KEIGHLEY- an ancient town founded by an old English Thane by
the name of CYHHA in a forest clearing (a "ley").
In the Domesday Book (1086) it was named as CHICHELAI, with
satellite settlements at Utley, Oakworth, Newsholme, Laycock,
Riddlesden, Morton, Marley and Hainworth. After many transmutations
the name "Keighley" came into being in the mid-sixteenth century. A
Market Charter was granted in 1305.
At the confluence of the River Worth and the North Beck, with the
River Aire close by, and protected by the micro-climate of the Aire
Gap, the town grew up with a very varied history, becoming
important in cotton, worsted and engineering. Many Keighley
businesses and educational establishments enjoyed world-wide
recognition, but, alas, very little now remains.
Notable features include the first(?) Carnegie Library, East
Riddlesden Hall, Cliffe Castle, Oakworth Park, the Victorian-style
railway station and the Keighley Worth Valley Railway - star of
several films.
During the 1970's upheaval Keighley was swallowed up by the
Bradford Metropolitan District Council - which caused much
resentment then and now. Recently Bradford has relented a little
and we now have our own Town Council (yet a far cry from the
original Borough Council).
At the Waypoints given below you will find small plaques stamped
with numbers, building up to the co-ordinates for the final cache
site.
Put these numbers together as N A°B.C W D°E.F.
There is a variety of ways to get to the Final - by moorland
tracks or through dense woodland. The latter is my preferred
route(although in my youth, this was all open moorland) and the
co-ordinates above should give you a suitable parking spot.
Walking through the woodland gives adults the joy of birdsong and
children the prospect of being accosted by Robin Hood, Dick Turpin
or the like! Please make sure to stay on the path not the
road, and don't panic if you lose the signal - it will come back in
good time. The walk to the Final, and the final site itself give
good panoramic views over Keighley and the surrounding hills.
11/11/07 - This appears to have been muggled - possibly by animals.
The location could be a "rat-run" for beasties on the prowl (I
found small bones within the tunnel) and there may be, somewhere, a
fox with a cammobag round its neck! The cache has been replaced
about 10 yards Northish (uphill) from the original and a spoiler
picture loaded.
26/03/08:: All information is in situ and correct. The cache has
been moved a few feet to a far better location.