Burgess Field & other information

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Transferred from web site 16. September 2009

Here is the message:
Hi
Being born and brought up in Keighley, I stumbled upon this site whilst preparing a short presentation on my home town for a course I was doing. What can I say but fabulous!

I have some questions which I haven't been able to find answers to and wondered who might be the person to contact regarding Keighley and its' history (why is Burgess's Field so called and so on....)

Also, I noticed that Jan was after some information relating to some schools. I attended all three of those mentioned (St Andrew's, Highfield and Greenhead) from 1971 to 1983. So if you have any specific request for information, I will help all I can.
Again, fantastic website and although I no longer live there, it gives me a hankering to head back up and see my family who still do.

Kindest regards to all
Dave Reynard

[danewiss]

A Local farmer whose farm stretched from Redcliffe Street Northwards across what is Highfield Lane and to Shann Lane, bequeathed his lower field to Keighley for Recreational and Leisure use only. No housing!!

The field was named after the said Farmer.
According to family sources

The field currently "houses" 2 Rugby fields and 1 Football pitch
Also a hard surface children's play area and a hard surface multi sports area

[nastydonkey]

Well I never! So quick a resolution to a question that nobody I know has been able to answer for some 40 years of my asking! I had always understood that the area had been a reservoir (thus the name of the West Lane pub) and always believed that it was possibly called Burgesss Reservoir or similar.

[alumpot]

Think that the reservoir that the Resevoir pub refers to was located at the junction of West lane and Devonshire Street, believe it disapeared when the council houses were built in the 30's. there is still an area of open grassland at the top end of devenshire street I think this was the location

[alumpot]

have a copy of a map showing the location, tried to put scan on photobucket but am unable to do so, if anyone can tell me hot to upload a scan i will post it on here

[nastydonkey]

Nice one alum - thanks for your help on this. Especially since it's merely something that has bugged me for years!

[madi54]

Feb 3, 2015 1:01:51 GMT madi54 said:

i live near burgess field keighley and planning permission has been put in for the school to take a chunk of the field at the bottom for school playground if granted this could be the bigining ef the end for burgess field how sad

[bennypuss]

Visit www.planning4bradford.com then use Planning applications -simple search-Cartmel Road if you want to object to this proposed loss of public green space which was donated to the people of Keighley.

[klygirl]

Hi,  yes you are right it is a reservoir, the water is underground. At the very top corner,at the junction of Highfield lane and Highfield road there is a hydro electric pumping station belonging to Yorkshire water.