Whinburn Lodge, Hollins Lane, Utley, Keighley

RESIDENCE AND STABLING, KEIGHLEY - This work is in course of completion on a very fine site on the Whinburn Estate, overlooking the Aire Valley, and commanding extensive views. It is being carried out by local contractors for Prince Smith, Junior, Esq. [British Architect 28 April 1899 page 292]

“WHINBURN," KEIGHLEY, YORKSHIRE – The extensive alterations and additions carried out to "Whinburn," Keighley, were designed by Messrs. John W. Simpson, R.I.B.A., and Maxwell Ayrton, A.R.I.B.A., in consultation with Messrs. Moore and Crabtree, of Keighley, who assisted in superintending the erection of the work. The whole of the external walling is of local stone, and the great hall, as well as all internal window arches and many of the fireplaces, are also in the same material. During the building operations the original sixteenth-century panelling and fireplace from one of the rooms of East Riddlesden Hall, near Keighley, were fortunately secured from a London dealer and re-used in the drawing-room at "Whinburn," the celling of which was copied from the old ceiling of the room at Riddlesden, from whence the panelling was taken. Another very beautiful ceiling at Riddlesden was also reproduced for the drawing-room. The whole of the new joinery, including the flooring, ceiling joists, and the open roof to the hall, is of exceptionally fine old English oak, entirely hand-worked, and was supplied and carried out by Mr. C. Kerridge, jun., of Sturton Street, Cambridge, who bought the timber specially for this work from old buildings to be demolished. The general contractors were Messrs. Tom Moore and Son, of Keighley. Messrs. George Jackson and Sons were responsible for the special plaster work. The house is fitted with a system of vacuum cleaning by the British Vacuum Cleaning Company, driven by power from the electric light plant already installed before the alterations. The drawing herewith reproduced is hung on the line at the Royal Academy Exhibition this year, and we the give principal plan, which adds interest to the view. [Building News  June 1915 page 690-1]

The best of Keighley’s industrialist houses, in Arts and Crafts Old English style, built in two phases for textile machinery maker Sir Prince Smith. The original house is of 1897 by James Ledingham, of three storeys with gables. It was extended in 1912-1913 by Simpson and Ayrton of London with massive tower at one end and a baronial hall running out at right angles to the front, with a tall canted bay at its end and a canted porch in the corner. Big inglenook, gallery, and arch-braced roof inside the hall; heavy dog leg staircase with massive square newels and turned balusters; plaster ceilings in other rooms evidently made from casts of 17^th century originals. Elaborate garden of 1912-1913, possibly by Thomas Mawson, with terraces, pergola, and water features. [Pevsner: Buildings of England, Yorkshire West Riding page 363]