for… · Web viewIt was sold in 1852 to a Robert Tennant ... The building was requisitioned during the Second Word War and used as a ... contra to Warwick Bartle,

Site assessment

Group letter A

Description of Group Sites of historic importance

Title of site Marlborough House

Description of site

Marlborough House is situated on the corner of the A58 Leeds to Wetherby Road and Thorner Lane. The house was built alongside two older cottages that were connected through into it, and today forms what would be known as an enlarged gentleman’s residence.

Marlborough as it is today

According to the current house owner, there is no real evidence as to the date when the house was built. It is said that it existed before both the Toll Bar House and the nearby house that is

named the Manor House (not to be confused with Scarcroft Manor) which is sited on the opposite side of Thorner Lane. If folk lore is correct, Marlborough House existed before 1840. Neither is the name of the architect of the house known.

In the 1940’s Marlborough House was owned by the Pearson’s who ran a dairy farm. A lady called Alice used to deliver the milk in Churns. In 1948, a MR & Mrs Simmonds moved from Kirkstall where Mr Simmonds ran a butchers’ shop. They had a small holding with an orchard next door to the cottages and kept pigs

Ruth Bryant

Sources and sites references

Mr Hixon, the current owner of the property provided assistance regarding information concerning the house.

P C Thompson (Parish Councillor)

R. Bryant (Mrs), lived in Scarcroft during the post war years prior to her marriage at which stage she left the area.

Condition of site

Not applicable in this situation.

Assessment of perceived relevance to the village of the site, recommendation and rating of the site

The property was identified by the residents of the village as being noteworthy in terms of the history of the locality. It appears to have been considered noteworthy due to its age. The building is ordinary in appearance and size and commands no particular architectural or historical importance. On that basis the sub-group team hold the site to be rated 6, and to be set as a site of medium perceived relevance to the village.

Site assessment

Group letter B

Description of Group Listed buildings and other buildings of architectural importance

Title of site Manor House (not to be confused with Scarcroft Manor)

Description of site

The house is situated on Thorner Lane close to the junction with the A58 and next door to the Tollhouse. Though whilst no information exists as the date the house was built, it is thought to be early nineteenth century, either just before or immediately after the construction of the Tollhouse.

View of Manor House as it is today

There is a stone wall connecting the Tollhouse with the Manor House, its purpose is not known.

The Manor House was owned by Mrs Blanche Wimpenny. Her sister, Sybil Neadham who was born at the Half-Moon in Collingham and later lived in Bardsey and was widowed in 1926. Her sister persuaded her to move to the Manor House which she rented from her until they fell out and moved out. Ruth Bryant

After the departure from the Manor House of Sybil Neadham it became a butcher’s shop that was known as “Dunhill’s” and continued so under the ownership of Kathleen Hartley from the village of Thorner. Manor House eventually was reverted to being a house once more.



R. Bryant (Mrs), lived in Scarcroft during the post war years prior to her marriage at which stage she left the area.

Condition of site

Not applicable in this situation.


The property was identified by the residents of the village as being noteworthy in terms of the history of the locality. It appears to have been considered noteworthy due to its age. The building is ordinary in appearance and size and commands no particular architectural or historical importance. On that basis the sub-group team hold the site to be rated 6 marks, and to be set as a site of medium perceived relevance to the village.

Site assessment

Group letter B


Title of site Moat Hall Thorner Lane Scarcroft

Description of site

Moat Hall is situated off Thorner Lane on the left at Manor Close, originally a group of cottages, past the site of Cabbage Hall, now replaced with a modern dwelling down the track to Scarcroft Mill Farm and Water Mill. This crosses the field and under the NE railway bridge.

Moat Hall is a short way to the left from the field gate. I do not know much about its possible ancient history but the site has probably been in use for centuries, and probably had Roman connections and with the Scarcroft Mill and Farm. There is evidence that a moat existed and is indicated on maps, and probably would have been no more than a large ditch due to the general land levels. According to Le Patourel, this was one of two moats in Scarcroft and that the one under discussion could be a successor to one at Scarcroft Manor dating back to the fourteenth century. The current Moat Hall as a building is considered to be a platform for a nineteenth century farmhouse.

An aerial view of Moat Hall

In the late 1940’s/early 1950’s it was in poor condition with few modern facilities. It was occupied by Walt Richardson who worked for Billy Hills at Mill Farm, the farm had been tenanted by the Hills family for a number of years.

