Ilkley East Wander #20: Clevedon Retrospect (Part 2)
The cache, a small black-taped flip-topped plastic pot hidden near the inside corner of the lane, is the last in a series of 20 caches which takes you through some of the lovely countryside immediately to the south-east of Ilkley.
From the cache location, as well as fine views down, over and along the Wharfe Valley, the features of the substantial retirement village to the west and south can be further appreciated.
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 #19, continue heading west along the lane to the cache location at the corner.
If doing Mini-Series 2: park at P3 and refer to IEW#1 using the link above to reach IEW#13 then continue with the shorter sequence to IEW#19 then as above.
If doing as a one-off or out of sequence: it may be possible (depending on space and any restrictions) to park at N 53 54.954 W 1 47.190 outside a new residential development and make your way the 300m back left and then right down the lane past Wharfedale Grange Farm and along past the retirement village entrance to the cache location. If there is no space available you will have to continue for another 200m up the lane towards Gib Field Farm and park at P2
(continues from IEW#19)
1902/3 - The Mount / Wharfedale Grange [excluding the farm] becomes a private preparatory boarding school for boys aged 7-14
1905 - The Mount, Stead is bought by an association of self-employed public house licensees and its name is changed to Clevedon House (School)
After 1905 it is unclear who owned what & resided where as there are several references to a 'Mount Stead' being owned by individuals as a private residence.
Adding to the confusion are the names used on various maps. On one map Wharfedale Grange covers both the farm & The Mount. Also Mount Stead Farmhouse (about 1 mile south of The Mount, Stead) loses the farmhouse bit of the name & eventually becomes a listed building in 1976 as 'Mount Stead'. Next to it is another listed building 'Mount Stead Cottage' - one of the buildings which constituted the original Mount Stead Farm.
(The 1911 census lists the occupiers of a Mount Stead as Thomas Bairstow Fox aged 72, a retired wool merchant from Bradford & his wife, 2 children, a servant, a nurse & a visitor. This is probably the same Thomas B. Fox who bred horses at Wharfedale Grange in 1894)
[So it may be assumed that once The Mount / Wharfedale Grange became a school, Mr Fox & family moved out to live in the nearby Mount Stead (farmhouse) and that The Mount becomes part of the school complex]
1980s - the school goes through major changes. Pupils aged from 3 (nursery) -16 are accepted. In 1983 the school admits girls for the first time with girls’ boarding house opening in 1984
2005 - Clevedon House school closes
2008 - The Mount facade is taken down & rebuilt, and the rest of the building remodelled
2009 - The retirement village opens with the former school now housing its clubhouse facilities.