In a tragic incident, a large fire broke out at Dalton Mill, a historic building located in Keighley, West Yorkshire, known as a filming location for popular series such as Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey. This 150-year-old building, depicted in the warehouse scenes in the first and sixth seasons of Peaky Blinders, was also used in the film Downton Abbey as an underground jazz club.
Details of the Fire Incident
According to reports, the fire started at 8 PM on Saturday, and immediately more than twelve fire engines were dispatched to the scene to mitigate the damage. West Yorkshire Fire Service stated that due to the severity of the incident, several nearby homes were evacuated. This fire is the fifth of its kind in the last five years, following two similar fires that occurred just six days apart in February 2026.
The Dalton Mill building was subjected to an arson attack in 2011, and in 2022, its interior was severely damaged. Two teenage boys were charged in connection with this incident, and another fire was reported in 2025. Local police believe that most of these fires were intentional, but it is still unclear whether the recent fire was also of the same nature.
Security Concerns and Reactions
The fire service has stated that the situation is under control and continues its work. Robbie Moore, the representative for Keighley and Ilkley, described the situation as "very concerning" in a tweet and thanked emergency services for their efforts. He warned local residents that this situation cannot continue and urged local authorities to pay more attention to securing this historic building.
This building, described as a "death trap," has faced multiple fires over the years. Jean Lee, secretary of the Keighley Civic Society, has called for enhanced security to prevent unauthorized access to the site and arson attacks. She emphasized that in the event of another fire, individuals present at the site would find it difficult to escape.
