WHAT NOW would seem a highly unusual activity in Scott Street was once an important twice-yearly event each May and November, on the occasion of Keighley’s traditional horse and cattle fairs.

These were also social highlights, often warranting half-day holidays for mill workers.

The account-book of the Keighley parish constable in 1816 records how he appointed special constables on fair days and made a point of “examining public houses” and “going around”.

This one was photographed over a century ago – the uniformed curator of the Carnegie Library opened in 1904 is standing among the group on the left – by which time increasing traffic and tramlines had pushed livestock out of the main thoroughfares into side streets.

Cows would stand for sale in Scott Street, Russell Street and Devonshire Street, horses at the bottom of West Lane, and sheep round the back of High Street.

Afterwards the Fire Brigade would hose down the streets!