13 – Deaconess Court

 

Deaconess Court, on Queen’s Road, was originally built as boys’ boarding school, Ilkley College in 1869, however became a college for the Wesley Deaconess Order in 1902.  The college closed in 1968 and has since been converted into apartments

On 30 Oct 2008, precisely 106 years after the Wesley Deaconess College was opened the blue plaque was unveiled by Paul Grimley of Accent Yorkshire Ltd which in 2008 provided rented housing in Deaconess Court.  Attending the ceremony were Deacons of the Order returning to be reunited at the building where they worked and trained.

The timeline of DEACONESS COURT up to being converted to flats:

                                    1869-1898     Ilkley College

                                             1869-1879           Proprietor – Edward Sewell (1820-1887)

                                             1881-1893           Proprietor – Walter Jenkinson Kaye (1843-1919)

                                             1894-1897           Proprietor – Joseph Aloysius Skellon (1862-1947)

                                    1898-1902     Vacant

                                    1902-1968     Wesley Deaconess College

                                             1902-1907           Warden – Rev. Thomas Bowman Stephenson (1839-1912)

                                             1907-1920           Warden – Rev. William Bradfield (1859-1923)

                                             1920-1940           Warden – Rev. W. Russell Maltby (1866-1951)

                                             1940-1952           Warden – Rev. W. Harold Beales (1886-1967)

                                             1952-1964           Warden – Rev. Thomas Manser Morrow (1908-1974)

                                             1964-1968           Warden – Rev. Geoffrey Litherland (1911-1991)

                                    1968-              Converted to residential flats

THE ORIGINAL PLOT OF LAND

The land that Deaconess Court occupies today appears to cover Lots 46-49 that were auctioned off by William Middelton, Lord of the Manor, in his land sale on 5 June 1868.

The Ilkley Gazette on 11 June 1868 reported; Lot 46 purchased by John Hart, Bradford £155, Lot 47 purchased by Thos Hope £160, Lots 48 and 49 purchased by Mr Bartelmes, Bradford £170 and £290 respectively.

However, by the time the Deeds of Convenance were drawn up on 13 February 1869, Lots 46 and 47 were sold by Mr. Middelton to 1^st part – Thomas Campbell Hope, Bradford Architect, 2^nd part – John Taylor, Bradford Ironmonger and 3^rd part – Edward Sewell, Fulneck near Pudsey Schoolmaster.  Mr Sewell had Thomas Hope Architect Ilkley College and over time the College expanded to take in Lots 48 and 49 which were conveyed to Mr Ernest Emelius Bartelmes a stuff merchant of Bradford on 28 October 1868 along with Lot 63 by Mr Middelton.

MR. T. C. HOPE – THE ARCHITECT

Mr T C Hope was also responsible for Ardenlea, the home of George Thorpe, a Bradford Department Store owner, now called Thorpe Hall – See Blue Plaque 11 for further details of Mr. Hopes life.

DETAILS OF ILKLEY COLLEGE

1869-1879

Ilkley College (In Union with the Royal College of Preceptors, London) had been built specially for a select Educational Establishment by Mr. Edward Sewell, the Principal at a cost of £3,000.  It was advertised that the ‘Institution will combine all the advantages of a Public School, with the Personal Supervision of a Private one.  The number at present being limited to forty…’.  The College was opened on 11 October 1869 with 34 pupils.  The School-room, Lavatories, Bathrooms, and Dormitories, were large, lofty and well-ventilated, and replete with every modern appliance and convenience for the carrying on of a superior Middle-Class School.

The Ilkley Gazette on 21 October 1869 carried an article giving the following particulars of the college.

‘Its very picturesque outline is effectively broken by the numerous gables and dormers which are sufficiently varied, and yet preserve the harmony of the design. The most prominent feature is the castellated tower, of five storeys and the gable attached in the centre of the principal front, at the base of which is the entrance to the house. This is one of the best parts of the building and consists of a deeply recessed open porch, flanked by columns of polished Bradford stone, from the carved capitals of which spring richly moulded pointed arched vaulting.

