On Saturday 24th May, a new art project was launched in Keighley. “Rombald’s Rocks” were unveiled at locations across the town centre and 100s people came along to celebrate the launch event enjoying lots of different activities and performances.
Led by local artist, Leonie Briggs, with support from the team here at Keighley Creative, Rombald’s Rocks: Keighley Sculpture Trail is a unique art project that has been all about involving the people of the town, as Leonie explained:
“The sculpture trail has been created by the Keighley community. We have taken inspiration from a local legend and recruited all sorts of local people to realise the project, be it artists, creative facilitators, community groups, local businesses, volunteers, and more.”
Visitors were greeted with a special map and information about the Keighley Sculpture Trail. They then set out to discover 10 “Rombald’s Rocks” that have set up camp in locations around town. The sculptures have been inspired by the local legend of Rombald the Giant who threw rocks to create the Cow and Calf.
The 10 unique sculptures were designed and carved by Leonie but then decorated by 5 local artists, namely Sven Shaw, Nicola Storr, Jon Britten, Catherine Fortey and Dripsy, and 5 community groups alongside a creative facilitator, namely Hainworth Wood Community Centre with Ciara Sturgess, Highfield Community Association with Lisa Holmes of Photo Hub North CIC, One In A Million at the Sue Belcher Centre with Sian Atkinson, The Good Shepherd Centre with Olha Zhydetska and Wednesday Leisure group with Laura Thompson.
Keighley BID (Business Improvement District) has been a big supporter of the event and local businesses joined in the event, with some hosting sculptures including Three Little Birds Bakery and Hairavanti.
The launch day included lots of different activities for families to enjoy. People of all ages got crafty in various rock themed workshops; there was cup and ring stone making in the market, creating clay rock creatures at Keighley Creative and pebble painting at Melia Powell Funeral Services.
There were also performances put on across Keighley town centre. Local actor and historian, Irene Lofthouse, entertained the crowds with her telling of Rombald’s poem in Keighley’s Historical Royal Arcade and folk musicians popped up in many of the sculpture locations including H. Brook DIY on Lawkholme Lane. In the Airedale Shopping Centre, crowds listened and even joined in with some community singing thanks to the Keighley Chorus.
“The Making of Rombald’s Rocks” exhibition was launched at Keighley Creative’s base on Cooke Lane and visitors get to find out more about all the people and hard work that has gone into this successful project. The exhibition will run until 29th June 2025 and is open Mondays 10am-12:30pm, Wednesdays 1pm-4pm and Saturdays 11am-3pm.
The feedback received from visitors at the launch event illustrated the success of the project. Quotes from people that attended included:
“Helped me to find some of Keighley’s cafes/shops that I knew were in Keighley but didn’t know where they were”
“Great fun, and wonderful to see so much creativity with all the different versions.”
“Fabulous event that brings together the community.”
Finally Cat Murray, Events Manager here at Keighley Creative, said:
“We are so proud of Leonie, who is one of our studio artists, and how her vision has come to life. She is passionate about community art and Keighley and it’s been a joy to support her to deliver the project. What a triumph! Keighley Creative hope everyone enjoys Rombald’s Rocks: Keighley Sculpture Trail as much as we’ve loved creating it.”
Rombald’s Rocks: Keighley Sculpture Trail will be running until Sunday 29th June 2025. Free trail maps with more information are available from key locations around the town centre including Keighley Creative, Royal Arcade, Airedale Shopping Centre, the market, the bus station and The Old Parcels Office at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
This project has been made by the people of Keighley and has been supported by Towns Fund, Bradford 2025 Creative Communities Fund and Keighley BID.
Rombald’s Rocks: Keighley Sculpture Trail is supported by the following organisations:
GiveBradford is an independent grant maker and is the place for giving in Bradford and they’re building a movement. Working collaboratively with leaders, community organisations and donors, they’re strengthening the future of local communities, building a fairer Bradford for everyone.
Pears Foundation is a family foundation driven by a desire to demonstrate the good that philanthropy can achieve in the world. The Pears family has given more than £450m to charity since the Foundation was established.
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture (Bradford 2025) runs from January 2025 to December 2025 and is a celebration of Bradford city and district, taking place across its city, towns, villages and greenspaces. It will showcase the rich history of the area and spotlight its dynamic contemporary culture in all forms; dance and theatre, music and film, visual arts and crafts, food and sport. The City of Culture designation has already brought significant investment to the region and been a catalyst for development. It is set to have a lifelong impact through its reshaping of the local curriculum, skills and training programmes, investment in existing and new creative spaces, and open up opportunities for cultural participation.
Keighley Business Improvement District (BID) is a public-private partnership in which businesses within a defined area of the town pay a levy to fund improvements in that area, for example improving security or cleaning.
Keighley Towns Fund has been allocated £20m funding over the next 10 years.The investment is overseen by the Towns Fund Board which is made up of representatives from Keighley. The long-term plan for the Towns Fund is to improve aspects such as security and aid regeneration of the high street.
