History of the Mace

The Mace, which was presented in 1893 by the late Mr John Brigg, is made of massive silver-gilt.  It consists of a cylindrical staff surmounted by a cup-shaped head and furnished with a ring or "knop" round the middle and a boss at the end.  The total length is 4ft 6in.  The cup is surmounted by an Imperial crown of bold design, consisting of a circlet of crosses and fleur-de-lis, out of which spring four arches decorated with bead work and surmounted with a ball and a cross.  Inside the circlet of the crown and on the dome of the cup is a raised shield bearing the coat of arms of the donor and surrounded by the following inscription:-

"To keep in memory of the public services his father, the late John Brigg of Guardhouse, Esq, JP and in acknowledgement of the honour done to himself in being appointed Returning Officer at the first election of the Council i n1882 and of that done to his family by the election of his brother, Alderman Benjamin Septimus Brigg, JP, as first Mayor of the Borough, this Mace has been given by County Alderman John Brigg, of Kildwick Hall and Guard House, JP, the Corporation of Keighley during the third year of office as Mayor of Alderman Ira Ickringill. Geo Burr, Town Clerk AD MDCCCXCIII."

One one face of the cup is carved in relief the Royal Arms and on the other the arms of the Borough; between them are placed, in repousse work, two groups of emblems - one consisting of the golden fleece, distaff, hand-spindle, machine-spindle, shuttle and hand-comb, to represent the worsted trade; and the other consisting of furnace bellows, crucible, stamper, moulder's scraper, pincers, hammer, anvil, swage and file, to represent iron-working - the two principal industries of the town.  Below these are two tablets, both engraved with a "brig" in full sail - the badge of the donor.  Round the upper part of the face runs a scroll work of foliage, and at the base are sprays of oak, plane-tree and ash, the indigenous trees of the district.  The cup is supported on the stem by four brackets of vine branches.  The stem is chased with a luxuriant wreath of wild roses and the knop and boss are embossed with acunthus leaves and buds decoratively treated.