The college proper is 42 feet by 21 feet and 14 feet high, lighted by six two-light windows at the sides and one three-light window at the end; the parts above the transome being in quartfoils. Every care has been taken to make the arrangements connected with this department and the dormitories perfect and complete in every detail of warming ventilating, baths, and lavatories.  The playground is large and conveniently situated on the south front of the college; stretching across the west end of the playground is to be a covered gymnasium, of ample dimensions, with a semi-detached Conservatory.  Ilkley stone has been used with trifling exceptions for the building, the walls being lined with brick in the most exposed fronts. It is slated with blue and red gate banded slates. The style of architecture is Gothic…

…the contractors: W. Barker, Ilkley, for Mason work; T. Robinson, Ilkley, joiners work; Plumbing, Messrs Sutcliffe and Wilkinson, Bradford; Plastering Howroyd and sons, Bradford; slating, Thornton, Shipley; And painting, Hall, Ilkley.’

A month after opening Mr Sewell, the principal, invited seventy ladies and gentlemen to the school-room to be entertained by the musical performances of the pupils assisted by Mr Sewell, Mrs Sewell, Mr H.B. Sewell, and two or three other gentlemen.  At the conclusion the Rev John Snowden, vicar of Ilkley addressed the boys on the importance and pleasures of a knowledge of music.  Mr Edward Sewell intimated that similar gatherings might be expected from time to time.

By 1871 50 pupils could be accommodated who were taught by four resident and four visiting masters, rising to generally eleven masters, six being resident during the whole of the 1870s.

In June 1873 Mr. Sewell had to issue a rebuttal about fever breaking out at the school...’A report having gained a wide circulation in Yorkshire and other places that the students of Ilkley College been dispersed to their several homes on account of the prevalence of fever, I can conscientiously give it the most unqualified denial. We have had nothing of the kind in the college; All our students are in good health, nor have we suffered for any contagious disease in any form since the opening of the college in 1869, nor even a symptom of anything of the sort, as the sanitary inspector for Ilkley (Dr. Scott) can testify’.

By the end of 1877 Mr Sewell was advertising that 417 prizes and certificates in the University Local, Science and Art Examinations since opening.  The Post Office directory of 1877 gave the following glowing description: ‘the excellent system of training adopted in the College, its lovely situation, and the completeness of all the internal arrangements, have been the theme of admiration amongst all parents and hundreds of others who have had the pleasure of looking over the establishment: considerable additions are being made, consisting of a new wing, observatory tower, gymnasium and art room; the observatory tower will be 16 feet square and 90 feet high to the battlements, with an octagon room on the top 12 feet in diameter to receive one of Messrs. Cook and Sons’ equatorial telescopes inside a revolving cone; the new wing will be five storeys high, running north and south, its length being 80 feet, including a new large lavatory and bath room, each 20 feet square: the covered gymnasium will be 50 feet long and 15 feet high.  The staff of masters are at present six in residence and five non-resident: the classes are arranged to secure primarily a sound practical commercial education including the modern languages; secondly preparation for professional life – these include the study of English, geography, history, arithmetic, mathematics, Latin, Greek and the modern languages, with drawing, music, chemistry and natural philosophy: a Philosophical Society has been formed in the College to promote the study of the natural science, botany, natural history and philology.’

However financially matters were not so good and in November 1879 Mr E. Sewell and Ilkley College went into liquidation.  At the creditors meeting held in December 1879, the total liabilities were stated to be £8,400; of this sum £5,800 was secured upon the College property, and the balance £2,600, consisted of miscellaneous debts.  After a considerable amount of discussion, it was resolved to accept the offer of a composition of 7s. 6d., to be paid in three separate instalments of 2s. 6d. at 8, 16 and 24 months from the date of the meeting.

In Feb 1880 the Ilkley College Estate was put on the market ‘important to Principals of Collegiate, Hydropathic, Charitable or any public institution’… consisting of ‘noble piles of Buildings’… The auction was not successful as the estate was put up for auction by Dacre and Son in May that year, and then for Sale or to Let by Markland and Davey, Leeds’s solicitors in July 1880.  It was not until July 1881 that it was announced that Walter James Kaye, a Member of the Society of Friends, of Holly Bank College, Harrogate was taking the establishment for educational purposes with the term starting on 13^th September.

