TWO brothers have set out ambitious plans to transform a former school into a medieval castle experience.

Tom and Sam Ive have unveiled proposals for the one-time Aire View School site in Silsden – and hope the community will get behind them.

The entrepreneurial siblings – who previously ran their own historical sword fighting club in Keighley – launched Raven Forge in 2019, after spotting a gap in the market for medieval and TV replicas.

The pair gave-up their day jobs as a physiotherapy assistant and a plumber to focus on the business, which is currently based in a warehouse at Cross Hills.

Raven Forge specialises in crafting historical, movie and television collectibles – ranging from limited-edition pizza axes and drinking horns to replica merchandise from the Lord of the Rings.

Over the last two years, demand for its products has boomed.

Now the team is looking to create new roots with its ambitious vision for the former Aire View School.

Operation Castle Raven Forge aims to convert the site into its store as well as creating a historic mead hall, axe throwing range and even offering blacksmithing experiences.

The scheme will also feature the development of a high-tech recording studio, children’s play area and community green.

The team has launched a Kickstarter fund with support from its 10,000-strong online community to help make the ambition a reality.

Tom said: “Community is at the heart of everything that we strive for.

“Over the last three years we have worked hard to build up a fantastic online community. It has been phenomenal to see the demand for what we do grow beyond our wildest expectations.

“We want somewhere to call our new home that’s open to the public. Our community has given us so much, they have been so incredibly supportive of what we do and we want to repay them by creating a central community hub.

“For us this site is very special, it means so much to us on a personal level – our children went to school there as well as our sister Rosie who now works with us at the family business."

The Kickstarter fund aims to raise £150,000 towards Operation Castle Raven Forge and in return backers will receive rewards including their limited-edition pizza axes, merchandise and the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the site.

The Kickstarter fund link can be found at kickstarter.com/projects/ravenforge/castle-raven-forge.