COMMUNITY curator Heather Millard spoke to Keighley Men's Forum about Cliffe Castle.

She explained that the building, dating back to the 1830s, was originally known as Cliffe Hall.

By 1950 it was empty, and was bought for Keighley Council by former Lord Mayor of London Sir Bracewell Smith for £18,000, on January 18 that year.

Seven years later it was decided to move all collections from the then Keighley Museum in Victoria Park to Cliffe Castle, once renovations of the Spring Gardens Lane property were complete.

Forum spokesperson David Seeley says: "By 1959 Cliffe Castle was opened as a museum and art gallery, as it is today, with Sir Bracewell Smith having contributed some £170,000 in total."

Thanks were given by forum president Derek Jackson.