HERE in the 1920s are the impressive shop windows of drapers, costumiers and furriers Keighley and Wilkins Ltd, occupying the cross end of North Street and round the corner into Low Street.
This well-known firm had been started in 1890 by John Keighley and John Wilkins, who had served their drapery apprenticeships together.
On their retirement in 1910, John Wilkins’ younger brother Walter took over and in 1914 introduced “the beautiful display windows and showrooms” seen here, which were to remain for the next 40 years of the firm’s existence.
In their heyday, Keighley and Wilkins advertised “the cream of the models copied from the leading Parisian couturiers” and also specialised in wedding and mourning clothes.
On the closure of the business in 1954, directors Sims Mitchell and Miss A Longbottom had been with it for 50 and 46 years respectively.
The photograph was supplied by Barbara Klempka, of Keighley and District Local History Society.
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