The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s Water Tower Visitor Centre has been shortlisted for a top honour at this year’s National Railway Heritage Awards, recognising one of Yorkshire’s most distinctive heritage restoration projects.
The Grade II-listed building, which stands at the south-western end of Keighley Station’s Platform Four, was first built by the Midland Railway in 1883. Originally used to store and supply water for steam locomotives, the tower has now been given a new lease of life as a visitor attraction, while still serving its original function.
In 2024, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (K&WVR) transformed the ground floor into a fully accessible visitor centre. The project was funded by £100,000 from the Keighley Towns Fund, with an additional £42,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust.
The new space features audio-visual exhibits, models, and historical displays, tracing both the story of the railway’s five-mile route from Keighley to Oxenhope and the history of the tower itself. A key part of the redesign was the inclusion of step-free access, ensuring that visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy the centre.
Uniquely, the water tower still operates as intended, its vast roof tank continues to supply water for the railway’s fleet of heritage steam engines.
Image: Tom Marshall / K&WVR
In their shortlisting report, judges described the project as “a highly commendable scheme to bring public access to a previously inaccessible structure and to so admirably explain its function and history.”
Matt Stroh, Chairman of the K&WVR, said: “We’ve had a great, young team working hard to improve Keighley Station for visitors. The new visitor centre is a testament to their enthusiasm and vision. It’s a well-designed and welcoming facility, completely in keeping with this historic building.”
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning, added: “We’re delighted this historic water tower has a new lease of life while maintaining its original purpose. It’s wonderful to see this excellent project formally recognised. Huge congratulations to the K&WVR team.”
Tim Rogers, Chair of the Keighley Towns Fund, said the project captured the fund’s mission perfectly: “This is exactly what the towns fund is about, making meaningful improvements that benefit visitors for years to come. The K&WVR is a jewel in Keighley’s crown, and supporting it has been a real privilege.”
The winners of the National Railway Heritage Awards will be announced at Merchant Taylor’s Hall, London, on 3 December.
