Press Release 10^th November 2025

Ilkley Civic Society is pleased to announce the results of its Design & Conservation Awards for 2025.

We have moved to an Autumn presentation to allow judging to take place over the summer, so it is 18 months since our last live event. On Thursday 23^rd October Ilkley Town Council Mayor Cllr Jane Gibson presented certificates to local businesses, organisations & individuals. Cllr Gibson commented “I was honoured to be invited to present these awards. It was an interesting evening, celebrating creativity in our wonderful town. I particularly enjoyed those projects which supported sustainability and sympathetic adaptations within our conservation areas. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of awards."

The evening began with a review of the last 18 months, to demonstrate the type of events and planning issues Ilkley Civic Society is involved with, including: - 

-the approval of major Yorkshire Water works on Denton Rd to create a wetland, 

-the failure of big organisations to obtain the necessary planning approval (Starbucks) 

-supporting residents’ concerns regarding poor quality shopfronts 

- monitoring with concern the deteriorating condition of some buildings and reporting the issues to BMDC (Hollycroft)

We moved onto this year’s presentations, which included several Commendations and Two Awards to a variety of projects all of which succeeded in making a valuable contribution to improving the townscape of Ilkley or its surrounding landscape. Projects, selected from a long list of 15 projects from the last 1.5 years included a variety of commercial buildings, some private residences and an urban realm project. 

Certificates presented to the following projects: -

Conservation; Commendation (for work on historic buildings or structures) 

• Mortons shopfront: the former shopfront has been returned to a more Victorian feel, revealing the original corner cast iron columns with ornate capitals, adding glazing bars to the windows, and recreating the former column and stall riser finishes. Design and installation by the new occupiers Design Emporium, a local architecture and interior design company.
• Langbar House: the former offices above Dacres have been converted to apartments. The considerable work to the exterior includes relaying the roof slates, repairs to chimneys, and complete re-rendering of the exterior to ensure the building envelope is fit for a long future. Developer Yorplace, architect Halliday Clark and contractor Dobsons of Ilkley.

Conservation: Award (for work on historic buildings or structures)

• Whitton Lodge: this former detached villa previously divided into flats has been returned to a family home by the removal of a bulky 2-storey rear extension and its replacement with full height staircase window and a much smaller single storey living kitchen extension. All PVCu windows have been replaced with wooden sash windows and 2 new roof dormers added. Environmentally a ground source heat pump has been added with full internal insulation to walls. Private client, architects Niche Architecture. 

Special mention- 

• Railway Terrace: an extension to stone-built end terrace re-using stone from the original gable wall. Featuring the latest design of roof solar panels that are inset into the roof and much less obtrusive than earlier solar panels.

New Design: Commendations -for new projects 

• Kings Road- two new houses filling a gap in the streetscape with crisp contemporary design that includes traditional slate rooves and stone walls. Developer, Burley developments and Halliday Clark architects.
• Wharfe View Road-Two new rear extensions designed by different architects working together to complement each other. Architects Niche and Roost.

New Design: Awards. - for an Urban Realm project 

• Re-establishment of a working fountain for Ilkley inspired by sphagnum moss, which is so important to water and carbon retention on our moor. The fountain is  gravity fed and requires no pumping. Sculpture design by Juliet and Jamie Gutch, local artists and fabricated by James Wilkinson for Improving Ilkley, constructed by Dakin.  
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To round off the evening we looked at some potential future entries for the Ilkley Civic Society Awards which will take place in 12 or 24 months depending on the number of entries. A future live presentation will enable local residents, their architects and builders to gather to celebrate new build and heritage projects that add to the history of the town as well those that improve the environment. Any suggestions please to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Contacts for more information 

David Blackburn (603479) or Kate Brown (604521) Executive Committee members or Alex Cockshott (Chair) (601561)

Ilkley Civic Society   

10^th  November   2025

John Shuttleworth (1833-1909), printer and publisher of The Ilkley Gazette, and his son Ernest, a prominent local photographer, left a unique archive of images relating to the district of Ilkley. Bradford MDC has made a selection of the most interesting pieces from the collection held at Ilkley Library, with the aim of extending access to these irreplaceable items.

NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026

Heritage Walks

Since our last Newsletter we have held two very well attended walks, one on the Eastern Hydros where we finished by taking a look around the Craiglands Hotel, and the second our Cemetery Walk on Hydros to Cemetery.

Our next Event is for Heritage Open Days (HODS) on Thursday 17 September, meeting at 2 pm at the Railway Station entrance adjacent to the Bus Station.  The HODS theme this year is local craftsmen, and in line with this, our walk is entitled ‘Dean Brothers – 3 Generations of Ilkley Builders’.  This will be a town centre walk looking at buildings connected to the Dean family.

THIS WALK IS NOW FULLY BOOKED

Blue Plaques – The plaque on Verbeia Grange, formerly the Troutbeck, will be unveiled on Thursday 3 September at 1 pm.  We are hoping for a glimpse inside the refurbished building.

Design Awards

Nominations have now closed and we will be examining all the projects suggested, prior to our Awards Evening on Thursday 22 October at 7.30 pm in Church House.    Further details on the meeting will be sent out nearer the time.

October Zoom meeting to be held on Saturday 24 October at 2 pm.  Further information from Alex as above.

Reminder

We now have a facebook page under Ilkley Civic Society where details and photographs of events are posted alongside those on our website.

Date of Christmas Walk

This will be held on Monday 28 December meeting at 10.30 am.  This will be a town centre walk looking up at some of the decorative features on many of the buildings.  Further details will be published later.

We have been asked to bring to members’ attention a talk on Thursday evening 17 September in All Saints Church.   Full details are on the attached poster. 

Website/Membership

It is now possible to join/rejoin the Society via the website.  Full details are available under the Membership tab.

The Friends of Ilkley Cemetery continue to meet weekly, weather permitting. Please contact Jan on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information

Meetings in 2026

 Thu Apr 23  7.30pm             Meeting  AGM        Illustrated talk                              Church House  

Sat Apr 25      2pm               Walk to see Spa Hydro                                             Meet at Manor House

We will be stepping back in time to re-imagine the Victorian village, walking up to the old Green Lane (now The Grove) then a rural location, to imagine The Grove Hydro which was renamed in the 1880s to be The Spa. It was demolished a century later to be replaced by an apartment block which was designed to reflect the original building. The café konditorei is still remembered by older residents.

See you there!

Friends of Ilkley Cemetery – the group continues to meet weekly, weather permitting.  Please contact Jan on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.

Local History Hub – A resource for the collection, storage and sharing of Information on Ilkley.  For further information and/or to get involved, contact Alex on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.