THIS 1950s view up Ilkley Road in Riddlesden includes the Willow Tree Inn at a time when a patch of land just off the photograph on the left served as the terminus of the Keighley bus.

Now primarily a residential suburb, Riddlesden was once a varied community.

In 1884, Craven’s Commercial and General Directory (the best the Keighley district has ever had) recorded a Riddlesden population of only 767, yet St Mary’s Church could seat 200 and its day school had 150 pupils.

The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel could accommodate 300, and 90 scholars attended its Sunday School, while the Primitive Methodists could seat 130 adults and 70 children. Obviously, not all their seats were regularly filled!

The Riddlesden wharves on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal were used by five coal merchants.

Occupations included a nursery and seedsman, a provision dealer, tailor, two cloggers, an oatmeal baker and a lime-burner.

At the Willow Tree in 1884, Mary Fielding was described as a beer retailer and grocer. “The industry of the district is purely agricultural,” stated the directory, “and the climate and soil is favourable and noted for the growth of early fruit.”

The photo was supplied by Kevin Seaton, of Shann Lane, Keighley.