Keighley College

File:The Mechanics' Institute and School of Science and Art, Keig Wellcome V0012790.jpg

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. The institute opened a new building in 1834, holding a concert with professional musicians to celebrate.

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.{{cite news |last1=Knights |first1=David |title=The fateful night in 1962 when Keighley Mechanics Institute burned down |url=https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/14521205.the-fateful-night-in-1962-when-keighley-mechanics-institute-burned-down/ |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=Keighley News |date=27 May 2016 |language=en}} 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.{{cite journal |title=Keighley Trade School |journal=The Builder |date=21 January 1871 |page=44 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d69RAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Keighley+trade+school%22&pg=PA44 |language=en}}

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".{{cite book |last1=Pevsner |first1=Nikolaus |last2=Radcliffe |first2=Enid |title=Yorkshire: The West Riding |date=1967 |publisher=Penguin |location=London |isbn=0140710175 |pages=282, 633 |edition=2nd |chapter=Keighley and Addenda}}

File:Former Mechanics' Institute, Keighley.jpg

The building was demolished in 1967, despite local protest.{{cite news |last1=Knights |first1=David |title=Campaign to save former Keighley College from wrecking ball |url=https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/14465927.campaign-to-save-former-keighley-college-from-wrecking-ball/ |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=Keighley News |date=2 May 2016 |language=en}}

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." It was linked by a corridor footbridge across Lord Street to the older building.{{cite news |last1=Shand |first1=Alistair |title=College rises from ashes of Keighley institute |url=https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/17872608.memory-lane-college-rises-ashes-keighley-institute/ |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=Keighley News |date=31 August 2019 |language=en}}

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.{{cite news |title=Principal of Leeds City College to be chair of 157 Group |url=https://feweek.co.uk/principal-of-leeds-city-college-to-be-chair-of-157-group/ |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=feweek.co.uk |date=4 December 2012}} The Keighley site was known as the Keighley Campus.

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 provides courses for A-levels. T-Levels, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, adult education, and special education.{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://keighleycollege.ac.uk/ |website=Keighley College |access-date=26 October 2023 |language=en}}

The college includes an Industrial Centre of Excellence and a nationally acclaimed Star Centre facility,{{cite news |date=2 March 2008 |title=STAR centre may be leading light in next space race |work=Keighley News |url=http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/2079426.star_centre_may_be_leading_light_in_next_space_race |access-date=24 January 2009}} 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.{{cite news |title=Two ministers make visit to Keighley |url=https://www.rombaldsradio.com/news/keighley-news/two-ministers-make-visit-to-keighley/ |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=Rombalds Radio |date=13 October 2023 |language=en}}

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• {{official website|https://keighleycollege.ac.uk/ }}

{{Schools in the City of Bradford}}

{{Universities and colleges in Yorkshire and the Humber}}

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Category:Further education colleges in West Yorkshire

Category:Education in the City of Bradford