#keighley

We have a stately home on our doorstep; Elizabethan Towneley Hall. Just over the hills in the West Riding of Yorkshire however, lies another architectural gem: Cliffe Castle in Keighley.

Back in 1875 a man called Henry Isaac Butterfield decided to transform a local house: Cliffe Hall, Keighley, into his very own fantasy castle. The exterior is neo-gothic, with battlements and built in local sandstone, but the interior is unexpected. Inside the Great Hall is filled with opulence in a French style.

Back in 1854, Henry had married Mary Roosevelt Burke, an American heiress and part of the extensive Roosevelt family. She was a distant relative of Theodore Roosevelt Snr. His son ‘Teddy’ went on to be president of the United States.

For a while the couple lived in Paris in the Rue de Presbourg, this possibly influenced the way Henry would later furnish his home in Keighley.

Henry's wife sadly was to die, aged only 35.

It was then that he returned to Keighley and began to transform Cliffe Hall into a grand country house. The alterations were drawn up by Bradford architect, George Smith, with work beginning in April 1875.

The work had been completed by 1878 at which point, a local newspaper; the Bradford Observer said “little can compare in architectural pretentiousness to the noble edifice called Cliffe Castle”.

Henry proceeded to furnish his house with the most exquisite French details and furniture, including a malachite mantelpiece, once owned by Prince Demidoff, and an ornate crystal mirror once owned by Louis XIV. The ornamentation is richly executed, giving an opulent feel to the house, in particular, the Great Hall.

The house contains an impressive staircase, lit by a stained glass window.

Works of art abound, hung on the walls amid these beautiful furnishings.

The rooms were beautifully lit with sweeping views from the windows over the beautiful Airedale countryside outside, Inside, huge crystal chandeliers adorn the stately apartments.

Lit with candles. The chandeliers are huge but delicately designed and constructed with cut glass.

Butterfield closely supervised the planning of every little detail, resulting in a very personal statement of what he loved and valued. Everywhere there is elegance.

If you visit, take your time, there are so many exquisite things to enjoy and look at.

Henry Butterfield was a great collector and loved so many beautiful things.

The house is free to visit and car parking is free too (though voluntary donations are encouraged). The beautiful grounds are also there to be enjoyed on a sunny day. The property also houses a fascinating museum with many artefacts and much stained glass.

All photos were shot with a Canon 350D and a Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 lens using ISO 1600. Shots were edited using Canon Digital Photo Professional 4.

Please feel free to comment, message or share. All photos remain the copyright of Cottontown Photography.

Haworth, West Yorkshire

quite possibly my favourite place on earth

‘To walk down Haworth’s steep cobbled main street is almost like walking back in time..’

‘... Surrounding the village are the bleak but beautiful moors, coated in a cloak of purple heather each August.’

Cliffe Castle, Keighley, Bradford, Yorkshire, England, UK,