A major blaze tore through the Grade II-listed Dalton Mills in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on the evening of September 13, 2026, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes. The 150-year-old building, which served as a filming location for the TV series Peaky Blinders and the 2019 Downton Abbey film, has now experienced its fifth fire in five years.
Firefighters battle blaze at historic mill
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) reported that the fire broke out at 8pm on Saturday, with a dozen fire engines dispatched to the scene to tackle and limit the damage. Due to the severity of the incident, a number of nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
As of Sunday, the fire service confirmed the incident remains 'ongoing' but under control, with two fire engines still in attendance. A spokesperson told the BBC: 'Members of the public are still advised to avoid the area to allow emergency services to operate safely and effectively.'
MP describes 'extremely concerning' situation
Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley & Ilkley, described the situation as 'extremely concerning' in a post on X, sharing a video and picture from the scene. He wrote: 'Fire & Rescue Services from across the region remain on site working incredibly hard to get the fire under control alongside police and ambulance service personnel who are also in attendance.'
Moore also expressed gratitude, adding: 'Huge thanks to our emergency services for all their efforts and bravery as they continue to tackle the blaze and put out this major fire, and ensure all are safe.' In an accompanying video addressing Keighley locals, Moore stated: 'This situation simply can not continue. You know that I've been calling on our local authority to secure this site as best as possible for years now, and this is our next major fire.' He credited the emergency services as being 'incredibly efficient' in their response.
History of fires and ownership changes
Dalton Mills has a troubled history with fires. The 19th-century building was first targeted by an arson attack in 2011. In 2022, a fire destroyed its interior, and two teenage boys were charged with the attack. Another blaze occurred in 2025, followed by two further fires in 2026, including the most recent one. Local police have stated they believe most of the fires to be 'deliberate,' but have not yet confirmed whether the latest blaze was an act of arson.
In 2024, The Crown Estate took ownership of Dalton Mills after the previous owner declared bankruptcy. The previous owner had planned to convert the building into an arts, cultural and wedding venue, but renovations were never completed. Instead, the building was hired out to TV and movie productions, including Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders, where it appeared in warehouse scenes in series one and six, and as an underground jazz club in the 2019 Downton Abbey film.
Community concerns and calls for security
Keighley Civic Society secretary Jane Lee previously told the BBC that the building was a 'death trap' and described the site as 'a danger to health, safety and life.' She called for reinforced security to prevent further trespass onto the property and subsequent arson attacks. 'If there were another fire started accidentally, or on purpose, then anybody who happened to be on that site would find it very difficult to get out,' she continued.
The latest fire has renewed calls for action to secure the site, with local authorities and community members urging measures to prevent further incidents at the historic mill.
