NOW a group of desirable homes called Hillworth Village, this was Hillworth Lodge as photographed in 1971 when still recently an old people’s home – its last residents had been moved to Ingrow Green the previous year.
Built as a workhouse for the Keighley Poor Law Union, the Oakworth Road Institution – as it was later called – had opened in 1860 with accommodation for 264 paupers, plus vagrant wards for both sexes. A committee from the Keighley Board of Guardians had visited other workhouses, recommending one modelled on that at Ripon.
Erected on “Mr Greenwood’s land at Holycroft”, utilising the produce of Greystones Quarry and roofed with Ulverston blue slate, the workhouse included wards for males and females, young and old, able-bodied and infirm, and in its earlier years even a lunacy ward.
The Poor Law Act of 1930 abolished the Victorian system, but Hillworth Lodge took on a new lease of life in 1940 when it accommodated 120 elderly evacuees from the London blitz, continuing as a home until its closure.
The photograph has been supplied by Mr Bill Palmer, of Shann Avenue, Keighley.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here