EDWARD SEWELL (1820-1887)

Edward Sewell was born at Fulneck, Nov. 8th, 1820 with a twin sister Eliza and they were two of five siblings. His father William, a tailor died in 1822 when Edward was an infant.  Edward became the special charge of his mother Hannah. The family were members of the Moravian Church in Fulneck and Edward was intended for the ministry, and his early education was conducted with that aim; but circumstances occurred which diverted him to the teaching profession. He began to teach in the Sabbath school of Fulneck United Brethren (Moravian) Baptists when only 14 years old.  In 1842, aged 22 he was entrusted with the headmastership of the day school in Fulneck, a post he held for 27 years.

Whilst in Fulneck Mr. Sewell, as well holding positions of honour and trust in the Moravian Church, including conductor of the choral society and chief bandmaster.  In connection with the Church’s Century Jubilee celebration, at Fulneck, Mr. Sewell composed a "Cantata", which was performed on April 21st, 1855.  For 16 years he was the Hon. Secretary of the Fulneck Literary Union, and promoted and formed the Calverley District Waterworks Company, of which he was the first secretary, and he laid the first pipe of the high-level scheme in 1865.

Edward married Mary Elizabeth Sykes (1821-1861) on 15^th May 1850 at Calverley Parish Church.  He had two children with Mary, Harold Bartholdy (1851-1922), and Samuel William Oswald (1853-1906).  After Mary Elizabeth died in 1861 Edward Sewell married Jane Elizabeth Crowther (1839-1898) and had two further children Dunstan Edward Beethoven (1865-1949) and Ada Mary Victoria (1867-1940).

In the year 1869, the family moved to Ilkley and established Ilkley College for boarders and in 1871 the census they are at the college, where Harold Bartholdy is an assistant master and Samuel William a Surveyor and Engineer, the other two children being scholars.  In Ilkley Edward served for some years upon the Local Board and the Board of Guardians.

In 1854 Edward Sewell joined the Grand United Order of Oddfellows and in 1860 after attending the general meeting in Keighley he took a keen interest in the Order and Friendly Societies and was appointed editor of the ‘Magazine’.  From 1869 to 1871 Edward Sewell was Grand Master of the Order.  whilst residing at Ilkley College.  He visited Italy and had the honour of an introduction, as Grand Master of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, to the Pope Pius IX., who dismissed him with the remark: ‘I have been pleased to meet you.-your works of charity and love have preceded you here,--go on in the great work in which you are engaged; for charity knows no religion, no country, and heaven will assuredly bless you. Farewell.’ In 1875 he published his writings in book form dedicated to Lord Iddesleigh, then Chancellor of the Exchequer who in 1875 introduced the Friendly Societies Act.

After the liquidation of Ilkley College in 1879, Mr. Sewell moved with the family (except for son Samuel) to Methven College, later known as Grange College in Grange Over Sands.  He was Principal of Grange College, with three resident masters and with students being limited to twenty-four, all Boarders.  His claim was that during the past 12 years (that is his time at Ilkley College mainly), 52 Students had been successful in London University Matric., Oxford and Cambridge Local Exam., Royal College of Surgeons, Pharmaceutical and Preliminary Law Exams, besides 504 in Science and Art and 12 in Music, Trinity College, London.

Edward Sewell returned to Fulneck just a over a year before his death, having had several attacks of paralysis, and died there in 1887.

Of his children that had lived at the College in Ilkley, Harold Bartholdy never married and after supporting his father as an assistant master he is recorded as living in Leeds an Organist in 1911 and a retired Clerk from H Wiley Wool Merchant, Bradford just before his death in 1922.  Samuel William Oswald in 1881 was in Victoria, Australia when he married Lilly Gregg D’Orange H Johnson, moving to Melbourne in 1885 and at some point to Otago in New Zealand as by 1902, at the age of 49, his occupation is listed as clerk in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. He died on 5 January 1906, in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, at the age of 52, and was buried in Riverton, Southland, Southland, New Zealand.  Dunstan Edward Beethoven and Ada Mary Victoria in 1891 were living in Barrow-in-Furness with Dunstan a Bankers Clerk.  In 1897 Dunstan married Annie Jane Morton and in 1901 living in Hawcoat, Barrow-in-Furnace still as a banker’s clerk with a son.  In 1911 a Bank Manager in lodging in Ambleside with his wife and two youngest children in Kirkby Lonsdale.  By 1921 they had all moved to Ambleside where Dunston was the Bank Manager for The Manchester and Liverpool District Bank.  In 1938 he remarried as a widower to Catharine May Morris and hence lived in Bournemouth, before he died at The Astoria Nursing home in Colwyn Bay in 1949. Ada Mary Victoria married William Pilkington a Paper Salesman for Olive & Partington Ltd in 1893.  After living in Leeds, they retired to Colwyn Bay where Ada died in 1940.

