Major Fire at Historic Dalton Mills in Keighley

A major fire broke out at Dalton Mills in Keighley on Saturday evening, requiring up to 12 fire engines to tackle the blaze. The Grade II listed Victorian textile mill is well known as a filming location for period dramas including Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey. Due to the severity of the incident, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) evacuated several nearby residents and advised the public to avoid the area. Bradford Council emergency planning officers were present at the scene to support those affected.

This is the third fire at the site this year and the fifth major fire in five years. Previous incidents include a blaze in 2022 that destroyed a significant part of the interior and another in July 2025. Police have previously indicated that most of the fires were deliberate, and two teenagers were convicted of arson regarding the 2022 fire. In 2024, the Crown Estate took legal responsibility for the building after the previous owner went bankrupt and a restoration project failed.

Robbie Moore, the MP for Keighley and Ilkley, described the situation as deeply infuriating and stated that it cannot continue. He noted that he has spent years calling on the local authority to secure the site. While center and center-left sources provide detailed accounts of the fire and the political reaction, the center-left source emphasizes the frequency of the attacks by highlighting that this is the fifth major fire in five years.