Cliffe Castle Museum

Cliffe Castle Museum occupies a neo-Gothic building with towers and a ballroom, displaying rooms furnished in Victorian style alongside paintings and decorative objects. Multiple galleries spread across the floors feature artworks and period pieces that show different types of design and craftsmanship.

Henry Isaac Butterfield, a textile manufacturer, purchased the original Cliffe Hall in the 1880s and transformed it into a grand castle with towers and French-inspired decor. His additions made it one of the most elaborate houses in the region during that era.

The rooms reflect how wealthy families in the area lived, filled with period furniture and objects that tell their daily story. Walking through them gives a sense of what mattered to these households and how they arranged their lives.

The museum sits in Keighley town center and is accessible on foot from the main shopping areas, with free parking on site. The building has multiple levels connected by stairs, so comfortable walking shoes help when moving between the different galleries and rooms.

The museum holds an Egyptian mummy from the Ptolemaic period, a lesser-known treasure that many visitors pass by without noticing. This collection connects the house's Victorian art holdings with the broader 19th-century European fascination with Egyptian antiquities.

Location: Keighley

Inception: 1892

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Part of: Bradford Museums and Galleries

Address: Cliffe Castle Museum & Art Gallery, Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley BD20 6LH

Website: https://bradfordmuseums.org/cliffe-castle

GPS coordinates: 53.87513,-1.91368

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:00