The Shuttleworth Collection

‘OLD ILKLEY’

This is a summary of the lecture by Mr J.A Middlebrook as reported in The Ilkley Gazette, dated 24th February 1900. The lecture on ‘Old Ilkley’ was held at the Congregational Lecture Hall, and was accompanied by a photographic display. Amongst the pictures seen by the audience that day are several included in our own special collection on these web pages.

"Mr F. Bontoft manipulated the lantern, and the proceeds were given to the local war fund."

Summary

"Several old thatched cottages to the west of Sedbergh House were…shown, taken down in 1868 and last occupied by Tom Shoesmith, Ann Robinson and John Robinson…Tom Down’s cottage…formed a very pretty picture, and likewise several views of the old cornmill and mill dam in the vicinity. West View in 1869 was a very different locality to what it is to-day, and Wells Road itself seemed more like an old-fashioned country lane than the important thoroughfare we now see it. The Old Manor House, which stood on the site of the Craven Bank and faced the north-east, was a very typical old homestead... Green Lane Cottage, which up to 1892 stood on the Grove, formed another pretty picture, and at the time it was taken was occupied by old Tom Brogden, farmer and stonemason.

The view of Brook Street in 1800, from the painting by the Rev. Thomas Kilby, was stated to be a very faithful reproduction of the main street at that time…the beck was then meandering the whole length of the thoroughfare, and this was not covered until 1851. Several other views were shown of Brook Street, one of the west side depicting Ickringill’s shop, Ramsden’s butcher’s shop, and Woofenden’s. Another view of Brook Street, taken about 1885, gave a very good view of the Station Hotel and old property on either side, which were pulled down for the railway bridge. Hawskworth’s old house, which stood on the site of Gothic House, [and] Ben Parratt’s Butcher’s shop…were other very interesting views exhibited in this locality.

Photographs of Weston Road, showed Stephenson’s cottage and woodyard as it appeared in 1865, Robert Collyer’s blacksmith’s shop and the pinfold. In the vicinity of Church Street the most notable illustrations were those of the Church prior to the wall being rebuilt, Rose and Crown Hotel, the old castle in 1863, the old vicarage, and the cottages that formerly stood near, with Mary Mason’s and Donkey Jackson’s house, a portion of which still remains. Along Skipton Road, the old Grammar School and some thatched cottages opposite the Lister’s Arms Hotel… were shown, with the old cottages still existing in Chapel Lane."

West View