Wilton House, Cleckheaton

The house with many names. Located in Westgate (originally called Upper Lane) near to the bottom of Hightown Road and believed to be originally called Brook House (see maps below).

The origins of the house cannot yet be established but it is likely to have originally been the home of Richard Sarley Brooke who, it is believed, established the adjacent Brook Mill, and probably why the house was referred to as Brook House. All this needs confirming though. Richard Sarley Brooke sadly met with death at the early age of 46 in 1837 when he accidentally fell from his horse.

Although the premises are not positively identified in 1841, we do see Richard Sarley Brooke's son residing at Upper Lane, so this could well be the location:
6 Jun 1841 - Census entry - Upper Lane, Cleckheaton
Henry Sarley BROOK  20  Worsted spinner (all born in Yorkshire)
Richard BROOK  13
Sarah NEWHILL  60  Ind
Hannah NEWHILL  35  Ind
Sarah CRAVEN  15  Ind

By 1851 evidence points to the house being called Upper House and was now the home of James Anderton, son of George Anderton of Victoria Mill. The premises are not named in the 1851 census, it is just listed as Upper Lane, but evidence from an obituary states that James Anderton's son, Arthur, was born at Upper House in 1848:
30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Upper Lane, Cleckheaton
James ANDERTON  Head  M  28  Worsted spinner  Cleckheaton
Susannah ANDERTON  Wife  M  25
Mary Emma ANDERTON  Dau  3
Arthur ANDERTON  Son  2
Lucy Ann ANDERTON  Dau  11m
Ann BROWN  U  28  Servant
Sarah FIRTH  16  Servant

In 1861 James Anderton and family are still resident here but this time it is identified as Upper House:
7 Apr 1861 - Census entry - Upper House, Cleckheaton
James ANDERTON  Head  M  38  Worsted spinner  Cleckheaton
Susannah Heward ANDERTON  Wife  M  35
Henrietta ANDERTON  Dau  5
James Edward ANDERTON  Son  3
Frank ANDERTON  Son  1
Alice ANDERTON  Dau  1w
Nanny SUGDEN  Serv  M  59  Monthly nurse
Jane HEMMINGWAY  Serv  U  22  Servant  Leeds
Lucy HOPKINSON  Serv  U  23  Servant  Gomersall
Emma BAILEY  Serv  U  23  Servant  Dewsbury

In 1863 James Anderton became the first Chairman of the newly formed Cleckheaton Local Board and due to the fact that the Board had no dedicated meeting room, on occasion, meetings of the Board were held here.

In 1871 the house is referred to as "Mill Mansion" and is occupied by Arthur Anderton and his sisters (both his parents having now died):
2 Apr 1871 - Census entry - Mill Mansion, Cleckheaton
Arthur ANDERTON  Head  U  22  Worsted spinner  Cleckheaton
Lucy Ann ANDERTON  Sister  U  21
Hellen ANDERTON  Sister  U  19
Elizabeth ANDERTON  Sister  U  17
Sarah RICHARDSON  Comp  U  44  Companion  Thurgaton, Notts
Edward GOLDTHORP  Visitor  M  41  Retired cardmaker  Cleckheaton
Amelia E GOLDTHORP  Visitor  M  32  Wife of above  Stafford
Mary KIDD  Serv  U  21  Servant  Methley
Minnie LODGE  Serv  14  Servant  Pontefract

3 Oct 1877 - A property auction takes place at the Royal Hotel, Cleckheaton. Lot 2 is described as: The excellent residence known as Upper House, Cleckheaton, now occupied by the family of the late James Anderton, Esq., with stable, coach house, saddle room, wash house, outbuildings, garden, greenhouse and pleasure grounds belonging thereto, comprising an entire area of 3456 yards more or less.