About 1952 Walt was moved to a farm at Micklefield and Moat Hall was refurbished for Billy and Muriel Hills to move into after their marriage. It was not long however before Billy took the tenancy of West Woods Farm on the east side of the old A1 at Bramham.

The Hall may then have been sold by the Bramham Park Estate. It is unclear who the next owners were but for many years was occupied by Roberts Family until being sold about 2010. It has had considerable alterations and a driveway added over the years.

The original roadway to the Mill took a roughly diagonal route across the field although it is understood to have was modified slightly to accommodate the railway embankment and bridge. Following demolition of the Mill the area below the removed mill race was used as a fishery depot by Yorkshire Water and a new road was constructed round the SE perimeter of the field. The old road, now grassed over still remains the official road and footpath.

Sites references

J. Le Patourel, Moated sites of Yorkshire, Med. Arch. Monog, n.5, p127, 1973

West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service, Primary Record No 2272, p25 of 64, 2013


Condition of site

Large detached residence in its own grounds. Adjacent field is often occupied by sheep. The bridleway and footpath follow the fence around the SE perimeter of the property. There is also a footpath across the middle of the field being the original road.


The detached residence is well established and has been enlarged over the years. Nonetheless it is an historic building on an historic site and should therefore be retained. A score of 8 marks is recommended.

Site assessment

Group letter B


Title of site Oaklands Manor

Description of site

It all began in 1837 when work started on constructing a retirement home for Alderman Walker, a local wine and brandy merchant. In typical Georgian style, ornate ceilings and lavish decorations were the order of the day, the exterior being built with dressed stone and having an imposing elevation with a stone portico on fluted columns Work was finally completed in 1844, the magnificent building being known at that time as Scarcroft Hill House.

View of the main entrance to Oaklands Manor

On the death of Alderman Walker ownership passed to his eldest-son, Leasowe. He rented

the Manor House to a variety of tenants whilst choosing to reside in Scarborough, where he was to become Lord Mayor.

Leasowe was not altogether successful in his first choice of tenant, who disappeared from the Manor House because of financial problems. He was followed by John Dearman Birchall who came from a well-established textile family and operated his own business in Leeds. Oaklands Manor was his rented home from 1864-1869, during which time he experienced the luxury of a water supply which was installed in the house to replace the outside wells, the remains of which were found during recent excavations.

It was whilst business man George March rented the house from 1869-1922 that the name "Oaklands Manor" was first used. Being a partner in March and Maclean, an iron and brass foundry, George March was a wealthy Victorian industrialist.

Oaklands Manor was sold in 1907 to a Mr Mylchreest a local man who chose never to actually live in the house himself. He sold it in 1922 when a Leeds butcher rented the property until 1932. It was in this year that Oaklands Manor was purchased for the princely sum of £5,400 by Mr A Braithwaite, a wealthy ex-Mayor of Leeds. An astute businessman, he sold the house to his wife the following year. The last family to live at Oaklands Manor was that of a surgeon at Leeds Infirmary. Purchasing the house in 1942 for £10,000 they lived there until 1970 during which time they were renowned for their extravagant social functions.

TOPS Limited bought the manor and extensive grounds in 1970 and preceded to asset strip the estate auctioning off the lake, fish pond, gatehouses and cottages. Stonehouse advertising bought the property from them in 1977 and spent money on improving the once gracious internal decorations.

The company sold the property to Tenhill Computer systems in 1984. Much of the parkland which had previously been auctioned off was repurchased and the gardens landscaped and planted with numerous shrubs. Substantial investment was made in renovating the building to its former glory. A fine example is the imposing Corinthian columned entrance hall. Ornate plaster ceilings are to be found throughout the house. Of particular interest is the elaborate dentil and medallion cornice in what was one of the spacious front offices.

The building was extended to accommodate Tenhill computers growth. The derelict Coach House was also converted in the same Georgian style. In fact two of the original quarries were reopened to provide stone identical to the rest of the manor house.

Tenhill Computer Systems was sold to Lynx group PLC in 1998. From there the company became AttentiV Systems Group. In 2005 AttentiV was bought by TietoEnator, the largest IT services company in the Nordic countries. AttentiV moved from Oaklands Manor to Thorpe Park in 2005.

A property development company bought the manor in 2005 and applied for planning permission to develop the site into flats. After delays with the planning approval for the flats the property was put back onto the market and was bought in September when the Manor, after extensive restoration, once again became a family home. English Heritage award the house a Grade 2 listed building certificate.


