KEIGHLEY’s historic Jean Junction building has been renovated with the help of a £285,000 grant.

The “stunning” transformation of the Victorian building has been made possible with cash from Bradford Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Public money for the Grade II listed building in High Street, which supported investment by the property owner, came through the Keighley Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

The Initiative is bringing £2.7 million to Keighley town centre to revitalise Edwardian and Victorian buildings.

Work on the latest building – at the High Street roundabout – included the shop front, sash windows, stone detailing from around 1900, and a new staircase.

The work rescued the building from further deterioration and restored historic features which had been hidden behind boarding and the modern shop front.

The building, which has for many years housed the Jean Junction shop, was built as a Liberal Club in 1876 with stabling for the Devonshire Arms on the ground floor.

It was re-faced with an ornate facade in around 1905, and afterwards had several occupiers including Keighley Printers. There was also a hat shop.

THI bosses say that over the past century the building has suffered from structural problems and a major fire, and the upper floor space has been difficult to access since the original stair tower was removed.

Coun Val Slater, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for housing, planning and transport, said the THI grant had helped the owner to “vastly improve” one of the most high profile buildings in the conservation area.

She said: "The transformation is stunning and it demonstrates how important it is to invest in our heritage. When the upper floors are in use it should increase employment in the town and revitalise the area."

Sue Oakley, Keighley Townscape Heritage Initiative officer, said: "It was important to recreate the detailing as accurately as possible so archive photographs were used to build up a picture of the building in around 1905.

"The work is already encouraging other property owners to come forward for grant funding so improvements through the grant programme will continue in Keighley at least for the next year.

"Pavements along North Street and High Street are also being replaced with stone flags and this work will complement the building restoration beautifully."

Property owners in the area of North Street, High Street and Church Street are still welcome to come forward for grant funding and should contact Sue Oakley on 01274 437495.