Old hotel is uninteresting, says heritage specialists

10:09am Thursday 1st June 2006

A former hotel due to be replaced by the new Keighley College building has been rejected for listed building status.

English Heritage branded the Queen's Building, next to Keighley Railway Station, as uninteresting and undistinguished.

The 19th century building in Bradford Road originally the Station Hotel currently houses the Richard Craven electrical store.

It is due to be bought by Bradford Council then demolished to make way for the planned new Keighley College campus.

A Keighley person requested English Heritage consider giving listed building status to Queen's Building. This would have protected the building, which was built in the 1880s in conjunction with the railway station.

Su Evans-Turner, the English Heritage operations co-ordinator, said the Secretary of State had rejected the request. She said that while the Queen's Building had local interest, it was not of special interest or nationally significant.

She said: "It is not a particularly distinguished example and lacks quality in architectural style, design form or historical association. Only those which clearly display a high level of architectural achievement and completeness are added to the list."

English Heritage commented that Tudor timber work near the roof was a passing reference to the historic Arts and Crafts movement. Sash windows were also characteristic of the 19th century.

Dave Harris, secretary of the Midland Railway Society, said: "I abhor the practice of replacing perfectly serviceable old buildings with modern boxes. There are plentiful examples of old railway buildings that have been modernised and rejuvenated."

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