Welcome to Ilkley Civic Society

We are a local group interested in Ilkley past and present. We meet regularly to help preserve, develop, improve and research features of historic or public interest in Ilkley. We seek to promote high standards of planning and architecture and educate the public in geography, history, natural history and architecture. We also work with local schools and welcome people sharing information and memories about Ilkley. We reply to all enquiries. Come along to one of our public meetings or guided heritage walks or talks and find out more. Everyone welcome.

For our response to the Government Planning White Paper please click:  PLANNING_WHITE_PAPER_RESPONSE_NOVEMBER_2020_SUMMARY.pdf

Civic Society Meetings

Public Meetings

 The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on Thursday Feb 25 about Key Unlisted Buildings.  

The meeting will start with a presentation on Ilkley's listed buildings with suggestions for buildings to be listed.  This is an initiative encouraged by Heritage England.

The March 25 meeting will be Design Awards.

The April 22 meeting will be the AGM followed by an illustrated talk.

Friends of Ilkley Cemetery activities

The Friends of Ilkley Cemetery undertake improvement work in the cemetery, including litter picking and simple gardening jobs, researching of tombstones and natural history. Our main activities involve tidying graves, cutting back weeds and undergrowth as well as bulb planting, leaf clearing, and litter picking. We report any interesting wildlife sightings such as rare plants, bats and unusual birds to the local wildlife groups.

The Friends of Ilkley Cemetery normally meet for an hour or so on Tuesday afternoons at 2pm. Planned meeting dates are weather dependent and may also be affected by changes in Covid-19 social distancing and lockdown measures.

So, if you would like to join us then please email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.to check the latest plans and meeting arrangements. 

For assistance with family and local history queries contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For help with burial arrangements and locating family graves please contact Keighley Bereavement Services, The Library Annex, Spencer Street, Keighley, BD21 2BN Tel. 01535 618245

The Commonwealth War Graves website currently lists 46 graves in Ilkley Cemetery. Details

can be found at www.cwgc.org

For pictures and a brief history of the cemetery download:  History_of_Cemetery.pdf