 |url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/1689258.Spectators_turn_out_in_Ilkley_to_see_Tour_of_Britain_riders_pass_through/|publisher=Ilkley Moor|access-date=17 January 2013}}{{cite web|title=Get on York Bike|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/content/articles/2006/07/24/tour_of_britain_2006_feature.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 January 2013}}

In 2014, the town had its biggest cycling moment to date when the Tour de France passed through. The route approached the town on the A65 from Otley and passed through the town centre along the A65.{{cite web|title=Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014: Yorkshire to London, a 'royal' programme|url=http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2013/us/pre-race/news/ahc/grand-depart-of-the-tour-de-france-2014-yorkshire-to-london-a-royal-programme.html|publisher=Tour de France Official Website|access-date=17 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120084132/http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2013/us/pre-race/news/ahc/grand-depart-of-the-tour-de-france-2014-yorkshire-to-london-a-royal-programme.html|archive-date=20 January 2013|url-status=dead}} As a direct consequence of the success of the Tour de France its organisers, ASO, established the Tour de Yorkshire. Ilkley features in Stage 3 of the inaugural Tour, with the race set to enter from the west along the A65, before turning to climb up past the Cow and Calf.{{Cite book|url=http://velorooms.com/roadbooks/2015/Yorkshire.pdf|title=Tour de Yorkshire: Roadbook/Livre de Route|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|year=2015|page=24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502123053/http://velorooms.com/roadbooks/2015/Yorkshire.pdf|archive-date=2 May 2015}}

The annual Tour de Yorkshire which is a spin-off from the 2014 Tour de France includes Ilkley as part of the route. In 2018 the stage 2 finish line was at the Cow and Calf rocks, its first ever summit finish.{{Cite news|url=https://rouleur.cc/editorial/summit-finish-tour-de-yorkshire-cow-calf/|title=Summit Finish: The Tour de Yorkshire's Cow and Calf - Journal|date=7 December 2017|work=Journal|access-date=14 May 2018|archive-date=15 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515043827/https://rouleur.cc/editorial/summit-finish-tour-de-yorkshire-cow-calf/|url-status=dead}}

File:cowcalf.jpg

File:Ilkley River Suspension Bridge.jpg

File:Pink Blossoms in Ilkley.jpg

Ilkley town centre is a tourist attraction with a high number of small independent shops. Of particular note is Lishman's of Ilkley, an award-winning butcher shop whose owner, David Lishman, became one of Rick Stein's superheroes in 2003.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2003/sep/14/foodanddrink.shopping5 |title=Rick Stein's superheroes |first=Rick |last=Stein |work=The Observer |date=14 September 2003 |access-date=9 June 2009 |location=London}} Ilkley is one of five towns to feature a Bettys tearoom and is home to the Michelin-starred Box Tree restaurant{{cite web|url=http://www.michelin.co.uk/travel/red2008/popup_encj.htm |title=Michelin Guide Star History 2008-1974: England C-J |publisher=Michelin |access-date=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425023351/http://www.michelin.co.uk/travel/red2008/popup_encj.htm |archive-date=25 April 2009 }} where Marco Pierre White trained. In 1991 Ilkley won the Entente Florale and in 1990 and 2004 the Britain in Bloom contest in the category of 'Town'. In 2006 Ilkley became a Fairtrade Town.{{cite web|url=http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/fairtrade_towns/towns_list.aspx |title=Fairtrade Towns |publisher=Fairtrade Foundation |access-date=28 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201233239/http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/fairtrade_towns/towns_list.aspx |archive-date=1 February 2010 }}

The Manor House, one of the town's oldest buildings, houses a museum and art gallery. The museum contains prehistoric artefacts and documents the Roman fort of Olicana – remains of which are exposed at the back of the building – as well as the rise of Ilkley as a Victorian spa town.{{cite web |url=http://www.visitbradford.com/thedms-search.asp?dms=13&feature=1&venue=2180354&easi=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717220302/http://www.visitbradford.com/thedms-search.asp?dms=13&feature=1&venue=2180354&easi=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2011 |publisher=visitbradford.com |title=Manor House Art Gallery & Museum |access-date=31 March 2009 }} Ilkley Toy Museum has a collection of toys dating from 350 BC and a collection of English wooden dolls.{{cite web |url=http://www.ilkleytoymuseum.co.uk/aboutus.html |title=About Us |publisher=Ilkley Toy Museum |access-date=10 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930010828/http://www.ilkleytoymuseum.co.uk/aboutus.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}

File:Ilkley - The Grove - September 2007.jpg

The historic Ilkley Golf club house was built over a hundred years ago in Middleton, it overlooks the golf course which stretches on into North Yorkshire following along the side of the River Wharfe.

