Dalton Mills: Concerns over future of historic mill

It comes after it was revealed two teenagers were charged with arson on Tuesday in connection with the blaze at Dalton Mills, Keighley.

The males, both aged 17, are due to appear in court next week accused of starting the fire at the Grade II*-listed building used as a filming location for the hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders.

The Victorian site's historic interior had made it the perfect backdrop for the award-winning gangster drama, starring Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy.

But it was left gutted following the inferno on March 3, 2022, with more than 100 firefighters battling to bring the flames under control.

The Telegraph & Argus understands the mill site is currently not used by many, if any, businesses (Image: Newsquest)Police originally arrested five youths in connection with the blaze but said two males aged 17 and an 18-year-old had subsequently been released without charge.

The two males who were charged with arson will appear before Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court on April 29.

A view from above (Image: Newsquest)The Telegraph & Argus understands the mill site is currently not used by many, if any, businesses.

Before the fire, it inhabited the likes of a gym, dance school, and vintage collectables shop.

Now the building remains in a sorry state with it unknown what the future holds.

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the location on Tuesday afternoon, scaffolding was up but no work was going on.

Bird's-eye images reflect the damage caused by the 2022 blaze as the timber frames of the internal structure are still drooped.

Scaffolding is still on the building (Image: Newsquest)Andrea Wortley, of AW School of Dance which was once located in Dalton Mills, is sad to see how the building has ended up.

"It is a crying shame to see the current state the building is in," she told the Telegraph & Argus.

"The building is stunning and it has the potential to rival what they have done with Salts Mill.

"It has a fabulous history and I would move back in a heartbeat if it was put back to how it was.

"It is such a shame. It could be such an asset to Keighley."

Dalton Mills in flames on March 3, 2022 Once the largest textile mill in Yorkshire - employing more than 2,000 workers - it was built by Joseph Craven in 1869, replacing the original mill from the 1780s.

Its timewarp interior made it ideal for filming period TV and movies.

As well Peaky Blinders, it has also been used for The Great Train Robbery, Downton Abbey and the 2016 film The Limehouse Golem, starring Bill Nighy.

Despite much of the building being destroyed, a Heritage England report later found it did not need to be demolished.

Its timewarp interior made it ideal for filming period TV and movies. (Image: Newsquest)A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "Police investigating a fire at Dalton Mills in Keighley in 2022 have charged two youths in connection with it. 

"The two 17-year-old males, who can’t be named for legal reasons, have been charged with arson. 

"They have been bailed to appear at Bradford Magistrates' Court on April 29. 

"Three other youths aged 17, 17, and 18 arrested at the time have been released without charge.

"The incident relates to the fire on Dalton Lane on Thursday, March 3."

The Telegraph & Argus approached both Bradford Council and Historic England for a comment.