DETAILS OF ILKLEY COLLEGE

1881-1893

 

Mr Kaye opened the College with seven resident and non-resident master’s and special prominence given to Science and Art.  In June 1882 a junior department, for day boys, under ten years of age was commenced as a Junior School, preparatory to the more advanced classes, with fees being two-and-a-half Guineas per term.  Also, at some point Mr Kaye opened a Kindergarten.

The 1893 The Century’s Progress – Yorkshire gave the following description of Ilkley College shortly before, in October 1893, Mr. Kaye moved back to Harrogate to run Pembroke House College, and the Ilkley College Estate was once again put on the market.

The building in which this well-known Yorkshire college is carried on by its principal, Mr. Walter J. Kaye, M.A., was built and opened in 1869 at a cost of about £15,000, and it was enlarged and considerably added to in 1874. The premises comprise no less than fifty different rooms and occupy a commanding situation. With its two towers, one six storeys high, surmounted by an observatory with revolving roof, the college presents an imposing appearance. The college hall, science hall, dormitories, dining-hall, &c., are all heated by patent apparatus, and all the rooms are spacious, lofty, and well ventilated, accommodation being provided for sixty pupils. The finely printed prospectus issued by the principal gives numerous views of the college and its various apartments and shows these to be handsomely built and equipped in the most approved modern style. In addition to the usual scholastic buildings, there is provided a laboratory, workshop, library, large gymnasium, a cricket-field, lawn-tennis ground, &c. pupils are prepared for the London University and other examinations, and special attention is paid to French, German, Science, Mathematics.

The college is conducted under the personal superintendence of its principal, with duly qualified assistants, and it should be mentioned that Mr. Kaye has had over thirty years’ experience in tuition. For some years he was specially engaged by the committee of Ackworth School, near Pontefract, to direct the studies of the junior masters in Greek, Latin, French, and Mathematics. In various public competitive examinations, his pupils have been most successful; they gained no less than fifty-six certificates (including honours and specials) in such examinations during the summer of 1892. One senior scholarship (annual value, £30) and one junior scholarship (annual value, £20) are offered for competition each year, and each is tenable for three years. The fees payable are distinctly moderate, and it will be seen from what we have said that Ilkley College offers many advantages to those seeking a place where they may be certain that their sons will receive, at the hands of competent instructors, and amidst the most healthy surroundings, a sound modern education, such as shall fit them to take their places in the business of life. And amongst these advantages must not be overlooked the high repute of Ilkley as a health resort, the, purity and bracing quality of the air, the beauty and charming variety of its walks and scenery, the excellence of its water supply, and the lowness of its deathrate being borne witness to by dozens of competent authorities.

WALTER JENKINSON KAYE (1843-1919)

Mr. Kaye was born in Shepley in 1843 to Uriah and Ann Kaye, Uriah was a Boot, Shoe and Clogg maker.  He went to the Quaker schools at Rawdon School for five years and then at Ackworth, a Quaker Boarding School for 13 years both as a scholar and teacher.  After this Mr. Kaye studied at Flounders College, matriculating at London University in 1867, and was appointed subsequently to re-open the Society of Friends School at Newton-in-Bowland in 1868.  Three years later he was invited to return to Ackworth Schools where he stayed until 1876, when Mr. Kaye opened a private boarding school, Holly Bank College, Harrogate.

In 1869 he married Ann Isabel Watson (1844-1873) and had two children with Ann, Walter Jenkinson Jnr (1870-1935), Edith Jane (1871-1965), before her death in 1873. Mr. Kaye the in 1875 married Louisa Broadhead in 1875, and had two more children, Arnold Joseph (1876-1964), Edward Percy (1877-1953).