Ilkley's rural surroundings attract walkers and cyclists to the area. The landmark Cow and Calf rocks, which overlook the town on Ilkley Moor, consist of a large outcrop, which allegedly imitates a cow, and a boulder, which imitates a calf. The site is also visited for its rock climbing routes.{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkshiregrit.com/ilkley.html |title=Ilkley |publisher=YorkshireGrit |access-date=11 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121070133/http://www.yorkshiregrit.com/ilkley.html |archive-date=21 November 2006 }} The Old Bridge just outside the town centre is the official start to the Dales Way, an {{convert|84|mi|km|adj=on}} walk through the dales to Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District.{{cite web |url=http://www.dalesway.org.uk/ |title=The Dales Way |publisher=Dales Way Association |access-date=10 January 2007 }}

Darwin Gardens, to the south of the town, is a Millennium Green which commemorates the town's links with English naturalist Charles Darwin. The Green features a maze, whose design was influenced by the Swastika Stone carving, and includes monuments with an evolutionary theme.{{cite web |url=http://www.darwingardens.co.uk/history.htm |title=The Evolution of Darwin Gardens Millennium Green |first=Peter |last=Harnett |publisher=Darwin Gardens Trust |date=March 2008 |access-date=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120181107/http://www.darwingardens.co.uk/history.htm |archive-date=20 November 2008 }}

Ilkley is home to the largest and oldest literary festival in the North of England, the Ilkley Literature Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8023170.Star_writers_head_for_Ilkley_as_annual_festival_flourishes/|title=Star Writers Head for Ilkley as Annual Festival Flourishes|date=26 September 2002|work=Telegraph & Argus|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|access-date=4 February 2018}} The 1984 British comedy film A Private Function, written by Alan Bennett, was filmed in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding.{{cite book |last1=Earnshaw |first1=Tony |first2=Jim |last2=Moran |year=2008 |title=Made in Yorkshire |publisher=Guerilla Books |isbn=978-0-9554943-1-4 |chapter=A Private Function |pages=144–149 |url=http://guerilla-books.com/pdfs/MadeInYorkshire-APrivateFunction.pdf |access-date=28 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820013016/http://www.guerilla-books.com/pdfs/MadeInYorkshire-APrivateFunction.pdf |archive-date=20 August 2008 |url-status=dead }} The town was also one of the locations used for the 2003 British comedy film Calendar Girls.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/news_cityoffilm/news_cityoffilm_bradford/4461653.Mirren_and_Walters_keep_date_with_Calendar_Girls/|title=How Rylstone WI hit the big screen|date=26 June 2009|work=Telegraph & Argus|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|access-date=14 July 2009}} The BBC programme Psychoville is set, in part, in Ilkley. The [http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/ Ilkley Gazette] is the town's weekly newspaper.

A complementary medicine festival has been held in Ilkley since 1988 and is currently held twice a year, attracting 2,000 visitors.{{cite web|work=Ilkley.org|title=Ilkley Complementary Medicine Festival|url=http://ilkley.org/local-businesses/complementary-medicine/ilkley-complementary-medicine-festival.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205115754/http://ilkley.org/local-businesses/complementary-medicine/ilkley-complementary-medicine-festival.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 December 2014|access-date=25 August 2013}}

Since 1969 Ilkley has been twinned with Coutances in France.{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|title=British towns twinned with French towns [via WaybackMachine.com]|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-date=5 July 2013|work=Archant Community Media Ltd}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/news_local/4401914.Ilkley_and_Coutances_celebrate_twin_ship/|title=Ilkley and Coutances celebrate twin-ship|date=29 May 2009|work=Ilkley Gazette|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|access-date=27 June 2009}}

In December 2020 it was announced that a stretch of the River Wharfe at Ilkley would become the first river bathing place to be added to the list of designated bathing places in England under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, which hitherto included coastal sites and lakes. This followed a campaign by the Ilkley Clean River Campaign.{{cite news |last1=Laville |first1=Sandra |title=Yorkshire swimming spot to get bathing water status in UK first |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/22/yorkshire-river-wharfe-ilkley-bathing-water-status-uk-first |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=22 December 2020 |language=en}}

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire. Television signals are received from one of the two local relay transmitters (Wharfedale and Addingham).{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Wharfedale | title=Wharfedale (Leeds, England) Freeview Light transmitter | date=May 2004 }}{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Addingham | title=Addingham (Bradford, England) Freeview Light transmitter | date=May 2004 }}

