Ilkley Eastside Wander #14: InStead
This is the 14th of a series of 20 caches which takes you around some of the lovely countryside immediately to the south-east of Ilkley.
See GC8PCW2 Ilkley East Wander #1: Intro and . . . Prick!? for information on the series and waypoints. See Gallery for an annotated map with cache locations and parking spots.
If doing Full Series in sequence: from #13, take the footpath heading across the field to join the access lane for High Stead. Turn left down the lane and continue to the start of the driveway for Mount Stead. From here pick up a small trail heading left across the small field adjacent to the house to a small footbridge. Cross this and look for the cache in the shady trees to the left (west)
If doing Mini-Series 2: park at P3 and refer to IEW#1 using the link above to reach IEW#13 then continue as above.
The cache, a camo-taped pre-form tube, is hidden a few meters up from a footbridge crossing a small stream running along the edge of this old Grade II listed property - Mount Stead.
Its Historic England listing reads as follows with [additions]:
II 2 C17 [17th century]. Dressed stone. Stone slab roof. 2 storeys. Projecting porch (lintel inscribed D.I.S. 1605) [- the S is assumed to be Stead] . Bedroom over, with 5-light [portion of a window] window. Gable with finial at head and on kneelers [see gallery]. 3 windows to left of porch (of 3 lights, 2 lights and 3 lights, the last having a transom and gable with finial above . One 3-light window to the right. Below, a projection either side of porch. All windows have chamfered mullions. Probably built by one of the Stead Family . . .
from Ilkley: Ancient and Modern by Robert Collyer and Joseph Horsfall Turner (1885)
The Stead family farmed this area south-east of Ilkey through many generations (as detailed in the Stead Family History website) so as may be expected the area took on the family name, which also appears in several farms and other dwellings in the area. These include Mount Stead, High Stead and Stead Hall Farm. On current Ordnance Survey maps the location Stead appears between the latter two places.
Mount Stead may be confused with The Mount, Stead which is part of the Wharfedale Grange / Clevedon complex some 250m to the north-west - which has its own rich history . . .