Turnsteads, Cleckheaton

19 Oct 1874 - Cleckheaton Local Board approve plans for the erection of a villa residence at Whitcliffe, by Mr Christopher Dawson, who was also a member of the Board.

Although the name of premises isn't recorded, it is believed this entry from 1881 refers to the property:
3 Apr 1881 - Census entry - Whitcliffe, Cleckheaton
Christopher DAWSON  Head  M  55  Draper  Fulneck
Catherine DAWSON  Wife  M  55  Cleckheaton
George Henry DAWSON  Son  U  23  Draper
Hannah E DAWSON  Dau  U  21
Emily DAWSON  Dau  U  20
Thomas S DAWSON  Son  17  Architect's pupil
Alise RIPLEY  Serv  U  27  Domestic servant  Liversedge

5 Apr 1891 - Census entry - Fair View, Cleckheaton
Christopher DAWSON  Head  M  65  Draper  Fulneck
Catherine DAWSON  Wife  M  65  Cleckheaton
Thomas Stead DAWSON  Son  U  27  Draper's assistant
Jane Catherine WILLIAMS  GrDau  3
Mary COBBS  Serv  U  18  18  Domestic  Dewsbury

By 1895 Harry Wadsworth, of Broomfield Mills fame is now residing here and the house is still called Fair View, however in 1899 the name alters to Turnsteads.

Harry and his wife were away from home for the 1901 Census, staying at the Great Northern Hotel in London, but the house does feature:
31 Mar 1901 - Census entry - Turnsteads, Whitcliffe Road
Walter William WADSWORTH  Son  7  Cleckheaton
Elizth A KIRK  Serv  U  32  Nurse domestic  Tinsley, Yks
Asenath ARROWSMITH  Serv  U  29  Housemaid domestic  Henbury, Cheshire
Annie S BREWER  Serv  U  26  Cook domestic  St. Pancras, London

Also in the 1901 Census is this entry for Turnsteads Lodge:
Nathaniel BREWER  Head  M  54  Coachman domestic  Little Hadham, Herts
Mary A BREWER  Wife  M  57  Hayes, Mdx
John BREWER  Son  U  22  Machine minder worsted mill  Hastings, Sussex
Charles C BREWER  Son  U  21  Packer worsted mill  St. Pancras, London
Walter BREWER  Son  13

By 1911 the house had expanded its grounds, with the addition of another lodge and other buildings.

2 Apr 1911 - Census entry - Turnsteads, Cleckheaton (12 rooms)
Harry WADSWORTH  Head  M  52  Worsted spinner  Cullingworth
Emily WADSWORTH  Wife  M  47  (24y, 2/2)  New Mills, Cheshire
Gwyneth Lowe WADSWORTH  Dau  U  22  Cleckheaton
Asenath ARROWSMITH  Serv  U  39  Housemaid domestic  Henbury, Cheshire
Annie BREWER  Serv  U  36  Cook domestic  London
Fanny HOWELL  Serv  M  35  (6y, No children)  Housemaid domestic  Stamford in the Dale, Berks

Also in 1911 an entry appears for The Lodge, Turnsteads:
Andreas Henry NEILSON  Head  M  28  Chauffeur domestic  Lelant, Cornwall
Emily NEILSON  Wife  M  30  (2y, 1/1)  Ripon
Isobel NEILSON  Dau  8m  Harrogate

And a further 1911 entry for Turnsteads Lodge:
William Henry YOUNG  Head  M  26  Gardener domestic  Watford, Northants
Lizzie YOUNG  Wife  M  42  (2y)  Tinsley, Yks

By 1918 the occupant was Herbert Hirst, son of Charles Hirst, the wire manufacturer of Exchange Mills. 