Local radio stations are BBC Radio Leeds on 95.3 FM, Greatest Hits Radio Harrogate & The Yorkshire Dales on 107.1 FM, Capital Yorkshire on 105.6 FM, Heart Yorkshire on 107.6 FM, Drystone Radio on 102 FM and Rombalds Radio, a community based radio station that broadcast online.{{cite web | url=https://www.rombaldsradio.com/about/ | title=About us }}

The IIkley Gazette is the town's local weekly newspaper.{{cite web | url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-yorks/ilkley-gazette/ | title=Ilkley Gazette | British Newspapers Online | date=10 February 2014 }}

A free school was first established in Ilkley by a Mr Marshall who in 1608 bequeathed £100 for its endowment.{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=51060 |title=Ifield – Ilkley |first=Samuel |last=Lewis |work=A Topographical Dictionary of England |publisher=University of London & History of Parliament Trust |pages=603–608 |year=1848 |access-date=11 January 2007 }} Current schools include four primary schools, All Saints' C of E Primary School,{{cite web|url=http://www.ilkley.org/educate/allsaints.htm |title=All Saints Primary School, Ilkley |publisher=ilkley.org |access-date=30 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711170814/http://www.ilkley.org/educate/allsaints.htm |archive-date=11 July 2009 }}

Ashlands Primary School,{{cite web|url=http://www.ashlandsprimary.org.uk/index.htm |title=Ashlands Primary School Ilkley, Bradford, West Yorkshire |publisher=ashlandsprimary.org.uk |access-date=30 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309102543/http://ashlandsprimary.org.uk/index.htm |archive-date=9 March 2009 }}

Ben Rhydding Primary School,

{{cite web

|url=http://www.benrhydding.ngfl.ac.uk/

|title=Ben Rhydding Primary School, Ilkley

|publisher=benrhydding.ngfl.ac.uk

|access-date=30 June 2009

}}

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Ben Rhydding;{{cite web|url=http://www.ilkley.org/educate/sacredheart.htm |title=Sacred Heart Primary School, Ilkley |publisher=ilkley.org |access-date=30 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020163249/http://www.ilkley.org/educate/sacredheart.htm |archive-date=20 October 2008 }}

three preparatory schools,

Moorfield School,

{{cite web

|url=http://www.moorfieldschool.co.uk/

|title=Moorfield School – An independent Prep School for Boys and Girls

|publisher=moorfieldschool.co.uk

|access-date=20 May 2013

}}

Westville House School, Middleton,

{{cite web

|url=http://www.westvilleschool.co.uk/

|title=Westville House School – Independent Co-Educational Prep School and Nursery for Girls and Boys

|publisher=westvilleschool.co.uk

|access-date=30 June 2009

}}

and Ghyll Royd School and Pre-School.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghyllroydschool.co.uk|title=Home|website=Ghyll Royd School and Pre-School|language=en-GB|access-date=24 November 2016}} Augustus Wooldridge Godby founded Ghyll Royd School in 1889. He was Headmaster until his death on 5 November 1922.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ghyllroydschool.co.uk/about-us/history|title=History|newspaper=Ghyll Royd School and Pre-School|language=en-GB|access-date=24 November 2016}} Formerly an all boys School, Ghyll Royd has been a co-educational preparatory school since 1999, accepting children from two years old until they leave at eleven in Year 6. Ilkley also has one secondary school,

Ilkley Grammar School.{{cite web

|url = http://ilkley.school-site2.net/

|title = Ilkley Grammar School

|publisher = ilkley.school-site2.net

|access-date = 30 June 2009

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090704020539/http://ilkley.school-site2.net/

|archive-date = 4 July 2009

|url-status = dead

|df = dmy-all

}}

In 1975, David Gayle founded the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars which brought distinguished names in dance, like Alicia Markova, to Ilkley College of Education.{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshireballetseminars.com/aboutus.html |title=About the Yorkshire Ballet Summer School |publisher=Yorkshire Ballet Summer School |access-date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309022644/http://yorkshireballetseminars.com/aboutus.html |archive-date=9 March 2009 }} In 1978, Ilkley College of Education merged with Bingley College of Education to become Ilkley College. In 1982, Ilkley College merged with Bradford College to become Bradford and Ilkley Community College.{{cite web |url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/subjectlevel/q223_94_textonly.htm |title=Quality Assessment Report by the HEFCE for Bradford and Ilkley Community College |publisher=Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education |date=April 1994 |access-date=7 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712233844/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/subjectlevel/q223_94_textonly.htm |archive-date=12 July 2007 }} In 1999, the Ilkley campus of Bradford and Ilkley Community College closed despite opposition. The campus had occupied a {{convert|15.64|acre|ha}} site at Wells House, which was sold for housing after its closure.{{cite news|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8072167.Sale_of_college_campus_is_agreed/ |title=Sale of college campus is agreed |work=Telegraph & Argus |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |date=17 October 1998 |access-date=4 February 2018}}

File:AllSaintsParishChurch.jpg]]

According to Census 2001, 75.64% of Ilkley residents are Christian. The second largest group are people with no religion who account for 15.53% of residents. 7.48% did not state their religion and 1.34% fall into a variety of other religious groups.

