We will celebrate our 60th Anniversary at the Canker Well garden. We are re-planting the bath from Ben Rhydding Hydro and making a heritage notice board for the small park. The celebration will be on Thursday 18 June at 2pm, followed by refreshments in The Arcade at Outside the Box. We look forward to seeing you there.
Work has begun today on a nature-based wetland in Ilkley, marking the next step of a £60 million investment to improve water treatment and the water quality of the river Wharfe.
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Press Release 10th 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 23rd 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.
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
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Contacts for more information
David Blackburn (603479) or Kate Brown (604521) Executive Committee members or Alex Cockshott (Chair) (601561)
Ilkley Civic Society
10th 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/UPDATE MARCH AND APRIL 2026
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28 February to 5 April At 11 am on 28 February – The opening of this year’s Exhibition on the Ilkley Hydros at the Manor House. This will run each Saturday and Sunday during the Manor House opening hours (11 am – 4 pm) until Sunday 5 April. At 2pm on 28 February - there will be an introductory talk on the Exhibition in the Western Gallery in the Manor House. |
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Thursday 26 March 7.30 pm in Church House. Yorkshire Water will be giving us an update on their work in Ilkley entitled ‘What is happening behind the Hoardings’. Yorkshire Water have been working in Ilkley for over 3 years and their blue hoardings or fencing remain at 4 sites within and around the town and at Addingham. ICS have invited YW to update us on what is actually happening behind these hoardings. We know the works are central to upgrading the water quality in the River Wharfe, but how are all the new pipes, deep pits, tunnels and big underground boxes, along with the new Wetlands being constructed, achieve the long- term aims of improved water quality and reduce flooding. YW have just produced a video to illustrate the works and there will be an opportunity for questions. |
Saturday 28 March, 2pm. There will be a Zoom meeting to exchange Hydro memories. For a link to join please contact Alex as before.
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Thursday 23 April 7.30 pm in Church House Annual General Meeting which will be followed by an illustrated celebration exploring the history of 60 years of Ilkley Civic Society. |
Saturday 25 April -2 pm at the Manor House for a Walk to see the Spa Hydro.
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Thursday 18 June – 60 year celebration On Thursday 18 June at 2 pm, We will celebrate our 60th Anniversary at the Canker Well garden. We are re-planting the bath from Ben Rhydding Hydro and making a heritage notice board for the small park. The celebration will be on Thursday 18 June at 2pm, followed by refreshments in The Arcade at Outside the Box. We look forward to seeing you there.
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Shops Fronts
We are concerned that some of the newer shops' fronts do not conform to Bradford’s shop front Policy or the Ilkley Neighbourhood Plan. Following the AGM in April we will be asking for volunteers to help with a survey and to photograph shopfronts that are out of keeping, together with examples of those with flashing lights in the windows. In addition to compile a list of A Boards which are appearing again, contrary to Council policy.
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