Herbert Hirst and family were away in Harrogate for the 1921 Census, but the following entries do appear:
19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Turnsteads (14 rooms)
Etheline L HOWORTH  Head  U  47y11m, Northowram,  Companion housekeeper
Mrs. McGEE  Serv  Wid  50y 9m, Cherryburton, Yks,  Cook
Phyllis LEE  Serv  U  24y 7m, Gateshead,  Parlour maid

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Turnsteads Lodge (4 rooms)
Hannah TAYLOR  Head  Wid  44y 8m, Mapplewell,  Laundress for Herbert Hirst, Turnstead
Norman TAYLOR  Son  15y 9m, Cleckheaton,  Mechanical engineer, C Hirst & Son Ltd., wire manu., Cleckheaton
Hilda H BROWN  Visitor  U  22y 8m, Harfford, Northumberland,  Home duties

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Turnsteads Lodge (4 rooms)
Ernest SCOTT  Head  M  45y 11m, Mirfield,  Gardener domestic for Herbert Hirst, Turnsteads
Annie SCOTT  Wife  M  44y 5m, Liversedge,  At home
Arnold SCOTT  Son  14y 2m, Liversedge,  Farm labourer, Wilfred Wadsworth, Moor End, Cleckheaton

Herbert Hirst remained here until Bernard Sugden, of the well-known local shirt manufacturers William Sugden & Sons of Water Lane Mills, took occupation in the mid 1920s. Bernard Sugden married Lily Smith in 1900 at Westgate Chapel. Lily was the daughter of Enos Smith of the firm E & A Smith, wire manufacturers of Pyenot Hall works, later to be associated with British Ropes.

8 June 1939 - Newspaper article - Regarding Mr. Sugden's Knighthood and his life in the Spen Valley.
Mr Bernard Sugden of Turnsteads, Cleckheaton, who receives a knighthood, is one of Spen Valley's best known public men.
Born in Cleckheaton, he has always taken a keen interest in the activities of the district. He is chairman of directors of Messrs William Sugden and Sons Ltd., shirt and cotton clothing manufacturers of Water Lane Mills, Cleckheaton. He is also chairman of directors of Cotton Shirting Mills at Littleborough and Stainland near Halifax.
He is probably best known through his connections with the Spen Valley Liberal Association. He was elected chairman of the Spen Valley League of Young Liberals in 1900 and has served on the executive of the Spen Valley Liberal Association since 1906. From 1912 to 1925 he was honorary treasurer and was president of the Association from 1925 to 1930.
He has taken an active interest in the Spen Valley Chamber of Commerce, being a member since 1902 and on the executive since 1906. He was president in 1912-13. He has been honorary treasurer of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire and has attended congresses in Canada, South Africa and New Zealand.
In 1928 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the West Riding of Yorkshire, sitting in the East Morley Division.
Mr Sugden is an active Freemason, being a past member of the Zetland Lodge 603, and was appointed Provincial Officer in 1916. In 1925 he was appointed an officer of the Grand Lodge of England by his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, who also appointed him a Grand Officer of the Supreme Grand Chapter.

29 Sep 1939 - 1939 Register entry - Turnsteads, 124 Whitcliffe Road, Cleckheaton
Sir Bernard SUGDEN  b. 13 Nov 1877  M  Company Director
Lady Lily SUGDEN  b. 6 Jun 1873  M  Unpaid domestic duties
Winifred A MYERS  b. 10 Jul 1909  S  Cook
Mary E WEST  b. 12 Nov 1913  S  Parlour maid (later married name LAYDEN)
Mary STEVENSON  b. 16 Aug 1914  S  House maid (later married name HOYLE)
(plus 1 closed record)

Also recorded is the "West Lodge", Turnsteads
John H VASS  b. 26 Aug 1883  ;  Domestic servant chauffeur
Nellie M VASS  b. 14 Oct 1878  M  Unpaid domestic duties
Stanley VASS  b. 6 May 1915  S  Master automobile engineer
John S HORTON  b. 4 Nov 1911  M  Overseer for public safety ...? signs & devices
Ethel HORTON  b. 21 Mar 1911  M  Unpaid domestic duties
(plus 1 closed record)

And the "East Lodge", Turnsteads, 122 Whitcliffe Road
Lewis R SPEED  b. 22 Mar 1907  M  Gardener private
Fanny SPEED  b. 14 Nov 1905  M  Unpaid domestic duties
Brian SPEED  b. 7 Sep 1930  At school

After Sir Bernard's death in 1954, the house would later become a home for the elderly, closing it's doors in the late 1980s. The house was eventually demolished and now a housing development called Wadsworth Court stands in its place.

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