Top of the stairs

* here

Back to Cliffe Castle again this morning so Chris could finally take a look around the museum upstairs and also get a coffee in the Pavilion which is open on a Wednesday. The car park was full and it was just coming on to rain  (what else) so we went straight for a coffee.

Lots of historical interest in the upstairs galleries and the first area ( you can just see the entrance through the balustrade on the right) is stained glass rescued  or donated from various local churches and houses in the area. They are mainly examples of art from the pre raphaelites brother hood and the arts and crafts era including work by Morris. Surprising to see much of this came from Harden Grange  telling the story of Tristram and Isolde. The glass was in the old Harden Grange which pre dated the Mansion built by William Benjamin Ferrand at St Ives which has recently been on fire. The glass was considered old fashioned by later owners of the Grange so it was donated to the museum.

An interesting visit especially if you have memories of old Keighley. Perhaps the funniest exhibit is the tongue in cheek Henpecked Club’s wife tamer, a cross between a cradle and a coffin! Once located in a Keighley pub. Apparently Fiona Bruce sat in it when The Antiques Road show came to Saltaire back in 2010.

On every visit recently we’ve seen a Tai Chi class taking place but today there was a Boxersize class, all young women and it was taking place outside. Whilst it was sunny it was still raining!