In 1881 Mr. Kaye undertook the Principalship of Ilkley College and whilst in Ilkley proceeded to his degree as a Bachelor of Arts at Dublin University in 1888 and in 1891 was created a Master of Arts by the same university.  In 1882 he wrote and published The History of Rawdon School, however Mr Kaye was also a well-known poet and in 1891 he published The Leading Poets of Scotland, which was the first time the subject had been written on

Mr. Kaye was elected to Fellowships of the Royal Society of Literature, the Royal Historical Society, and numerous other literary and scientific bodies and an active worker for social reforms, taking special interest in temperance work and the British and Foreign Bible Society.  He also found time to travel, having visited Egypt, Turkey and South Russia amongst other places.  As a prominent Freemason he was a Master of the Olicana Lodge in Ilkley.

In 1893 on leaving Ilkley College, he moved to Pembroke, Park View, Harrogate where he ran a school and then continued to live there until 1919 when he died and was buried at Harlow Hill Cemetery.

Walter Jenkinson Jnr studied at Durham University and was a renowned antiquarian who was on the Council of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society and secretary to the Yorkshire Parish Registers Society and the Yorkshire Monumental Brass Society.  He lived in Harrogate until about 1930 when he moved to London working at the British Museum as a transcriber of Medieval documents.

Edith Jane in 1891 was a Kindergarten Teacher at Ilkley College, and by 1911 whilst living at Pembroke, 9 Park View, Harrogate was Headmistress of Private Girls School which were still her occupation and residence in 1921.  She remained at 9 Park View until about 1932 moving to 8 Hamilton Avenue, Harrogate and staying there until her death in 1965.

Arnold Joseph whilst at Ilkley College signed up for the Law Examinations and by 1901 was a Solicitor in Ilford.  In 1921 Arnold is the Professional assistant to H.M. Procurator and Treasurer Solicitor (Civil Servant).  On retirement he is living in 1939 with his brother Edward in Welwyn Garden City however when he dies in 1964 has returned to Ilford.

Edward Percy obtained a Master of Science from Manchester University in 1907, having been an assistant lecturer in Mathematics and Physics at Leeds University in its first year 1903-4.  Edward appears to have been a Science Master in Edinburgh where he was clerk to the Edinburgh Society of friends before retiring to Welwyn Garden City where he died in 1953.

Both Arnold and Edward were Sibford (Quacker Boarding School) old scholars and past presidents of the Old Scholars Association, with Edward being secretary 1903-12 and president in 1909-10 and the year of his death.

DETAILS OF ILKLEY COLLEGE

1894-1897

 

The estate was put up for auction in October 1893 however it did not sell and was rented to Mr. Joseph Aloysius Skellon for five years at £200 per annum to be Ilkley College (Roman Catholic) formerly Academy of St. Paulinus, Catterick.  The Academy had been established in 1854 and run by Joseph’s father Mr. Thomas Skellon.  Joseph had taken over the Catterick school in 1891 before removing to Ilkley.

The College was opened towards the end of August 1894, under Special Patronage of His Lordship the Bishop of Leeds, with Mr. Joseph A. Skellon as Principal, a Religious Doctrine Director (Rev. A. Galli),

English, French and Latin (Mr. Thomas Skellon), 3 other resident Masters and Drill, Gymnastics and Discipline (Serj. J. Dunworth).  The course of studies included Preparatory (for little Boys of from 6 to 10) and preparing older Boys (from 10 to 16 or 17) thoroughly for professional or commercial life.  Commercial studies were arranged according to the syllabus of the London Chamber of Commerce and Professional studies for the preparation for the Preliminary Examinations, Civil Service (Boy Clerkships).  Fees were to be ‘very moderate and inclusive’ with day Boys from £6 per annum, according to age.  By 1896 there were about 100 students.

Mr J. Skellon ultimately purchased Ilkley College for £4,000, the money being advanced by his bankers and subsequent two other loans were made under mortgage.

Unfortunately for the second time in the life of the college the principal was unable to make the school’s finances work and in 1897 Mr Joseph Aloysius Skellon (the newspaper mis-spelt his name) was declared bankrupt with hearings taking place in early January 1898.  At the first meeting he declared net liabilities of £2,354 with 80 or 90 writs or summons against him.