Ilkley's medieval parish church All Saints', largely reconstructed in the Victorian era, houses artefacts of the site's ancient Christian heritage including three Saxon crosses and today operates within the Anglican Communion. An expanding congregation in the 19th century triggered plans in 1873 for a second church which became St Margaret's Church, designed by Richard Norman Shaw and completed in 1879.{{cite web |url=http://ilkleystmargarets.googlepages.com/historyofthechurchbuilding |title=History of the Church Building |first=Paul |last=Kershaw |access-date=15 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514211933/http://ilkleystmargarets.googlepages.com/historyofthechurchbuilding |archive-date=14 May 2008 }} Worship at the church is conducted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition{{cite web |url=http://ilkleystmargarets.googlepages.com/index |title=Visitors Welcome Page |access-date=15 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514211941/http://ilkleystmargarets.googlepages.com/index |archive-date=14 May 2008 }} and in 2005 was led by David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes. When the Archbishop of York resigned he became vicar at Ilkley until his retirement in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/270 |title=David Hope to retire from Ilkley |date=11 September 2006 |publisher=archbishopofcanterbury.org |access-date=15 June 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023111736/http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/270 |archive-date=23 October 2009 }}

Other places of worship in Ilkley include Ben Rhydding Methodist Church (Methodist), Christchurch (Methodist/United Reformed), Ilkley Baptist Church (Baptist), Kingdom Hall, Ilkley (Jehovah's Witnesses), St John's Parish Church, St Margaret's Church, Ben Rhydding (Anglican), the Church of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic) and the Ilkley Society of Friends' (Quaker) Meeting House, which opened in 1869.{{cite web|work=Leeds Area Quaker Meetings |url=http://www.leedsquakers.org.uk/meetings/ilkley |title=Ilkley Meeting | accessdate= 24 October 2020}} Churches Together in Ilkley exists to encourage co-operation amongst member churches.{{cite web |url=http://www.ilkley.org/worship/ctininfo.htm |title=Churches Together in Ilkley: Information |publisher=Wharfedale Online Trust |access-date=8 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010153502/http://www.ilkley.org/worship/ctininfo.htm |archive-date=10 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}

The former Wesleyan Chapel at the junction of Skipton Road and Bolton Bridge Road was built in 1834 but in 1892 it became Ilkley's first museum. In 1914 it became a commercial garage and is now a cycle store.{{cite news|last=Redhead |first= J. |url= https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8746797.ilkley-building-was-once-a-museum-and-home-to-famous-preacher-in-the-19th-century/ |title=Ilkley building was once a museum and home to famous preacher in the 19th century |work=Telegraph and Argus|date= 20 December 2010| accessdate= 24 October 2020}}{{cite news|last=Sutton |first= M. |url=https://cyclingindustry.news/wheelbase-takes-on-former-site-of-ilkley-cycles/ |title=Wheelbase takes on former site of Ilkley Cycles|work=Cycling Industry News|date= 12 January 2018| accessdate= 24 October 2020}}

{{Infobox COA wide

|image = Ilkley Escutcheon.png

|escutcheon = Gules a Stone Celtic Cross Proper between two fountains on a chief Argent a lion passant guardant Sable armed and langued of the first.

|crest = On a wreath Argent and Gules a mount of rocky Moorland Proper thereon issuant from a crown palisado Or a bull salient Gules the horns Gold.

|motto = Per Salubritatum Opes (Through Health, Wealth)

|notes = Originally granted 4 December 1956 to the Ilkley Urban District Council.{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/yorkshire.html |title=Yorkshire Region |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=13 September 2021}}}}

• Listed buildings in Ilkley
• List of people from Ilkley

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Ilkley}}

• [http://www.parishcouncil.ilkley.org Ilkley Parish Council]
• [http://www.ilkley.org Ilkley.org]
• [http://www.ilkleymaps.co.uk Ilkley Maps]

{{NSEW|Middleton|Eldwick|Ben Rhydding|Addingham|||||}}

{{Bradford}}

{{West Yorkshire}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Wharfedale

Category:Towns in West Yorkshire

Category:Civil parishes in West Yorkshire

Category:Geography of the City of Bradford

Category:Wards of Bradford

Category:Spa towns in England