Tour of Ilkley

During my recent stay in Kettlewell, I visited Ilkley - a town I had passed through many times without stopping to explore. I would put that right today!

The Domesday Book records Ilkley as being in the possession of William de Percy. The land was acquired by the Middelton family about a century later. The agents of William Middelton (1815–1885) were responsible for the design of the new town of Ilkley to replace the village which had stood there before.

In the 17th and 18th centuries the town gained a reputation for the efficacy of its water. In the 19th century it became established as a fashionable spa town, with the construction of Ben Rhydding Hydro, a hydropathic establishment at Wheatley, a mile to the east, between 1843 and 1844. Tourists flocked to 'take the waters' and bathe in the cold-water spring. Wheatley was renamed Ben Rhydding after the Hydro, which has since been demolished

lkley station was opened in August 1865 as the western terminus of the Otley and Ilkley Joint Railway (Midland and North Eastern railways). This railway offered two alternative routes to Leeds - either via Otley and the Leeds Northern/NER line through Headingley or via Guiseley and the former Leeds and Bradford Railway along the Aire Valley. The Midland subsequently built a branch from the latter route to Shipley in 1876 to provide a direct line from the town to Bradford Forster Square.

A further extension of the line opened in 1888 to Skipton via Addingham, Bolton Abbey and Embsay saw the station assume the status of a junction. It became a terminus again following the Beeching cuts in 1960s. In the late 1980s, the roofed area covering the western end of the station platforms was closed in and converted into a small supermarket

The Town Hall

Charles Darwin stayed in the town during the publication of "The Origin of Species", a visit which is commemorated by the town's Darwin Gardens and the Millennium Maze

The Manor House, which originates from 14th century, was formerly known as The Castle. It was built on the remains of the Roman Fort. It is now houses Ilkley's Art Gallery and Museum.

Ilkley's spa town heritage and surrounding countryside make tourism an important local industry. The town centre is characterised by Victorian architecture, wide streets and floral displays

Canker Well - one of several chalybeate springs (ie natural mineral springs containing iron salts) which were regarded as being beneficial to health. The waters were either drunk in copious quantities or freely applied externally. Following residential development the spring has dried up. The stone bath near the well is from the Shrine which was formerly part of Ben Rhydding Hydro. It bears a dedication to Vincent Priessnitz who established the principles  of hydropathy and who inspired Leeds merchant Hamer Stansfield to establish Ben Rhydding Hydro on land about a mile east of Ilkley.

Spa Well was another chalybeate spring which has also dried up after building works. The well is on the site of the former Spa hydropathic hotel. Opened in 1870 this establishment was favoured by the feebler patients with easy access to shops and other facilities of the town

The OS map of 1847 shows the lower corn mill situated on the east side of the ghyll. The area of Mill Ghyll was landscaped after William Middleton gave the land to the town in the 1870’s on the condition that it was preserved as “an arboretory with a clear and rippling stream” 

The Convalescent Hospital is an imposing building in the Scottish Baronial style. It was opened in 1862 and was built to accommodate the less affluent patients coming to Ilkley. Originally 50 beds were provided and the patients were allowed to stay three weeks with lodgings, board, treatment and baths free of charge.

I was intrigued by these steps - known locally as "Donkey Jackson's Steps". They are opposite Glovers’ garage entrance and now lead up to allotments. These are the last remnants of premises run by “Donkey” Jackson, who for many years ran a donkey hiring business for the benefit of visitors who were unable or unwilling to walk up to the White Wells – a house and baths at the site of the springs built in the early 18^th century on the hills overlooking Ilkley.

Another of Ilkley's claims to fame is that it is where the Dales Way starts ...

... it finishes at Bowness on Windermere some 82 miles away.

On previous occasions - including visits to the Wharfedale area - I have walked significant parts of the Dales Way (including the final 10 miles from Kendal to Bowness) but have yet to complete it. Today I walked the first few hundred yards at the start.