Cliffe Castle: The Yorkshire museum presented to the people by a former chairman of Arsenal FC

Two years after the gift, Cliffe Castle became a museum and 66 years later it is still going strong.

It still stages displays which are broad and varied.

For example, the museum is delighted to share a textile sculpture exhibition with visitors. They have been created by Virginija Kuosaitė-Knowles, the founder and director of the Young Masters Art School and are on show until May 1.

She is originally from Zarasai in Lithuania, and now lives with her family in the Bradford district. Textile sculpture is a new field for her, inspired by the work of Mr Finch and she has created a beautiful group of colorful heroes from various inhabitants of the forest.

A Cliffe Castle spokesman said: “Virginija looks for materials for her figures in many places – much of it repurposed, creates the layout, and sews and knits her heroes herself. You can see well-known animals that live in the forest zone of Europe: bear, wolf, fox, badger, hedgehog and others. Virginijia’s artistic skills give them a unique look and turn them into fairy tale characters.”

And until April 30 there is a pantomime display.

Called Once Upon a Pantomime, it is Cliffe Castle’s newest display in the upstairs Costume Gallery and it features character from Pantomimes past.

A museum spokesman said: “On loan from Barbara Boothroyd, we’re displaying a selection of Principal Girl and Principal boy costumes from pantomimes put on by the Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (now the Keighley Musical Theatre Company).

“Meet Robin Hood, Goody-Two Shoes, Prince Charming and others characters stepping out of the storybooks onto the stage…”

Cliffe Castle was originally the home of Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, Henry Isaac Butterfield.

Completed in the 1880s the building was funded by the Butterfield family’s industrial empire which included wool textile mills and a shipping business that took British goods to Europe, America and China.

In the 1950s the Castle was bought by Sir Bracewell Smith, a local man who became Lord Mayor of London. Sir Bracewell used architect Sir Albert Richardson to turn Cliffe Castle’s gardens into a grand public park and remodelled the Castle to be a free museum for the people of the district.

Assistant curator Kirsty Young said: “In recent years Cliffe Castle has undergone a major restoration.

"We have a good connection with people in Keighley and surrounding areas. We always have lots of free activities during the holidays.

"Visitors can see sparkling Victorian rooms and furniture, paintings, and decorative art. Special galleries deal with natural history, archaeology and social history.

"The Castle also hosts changing exhibitions from our collections and the community. Family areas ensure that there is something for all ages.”