Tenhill Computer Systems Ltd, Promotion leaflet, date unknown

Juliana Ewin (Mrs), resident of Oaklands Manor, communication to R S Shirley, house background and picture, 8 th July 2013

Condition of site

Oaklands Manor has under gone extensive restoration and is considered to be in excellent condition.


The architectural merit of this house is noteworthy due largely to the excellent condition of plaster work and decoration and is representative of Neo- Classical residences of that period. It is appropriate to award Oaklands Manor a mark of 10 and to be a site of high perceived relevance to the village.

Site assessment

Group letter: B

Description of Group: Listed buildings and other buildings of architectural importance

Title of site: Scarcroft Grange

Description of site

Scarcroft Grange dates back to the 18th century. Today, the house is famed for its association with Sue Ryder. Margaret Sue Ryder was born on 3rd July 1924 at the family home at Scarcroft Grange. The youngest of nine children, she lived on the busy family farm at Scarcroft Grange, Leeds. Her father, a farmer, had married her mother when he was a middle-aged widower with five children.

Scarcroft Grange was sympathetically and skillfully converted into six apartments in 1954 by the well regarded builder, Norman Wilkinson.

In 2011, The Leeds Civic Trust erected a Blue Plaque at Scarcroft Grange in celebration of the charitable work of Sue Ryder.


BBC News statement 23rd June 211, and

Internet: www.sueryder.org.uk 6th May 2013

Condition of site

The condition of the house and grounds are very good.


The house is perhaps the oldest building in the village, albeit there is very little information available as to its origin. Following the change in nature to the house in 1954, the property has been well maintained. Scarcroft Grange is a nationally recognised house as the birth place of Sue Ryder and merits special consideration. The site is rated at 10 marks, and to be of high perceived relevance to the village.

http://www.sueryder.org.uk/

Site assessment

Group letter: B


Title of site: Scarcroft Lodge

Description of site

The house (known as Scarcroft Lodge) was built around 1830 with later additions to the left and rear of the building. The house includes a three storey clock tower with the clock set in a semi-circular arched window with architrave. The entrance hall included Greek Ionic columns which form a screen that is part of an arched stone fire place. In February 1975 English Heritage awarded the building listed status of grade 2.

Scarcroft Lodge is understood to have been built around 1830 by Newman Cass (1792 – 1866), a Quaker woollen merchant who had come to Leeds from Coventry in 1815. By 1826 Newman Cash had bought an extensive tract of land on Scarcroft Moor, near Collingham on

which he built his house. He was also the founder and Chairman of the Leeds – Thirsk Railway Company, which was incorporated by Act on 21st July 1845 to serve Harrogate and provide an alternative route from Leeds to break George Hudson’s monopoly of rail transport in the area.

It was sold in 1852 to a Robert Tennant (1829 to 1900). Tennant lost a considerable amount of money in the flax industry and sold the lodge to the Earl of Mexborough in 1880. His daughter, Lady Mary Agnes Seville lived at Scarcroft. In 1934 Albert Braithwaite (1868 to 1946) who was the Lord Mayor of Leeds bought the Lodge. He made some changes to the house and grounds and added the tennis court; it is thought that during this phase of development that the bowling green and cricket ground were also added.

The building was requisitioned during the Second Word War and used as a convalescent hospital. Its last private owner was Olliphant Philipson who sold the estate to the newly formed Yorkshire Electricity Board. It continued to occupy the building up to the privatisation of the electricity industry in the latter part of the twentieth century. Ownership of Scarcroft Lodge and estate was sold to Npower, who at a later date sold the site on to the current owner, Stirling Investments.

In the past, the building attracted much public attention. In 1951 the Government admitted publically that the Yorkshire Electricity Board had illegally carried out unlicensed building work at Scarcroft Lodge. A trial took place at the West Riding Assizes in Leeds under Lord Goddard. The chairman of the Board was sentenced to six months imprisonment and the Deputy Chairman was fined £100.

In London the Lord Chief Justice stated, “The Scarcroft case may well prove to be a landmark in the history of the nationalised industries, because Lord Goddard’s probing has clearly brought out acutely a fundamental problem requiring urgent solution – who or what in a nationalised industry, is to take the place of the shareholder in a private firm.” In 1974 the Yorkshire Electricity Board proposed the demolition of Scarcroft Lodge; however, through actions taken by both Government and Leeds City Council, the house was saved.


Robert Chester Director Babcock International Group

Jayne Marsden Librarian Yorkshire Post Newspapers Ltd and

Jeremy Good Director England & Lyle

Conservation Statement on the Scarcroft Lodge undertaken by, Simpson & Brown with Addyman Archaeology

Bill Cash, Bright, Statesman, Orator, Agitator, I B Tauris & Co, London 2012

Joanna Pitman, Scarcroft Lodge provides all the creature comforts, no further information

Condition of site

The state of the building and house decoration is in very poor condition. In parts, the building still reflects its past role, in some parts the association with Npower also still exists, some offices still bear the door name tags of previous occupants. Elsewhere rooms and corridors have been trashed by trespassers and thieves. Below is a picture taken by the author of the Ball Room, the state of the internal structure and decoration of the room is clearly visible.


Though whilst the Scarcroft Lodge is now is need of considerable restorative work the Group feel that it does have an historical importance to the village. Scarcroft Lodge is a reflection of the wealthy professional classes in Victorian Yorkshire and their development of land in Scarcroft between villas as set in garden grounds. It could be a rare example of the influence of Quaker principles on the design of a county villa. The social significance of Scarcroft Lodge at one level is moderate. It lies in its value as an employer. Ideally the Lodge should be restored and could be used to generate funding that could encourage a permanent solution to its future. A Conservation Statement on the Scarcroft Lodge recently commissioned by the owner of the site and undertaken by, Simpson & Brown with Addyman Archaeology, states

that grading is complex partly due to the level of destruction observed, and alterations brought about through usage that reflects a lack of care by those who owned it.

It is important that the significance of Scarcroft Lodge, its component parts and setting is respected, retained and enhanced where possible. The site is rated at 10 marks, and to be of high perceived relevance to the village.

Site assessment

Group letter: B


Title of site: Scarcroft Manor

Description of site:

The very origins of the house and the background to the establishment of the estate are not

known to the author. We do know that the Manor of Scarcroft was held by the Manor of

Hazlewood and that Sir Walter Vavasour of Hazlewood Castle along with George Palmes of

Naburn and Philip Langdale of Hughton sold the Manor, its land and Lordship of Scarcroft to

John Ryther, wife Mary and their elder son John including the elderly Robert Ryther in 1687.

The Manor and titles were purchased for the sum of £500 based on 1000 years lease. It is likely that the site of the current house is the same as that of the original house referred to above The Manor House stayed in the Ryther family for a further hundred or so years albeit parts of the estate were sold and then repurchased. In 1747 Sir Edward Gascoingn and party

bought a part 4 of the estate. In 1809, James Fox of Bramham Park and Bernard Clarkson of Kelfield bought the Manor House and estate.

Today’s version of Scarcroft Manor is believed to have been built in the 1840’s, it was in

1927 that it was successfully divided into two wings to form Grove Manor, and has since

then been established as two grand homes. The Hare family, owner of woollen mills,

modified the house prior to its division. The house retains many of its original features

include period ceilings and fireplaces. Scarcroft Manor resides in 1.4 acres of land that is

most made up of mostly formal gardens lawns with a tennis court.


Tori Titheridge of Fine & Country Leeds

Ameena Mughal, archive assistant, WYAAS, Leeds

James Goodall, late of T D Goodall, Beech Farm, Scarcroft

Condition of site

The house and grounds are in private ownership and appear in excellent condition.


Of all the houses included in these assessment, Scarcroft Manor is by far the most remarkable regarding its condition and the preservation of its original architectural and decorative features. It was built as a grand house during the time when Scarcroft was becoming recognised as a very desirable area to live. Our research was unable to establish that the current house resides on the same site as the original manor house built in 1687, thereby establishing the direct link to the historical seat of the Lord of the Manor. The site is rated at 10 marks, and to be of high perceived relevance to the village.

Site assessment

Group letter A

Description of Group Sites of historical importance

Title of site Scarcroft Water Mill

Description of site The Mill and related buildings is now in a state of ruin that is located between Pompocali and Moat Hall and is situated on land owned by the Bramham Park Estate. It was built in 1810 and remained in active use until the early 1970s. An interesting advertisement exists, seeking a tenant, "Wanted, a thoroughly practical FARM LABOURER. Rent free, with good wages. Apply, Mrs. Revis, Scarcroft Mill, near Leeds. The Leeds Mercury, Saturday, November 20, 1875.”

An original picture of the Scarcroft Mill

The mill was powered by water that was transferred from the Thorner fish pond that had been formed by damming the Scarcroft beck. The fish pond had been fitted with a sluice gate to provide a head of water to the mill. The water passed along open purpose built gullies known as “races” and along tunnels that in time were part of the passing rail embankments. The close proximity of the Mill to Moat Hall has suggested to some historians that there may originally have been a medieval manorial corn mill on the site.

According to a Warwick Bartle in 2011, the mill was still water powered in 1945. The mill at that time was run by three brothers, Jim, Adolph, and Hector Mawson. It was Hector who used to go to the dam each morning and open partially the dam sluice gate to allow water to flow down to the smaller dam. When the mill was electrified, the retention wall on the Hetchell dam was blown up to drain the dam and remove a potential hazard to the public. However, contra to Warwick Bartle, P C Thompson a past Chairman of Scarcroft Parish

Council, and a long-time resident of Scarcroft Village is of the opinion that the mill was only ever powered by water. Furthermore, he remembers Hector Mawson, who according to P C Thompson, worked with his brothers at Bardsey Mill which was an electrically driven mill. In other words it could be that Warwick Bartle has mistaken one mill for another.

In the mid to late 1970s the building were abandoned and around 1979 or so, the buildings were sold in aid of stone. The mill was demolished in 1982 due to its dangerous condition.

A picture of the Mill prior to demolition

. Sources and sites references

Information has been obtained from a variety of sources that include, Comment page, Warwick Bartle, from Hazel Hill (nee Green), Archaeological Research Paper, Pompocali Environs, published on the Internet, 2011,

West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service, Primary Record No 2829, 2013

P C Thompson (Parish Councillor).

D Cross, Scarcroft Parish Historian

Old newspaper cuttings

Condition of site

The site is now an over grown ruin wet and slightly bogey under foot. A person can still see where buildings existed and there are still traces of the tunnels and race ways which channelled water to power the mill. The mill buildings no longer exist but remains of the adjacent farm buildings still stand see the picture below.

The remains of farm buildings today


Though whilst the Scarcroft Mill is now in ruin and little of its history is known, the Group feel that it does have an historical importance to the village. Few mills of this type still exist at all and there we believe it would of benefit to the culture of the village for the land owner, the Bramham Park Estate, to preserve it for the future as a testament of its past rural significance.

The site is rated at 9 marks, and to be of high perceived relevance to the village.

Site assessment

Group letter: A

Description of Group: Sites of historical importance

Title of site: The Gate Houses (Lodges)

Description of site

The picture is of one of two the gatehouses that were built to service the grand house known as Scarcroft Lodge. These two Georgian gatehouses have an attractive honey coloured stone exterior and have aesthetic significance; albeit their appearance has been damaged by extensions, the loss of gate piers and changes to the entrance from the A58.

Sources and sites reference

Condition of site

The two gatehouses have been recently restored and upgraded. At the time of writing both building were under sale.


It is important that the two gatehouses are seen in the context of Scarcroft Lodge. The component parts of Scarcroft Lodge and the total setting should be respected, retained and enhanced where possible. The site is rated at 8 marks, and to be of high perceived relevance to the village

Site visit report

http://property.mitula.co.uk/property/georgian-scarcroft

Group letter C

Description of Group Areas of special interest

Title of site Scarcroft Fish Pond

Description of site

Private fishing lake adjacent to footpaths linking Eltofts, Thorner and Scarcroft

Sources and Sites references

http://www.leodis.net

Condition of site

The lake was originally built to enable Scarcroft Mill to operate in 1810. The dam and sluice gate enabled a body of water to be retained for the operation of the mill when otherwise Scarcroft Beck would not hold sufficient water. The pond fed the mill race via Scarcroft Beck. It is not clear when the mill ceased to operate but potentially this was in the 1950’s.


The lake is currently used for private fishing; it also provides a haven for wildlife. It is a pleasing feature for people using the various footpaths in the area, linking Thorner, Scarcroft and Eltofts. In private ownership the fishing is not generally available. A mark of 10 is awarded.

Documents

for… · Web viewIt was sold in 1852 to a Robert Tennant ... The building was requisitioned during the Second Word War and used as a ... contra to Warwick Bartle,