In 1881 the premises are once again referred to as Upper House, and William Blackburn was resident here. He was a worsted spinner associated with the adjacent Brooke Mill & Clarence Mill:
3 Apr 1881 - Census entry - Upper House, Cleckheaton
William BLACKBURN  Head  M  46  Botnay worsted spinner  Cleckheaton
Sarah Ann BLACKBURN  Wife  M  46  Halifax
Agnes May BLACKBURN  Dau  1  Cleckheaton
Mary Hannah BLACKBURN  Visitor  U  22  Milliner unemp  Gomersal
Mary Eliza NAYLOR  Serv  12  Domestic servant  Cleckheaton
Mary KEENAN  Serv  U  23  Servant domestic  Ireland

An additional household is also recorded:
3 Apr 1881 - Census entry - Upper House, Cleckheaton
Thomas BROADWITH  Head  M  35  Servant domestic  Knaresbro'

By 1891 William Blackburn is still resident here but the house is now known as Wilton House. Why the name change? William Blackburn had a son who died when he was only 13 years old. His name was Wilton Howard Blackburn, so it is quite feasible that the house was so named in his memory:
5 Apr 1891 - Census entry - Wilton House, Cleckheaton
William BLACKBURN  Head  Wid  56  Worsted spinner master  Cleckheaton
Herbert S BLACKBURN  Son  U  21  Worsted spinner master
Clarence C BLACKBURN  Son  U  17  Worsted spinner ap
Marianne E WICK  Hkpr  U  38  Lady housekeeper  Sheffield
Caroline SPURR  Serv  U  37  General servant  Spen, Gomersal

William Blackburn features at the address until 1899 but the premises are not named and cannot be identified in the 1901 census.

In 1902 the house is advertised for let or sale. It is described as having an entrance hall, billiard room, 3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms and 7 other rooms as well as conservatories and stabling etc. 

From 1904, the electoral register now shows John Wesley Hillard at this location. He was the founder of the well-known Lion Stores.

2 Apr 1911 - Census entry - Wilton House, Cleckheaton (9 rooms)
John Wesley HILLARD  Head  M  54  Provision merchant (E)  Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset
Caroline Eliza HILLARD  Wife  M  51  (13y, No children)  Barrington, Somerset
Charles Wesley HILLARD  Son  U  20  Grocer's ap  Cleckheaton
Jack Rodenhurst HILLARD  Son  16  Grocer's ap
Gertrude WITHELL  Serv  U  21  General servant domestic  Chapeltown

John Wesley Hillard remains here until 1919 

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Wilton House, Cleckheaton (11 rooms)
William Dobson SAVORY  Head  M  59y 7m, Cleckheaton,  Automobile engineer (E), At home
Jane SAVORY  Wife  M  52y 7m, Horsforth,  Home duties
Alic SAVORY  Son  U  20y 3m, Cleckheaton,  Motor mechanic, for head
Hugh SAVORY  Son  M  29y 3m, Cleckheaton,  Motor mechanic, for head
Beatrice Ellen SAVORY  Wife  M  30y 4m, Bradford,  Home duties
Marrion JAGGER  Visitor  S  24y 6m, Cleckheaton,  Confectionery shopkeeper (E), Market Place, Cleckheaton

The Savorys are here until 1923 and for a brief period between 1924-1925, Florence & John Leslie Tetlow are resident here. Florence being the widow of John Tetlow, previously of The Royds and of the firm Critchley, Sharp & Tetlow. John Leslie is their son.

In 1925 the house and grounds were purchased for over £7000 for the development of public services. Cleckheaton Fire Station was built in the grounds and was opened in 1926.

From 1926 to 1938, the electoral register shows Richard Kimberley residing here. He was Superintendent of the Fire Brigade.

Two separate households are recorded here in the 1939 Register:
29 Sep 1939 - 1939 Register entry - Wilton House, Westgate
John DAVIS  b. 6 Mar 1907  M  Fire Brigade Superintendent
Kate DAVIS  b. 14 Apr 1906  M  Unpaid domestic duties

29 Sep 1939 - 1939 Register entry - Wilton House, Westgate
Leslie SMITH  b. 23 Dec 1908  M  Fire Brigade Second Officer
Irene SMITH  b. 3 Jun 1912  M  Unpaid domestic duties
(plus 1 closed record)

Details after this time are very difficult to come by. It may be that the house was no longer used as a residence?

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