Horror blaze tears through historic textile mill featured in Downton Abbey

A fire has torn through a historic textile mill in Yorkshire for the third time this year as crews rush to the scene. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Dalton Mills in Keighley at around 8pm on Saturday, with 12 fire engines dispatched.

The fire service urged residents near the abandoned site to avoid the area and keep their doors and windows closed while the blaze is tackled. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “At approximately 8:00pm, we were called to a large fire involving Dalton Mills, Keighley.

“We currently have 12 fire engines at the incident as firefighters continue to tackle the large incident. Please avoid the area while emergency crews work at the scene.

“Residents nearby are advised to keep their windows and doors closed until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation.”

This comes after Dalton Mill went up in flames twice in just six days in February.

The first incident involved the fourth and fifth floors, and after the second, a fire service spokesperson said that 50% of the top floor had been set on fire and that the incident was believed to be suspicious.

A 2022 blaze destroyed a significant part of the complex, and since then, there have been numerous other fires, most of which are believed to be deliberate.

The mill is a Grade II-listed Victorian building that was used as a filming location for Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey.