The Mount at Stead from the 18th Century to the Present Day
Now Audley Clevedon Retirement Village, formerly Clevedon House School
The Mount at Stead
Noticed on an early map (the OS 6" of 1851), The Mount at Stead. It stood out as a major structure in the area, rather than just a collection of farm buildings. The district boundary made it part of Stead, Burley in Wharfedale. On the OS 6" 1851 map, the collection of buildings to the north west are Wharfedale Grange farm. |
OS 6" 1851 Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland.
|
Currently believe the main part of The Mount at Stead structure was built in the latter part of the 18th century, possibly around 1780.
The Mount Lodge now listed as Saxon Lodge on Coutances Way (A65), Burley built at a similar time. Would have connected The Mount to the main turnpike road from Skipton to Otley.
Wharfedale Grange Farm, it's not known at present when this complex of structures was first built, possibly 17th century. More research needed.
Notable events & changes in ownership of The Mount, Stead, gleaned from old newspapers
1849 - Private residence of William Smith (1776-1850).
1850 - William Smith, dies aged 74. He was for many years one of the leading woollen merchants in Leeds. (Partner in the house of Messrs, Smith & Dickinson). He was on the commission of the peace of the borough, and for two successive years after the passing of the Municipal Reform Act filled the office of chief magistrate.
1850 - William Smith, dies aged 74. He was for many years one of the leading woollen merchants in Leeds. (Partner in the house of Messrs, Smith & Dickinson). He was on the commission of the peace of the borough, and for two successive years after the passing of the Municipal Reform Act filled the office of chief magistrate.
1851 - William Nolan former butler to Mr Smith takes possession of The Mount.
1852 - The Mount Stead Hotel & Boarding House opens. Proprietor William Nolan, refurbished The Mount to take advantage of the visitors to the nearby Ben Rhydding Hydropathic Establishment (opened in 1844).
1853 - Mr Nolan adds extensions to the building.
1853 - Mr Nolan adds extensions to the building.
1856 - The business closed on the death of Mr Nolan.
1857 - The Mount was unoccupied.
1858 - Private residence - John Hudson Esq.
1858 - The Mount Retreat Asylum - Dr George Pyemont Smith (see panel) - granted a license to house 30 patients, 16 males & 14 females. Under the superintendance of his father.
This was the second Retreat that Dr G. P. Smith was involved with.
The first was Castleton Lodge Retreat in Leeds, established in 1835, by his father Sir Samuel Smith, surgeon (one of the founders in 1831 of the Leeds School of Medicine & prominent opponent of Child Labour). The Castleton Retreat was moved to The Mount, Stead in 1858.
The illustration below is of the Castleton Retreat near Leeds
The illustration below is of the Castleton Retreat near Leeds
Dr. George Pyemont Smith, M.D. Edinburgh,
b. 30 Oct. 1816
m. 19 July, 1842, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. James Landon, Vicar of Aberford, co. York,
d. 5 May, 1883.
Obituary below, courtesy of documents.tips Medical Notes in Parliament.
He was educated at the Leeds School of Medicine, where he obtained the three silver medals for anatomy, surgery, and midwifery, and at the Universities of Edinburgh and Paris, taking his degree of M.D. at the former University in 1838.
He practised for twenty years in Leeds, giving his principal attention to the treatment of the insane. He served as a volunteer surgeon at Scutari in the winter and spring of 1854-5. (Crimean War - October 1853 to February 1856).
b. 30 Oct. 1816
m. 19 July, 1842, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. James Landon, Vicar of Aberford, co. York,
d. 5 May, 1883.
Obituary below, courtesy of documents.tips Medical Notes in Parliament.
He was educated at the Leeds School of Medicine, where he obtained the three silver medals for anatomy, surgery, and midwifery, and at the Universities of Edinburgh and Paris, taking his degree of M.D. at the former University in 1838.
He practised for twenty years in Leeds, giving his principal attention to the treatment of the insane. He served as a volunteer surgeon at Scutari in the winter and spring of 1854-5. (Crimean War - October 1853 to February 1856).
In 1861 he gave up general practice, and occupied himself entirely with the care and supervision of a private asylum at Mount Stead, near Ilkley, Yorkshire.
In 1872 he retired from practice on account of his health.
For thirty years he was Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence at the Leeds School of Medicine, and held the post of Secretary for some years, and also of Physician to the Leeds Dispensary.
The following is a copy of a resolution passed on May 10th at the Leeds School of Medicine :-" The Council of the Leeds School of Medicine having heard with great regret of the death of Dr. G. Pyemont Smith, records its sense of the value of the services which he rendered to the school during a period of nearly thirty years as an active member of its body, and especially while filling the office of secretary."
In 1872 he retired from practice on account of his health.
For thirty years he was Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence at the Leeds School of Medicine, and held the post of Secretary for some years, and also of Physician to the Leeds Dispensary.
The following is a copy of a resolution passed on May 10th at the Leeds School of Medicine :-" The Council of the Leeds School of Medicine having heard with great regret of the death of Dr. G. Pyemont Smith, records its sense of the value of the services which he rendered to the school during a period of nearly thirty years as an active member of its body, and especially while filling the office of secretary."
1865 - Otley to Ilkley Joint Railway opens. See: Burley in Wharfedale Railway Station.
1872 - Dr G. P. Smith retires through ill-health & The Mount Retreat Asylum closes shortly afterwards, as there are references to auctions in May & June of the furnishings & fittings and the mansion - 9 reception rooms, entrance hall, 20 bedrooms & servants apartments. Also the estate lands stretching from Rumbolds (Rombalds) Moor to the Otley Turnpike Road.
1873 - Private residence - John Ramsden
1874 - Wharfedale Mount Hotel, Mount Stead - Proprietors James Sutcliffe & C. Leuchters.
1881 to 1884 - Ilkley & Wharfedale Orphanage & Children's Home. Established by William Henry Conyers. He used The Mount as his residence & the children's home for girls, was contained within the farm buildings of Wharfedale Grange. In 1884, the orphanage moved to a more central location at Richmond Place, Ilkley. Mr Conyers & his family remained at The Mount.
1884 - Part of Wharfedale Grange farm was made into a private residence of a Mr Milnes.
1887 / 8 - Whole site called Wharfedale Grange - The Mount & Wharfedale Grange farm offered for sale, let or lease by Mr W. Conyers.
1894 - Wharfedale Grange owned by Thomas B. Fox. Presume The Mount building was his family residence & as a breeder of horses used the Wharfedale Grange farm buildings for that purpose.
1902 / 03 - Private boarding school for boys - Dr J. A. Etches.
1904 / 05 - Private residence.
1904 / 05 - Private residence.
After 1905 who owned what & resided where becomes very confusing as there are a number of references to a Mount Stead being owned by individuals as a private residence.
Adding to the confusion are the names used on various maps. On one map Wharfedale Grange covers both the farm & The Mount.
The reason for the confusion is that Mount Stead Farmhouse (approx. a mile south of The Mount) loses the farmhouse bit of the name & eventually becomes a listed building in 1976 as "Mount Stead". Next to it is another listed building "Mount Stead Cottage", which was one of the buildings that made up Mount Stead Farm.
1911 census has occupiers of a Mount Stead as Thomas Bairstow Fox aged 72, a retired wool merchant from Bradford & his wife, 2 children, a servant, a nurse & a visitor. Believe this is the same Thomas B. Fox who bred horses at Wharfedale Grange in 1894.
1911 census has occupiers of a Mount Stead as Thomas Bairstow Fox aged 72, a retired wool merchant from Bradford & his wife, 2 children, a servant, a nurse & a visitor. Believe this is the same Thomas B. Fox who bred horses at Wharfedale Grange in 1894.
1915 - 1921 - Private residence. The Steinthals / Petrie home. Very interesting family, they appear to have owned, lived at and/or let out at least 2 other houses in Ilkley - Wharfemead and St. John's, Ben Rhydding.
Both Thomas B. Fox & the Steinthals / Petrie lived at Mount Stead Farmhouse.
1905 - The Mount, Stead was bought by Ernest W. Stokoe & had its name changed to Clevedon House. Mr Stokoe moved his existing prep school from Woodhall Spa to Stead.
1928 - Frank Kidson buys the school with finance from WW Wakefield (England Rugby captain) & becomes headmaster.
1939-45 - School attracts large number of boarders during Second World War.
Note: The white lines on the aerial images below are photo editing marks that can't be removed.
1965 - Frank Kidson retires & Clevedon House School Trust Limited established.
1982 - Clevedon House school acquired by the Society of Licensed Victuallers.
2005 - Clevedon House school closes.
2008 - The facade of The Mount was taken down & rebuilt, the rest of the building was gutted & re-modelled.
2009 - Audley Clevedon retirement village opens.
|
Burley Community Library & Burley Archive, Grange Road, Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire England LS29 7HD
Opening Times: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 10.00am to 5.00pm, Thursday 2.00pm to 7.00pm, Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm. Closed Wednesday & Sunday
Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us
Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us