A NEW guide has been produced to help first-time visitors explore Keighley's Cliffe Castle Museum.

The leaflet outlines things to look out for and facilities on offer at the popular Spring Gardens Lane attraction.

Included is a colour-coded floor plan, advice for visitors and a brief history of the Bradford Council-run building.

The Building a Heritage Pathway project was spearheaded by Cliffe Castle Support Group.

Initially, members of communities across the town who had never visited the museum before were invited to look around, noting particular features that they engaged with.

That information was then used to help create a route around the ground floor, taking in objects and artefacts in the several small galleries that were originally domestic rooms.

Once the second stage of the venture was complete, locally-based artist Nicola Storr was commissioned to illustrate a colour trail map of the offering in each gallery.

The finished pamphlet also contains a QR code for an audio narration of the trail – produced by Val Preston, of Truly Essential, under the guidance of the People First Keighley & Craven podcast team.

A 'tea party' event has been held at the museum, to thank all those that supported the initiative.

A Cliffe Castle Support Group spokesperson says: "The party was a tribute to everyone who helped make the project a success.

"We now have an accessible illustrated leaflet to help first-time visitors to the museum experience the many delights it has to offer.

"Partygoers enjoyed trying out the leaflet and discovering the inspirations for the illustrations, before being served a Yorkshire tea – the star of which was a fabulous 'thank you' cake generously donated by the Cliffe Castle Park Pavilion Cafe.

"Everybody who took part in the project found the process really interesting and enjoyable, but it would not have been possible without a much-appreciated Bradford Council art, heritage and culture grant.

"We would like to thank all those who took part in the initiative or gave advice – including Highfield Community Association, People First Keighley & Craven, Eden Community Association, the Ukrainian Association’s Keighley branch, and Keighley College English for Speakers of other Languages students. We couldn’t have done it without you.

"The leaflet can be found in various community group meeting spaces around the town."

For more about the project or the work of Cliffe Castle Support Group, message the group via social media or email ccsgteam@gmail.com