THE FRENCH view of life in a Keighley shell factory has been uncovered by a local historian.

Ian Walkden has found an article published in a controversial French magazine about its writer’s visit to the First World War factory

The location of the Dalton Lane complex – a secret for many years – was recently revealed through research by Keighley District Local History Society.

Local people attending Keighley Show identified a photograph of the National Shell Factory, now demolished, as being in Old Dalton Lane.

Mr Walkden found a rare reference to the factory while scouring Keighley News copies from 1915 as part of his volunteer work for the Men of Worth Project.

He said: “While researching the names of the fallen I noticed an article dated November 27, 1915 with the heading Keighley Shell Making: Seen Through French Eyes.”

Mr Walkden said he transcribed the article “with some amusement”, and discovered the original French newspaper had taken a very patriot stance during the First World War.

He added: “In World War Two the paper followed a very right-wing line which supported the Nazi occupation. It eventually folded in 1944, possibly before retribution could take place.”

The writer, Monsieur Jean Cruppi, described Keighley as a village that was “far from anywhere”.

He wrote: “Keighley is situated in the heart of Old England in the romantic valley of the Worth.

“The people are somewhat unpolished: they are tall, vigorous English folk, serious of mien and even a little morose, but on the least pretext laugh like children.

“It would need the pen of Charlotte Bronte (who was born in Keighley) to draw the portrait of the place, gaitered gentlemen, enthusiastic, Francophile over head and ears.

“The inhabitants without exception – men, woman, and children – are working for the war. The majority of the young men are already at the front.

“The old men, the women and the children are busy in various workshops turning out shells.”

M Cruppi saw 240 women working day and night of the National Shell Factory, each earning about 24 shillings per week.