Through the Keyhole

Carlton House, Cleckheaton - Located just below the main graveyard of Cleckheaton Old Cemetery in Whitcliffe Road. Carlton Court and Carlton Way now occupy the location. In 1881 George Curry, a solicitor, is residing here with his wife and two servants.  In 1891 John Gunn Mowat was residing here with his wife, 2 children and 2 servants. In 1894 the occupant is again the solicitor named George Curry who committed suicide by poisoning after being served with a warrant. On 10 Jul 1895 the property went up for auction. The house, pleasure grounds, conservatory, vineries, gardener's house and appurtenances situate on rising ground where views are extensive and varied. It is described as being substantially built of stone, modern in its arrangements, excellent in its fixture and woodwork and well-finished throughout. The Pleasure Grounds have been laid out with great judgement, are screened by ornamental plantations and excellent boundary walls and include shrubberies, flower beds, extensive rockeries, a carriage sweep, walks and tennis lawn. In 1901 the occupant is Samuel Law of the Moorland Mills company Samuel Law and Sons. Samuel resided here up to his death in 1915. Following Samuel's death it seems John Mowat Greig was residing here and remained so until at least the mid 1950's.

Farfield House, Cleckheaton - Located at Moor End, between Farfield Street and Exchange Street. In the late 1860's the house was occupied by Richard Francis Brooke who was from a well-known family who were in the tanning business. The house was then lived in by his nephew, Thomas Kaye Brooke who lived there until the early 1880's. In 1883 it was offered for sale and described as having: a stable, coach house, piggeries, garden, outbuildings and conveniences as well as spare adjoining land. In 1891 George Stead and family were residing here. In 1901 a Dr. William Barclay Livermore and young family are resident here. In 1911 Arthur Bentley, his wife and 2 children were resident here.

Gladstone House, Cleckheaton - Located in large grounds between the top of Peaseland Road and Prospect Mills. At the top of the land was "Wappy nicket" a well-known local footpath. The house was originally called "The Tofts" and was home of the Williamsons, a well-known Cleckheaton family. It had been originally built by Joseph Brook, a local stone mason. In the 1871 census we see an elderly Thomas Williamson, residing here. He was an oil merchant residing with his grown up children. In 1881 we see his son Sidney Herbert Williamson now residing here, his father having died in 1875. Sidney was married to Lucy Ann Anderton, grand daughter to George Anderton of Victoria Mills. From 1891 to his death in 1914 the house was lived in by Jonas Haley and family. Jonas was the son of Samuel, founder of the firm Samuel Haley & Sons, cardmakers, of Pyenot Hall Works. In later life the house became known as the Prospect Hotel and The Whitcliffe. It was demolished in 2018.

Heaton House, Cleckheaton - Located between Hill Street and Peaseland Road just below Burnup Grove (which is likely to be named after one of the past occupants). The premises cannot be identified in the 1841 census but both William Holdsworth and Thomas Burnup (later identified occupants) were residing in the same area . In 1851 the resident was Mary Holdsworth, the widow of William Holdsworth, who had died the previous year. In 1861 the residents are now Thomas Burnup and his wife Ann, who was the sister of the above Mary Holdsworth. Thomas was originally from Huddersfield and was well-known locally being in the banking trade. Thomas and Ann resided here until their respective deaths in 1886 for Ann and 1888 for Thomas, both in their mid 80s. They are both buried at Whitechapel with some of Ann's family.  In 1901 one part of the premises is lived in by Arthur W. Blackburn and family and the other part by Reuben Castle, a well-known architect. In 1922 Charles Roberts Bentley leaves a Will which gives his address as this location. Charles had married Margaret Ann Sugden, daughter of William Sugden, the well-known local shirt manufacturer. In December 1927 there is a death notice for James Haley, leather merchant, of Heaton House. James Haley's widow, Edith, remained at the address until her death in 1953. Following Edith's death, the Heaton House estate went up for sale and is described as having two houses with a total of 18 rooms on two floors and easily adaptable into flats, nursing home, private school and boarding house or similar institution. It contains 8737 square yards.