JOSEPH ALYOSIUS SKELLON (1862-1947)

Joseph was born 13 April 1862 at The Cottage, Brough Park, Catterick to Thomas and Elizabeth Skellon. Thomas ran the Academy of St. Paulinus in Catterick and Joseph was a graduate of the Academy before going in the 1880s to Stonyhurst College, Blackburn the oldest Jesuit boarding school in the country and at this time undergoing significant improvements.

In 1891 Joseph married Teresa Elizabeth Rickaby and they had three children Paulinus (1892-????) born in Catterick, Joan (1896-1982) born at Ilkley College and Mary Gwendoline (1898-1964) born in Boston Spa after leaving Ilkley College.  Joseph’s wife, Teresa, died not long after Mary was born in 1899.

Following the Ilkley College Bankruptcy Joseph moves to Wharfedale College, Boston Spa and then by 1901 is an assistant school master living in Richmond Park Road, Bournemouth with his children and his mother Elizabeth.

In 1902 Joseph married Eleanor Mabel Pugh Cleverdon at The Oratory of the Sacred Heart, Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, and went on to have a further seven children.  In 1911 he was assistant Preparatory School Master at St Anthony’s School in Eastbourne and by 1921 a Private Tutor back in Bournemouth where he appears to live until his death in 1947.

Of the children who lived at Ilkley College the eldest son Paulinus, appears to have adopted the name Paul Edward and in the first world war served as a Second Lieutenant in Hampshire Regiment, Indian Army, Indian Army Reserve of Officers.  In 1918 after the war, he married Gertrude Irene Barclay an Indian born British subject in Bombay India before returning to Islington, London working as a Motor Engineer and Traveller For Motor Tyres for R. Sanderson and import, export merchant of Oxford Street.  In 1926 Paul started acting in small parts at the British International Film Studios at Elstree.  He acted with Jack Hulbert and Leslie Fuller and among the numerous productions in which he took parts was “Blackmail”(uncredited) the first British “talkie”.  He left the acting side of the film industry and became a salesman demonstrating “talkie” apparatus and after a short period he moved in cinema theatre management in 1932 in a small theatre in Hammersmith.  He went on to manage cinemas at Epsom, Leatherhead and Aylesbury before going in to the Royal Fusiliers in 1939.  He was released from the Army on medical grounds in 1942 and joined Odeon Theatres in Derby, and subsequently worked managed Forresters Odeon, Bethnal Green (second oldest musical hall in Great Britain), Camberwell and the Astoria, Brixton before eventually taking charge of Odeon Spalding in 1951 from which he retired in 1962.  In 1966, after his wife died in 1965 Paul travelled to Australia (where his son Peter lived) via South Africa (where his daughter lived).

Joan Skellon married Ernest Frederic Hooper (1869-1937), director of Messrs. Waller and Son Ltd, Pheonix Iron Works Thrupp near Stroud in May 17 1934. She died in Barnstaple Devon.

DETAILS OF ILKLEY COLLEGE

1898-1902
VACANT PERIOD

In May 1898 the College Estate was put up for auction once again however split into two Lots.  Lot 1 being the College and its grounds and Lot 2 a plot of 12.058 square yards of building land opposite the college.  Although the bidding for Lot 1 reached £3,500 this was not sufficient to secure a sale of the College, however Mr T. Horsman, of Ilkley and Bradford purchased Lot 2 for 3s 4d per yard.

The College was advertised To Be Let or Sold in June and September 1900 and like 1879 it was said the property might be converted into a first-class Hydropathic Establishment, large Hotel, Boarding House, Hospital, or other Institution.

Ilkley’s Dr. Spence (after whom Spence’s Gardens is named), considered using the property as a hydro.  However, following testing the water he was unable to raise the funds to purchase it.  The Gymnasium continued to be used as Miss Appleby’s Ladies Gym Classes and the Chapel was used by the Baptists until around 1900.

WESLEY DEACONESS COLLEGE

1902-1968

There are two books that provide most of the information required to understand the Wesleyan Deaconess College.

The first The Life of the Reverend Thomas Bowman Stephenson, who not only founded the Wesley Deaconess Order but also ‘The Children’s Home’.  This is written Willam Bradfield who took over as Warden of the Deaconess College from Rev. Stephenson in 1907.  This is available to read for free from amongst other sources The Internet Archive – click on the cover page - or on this link. https://archive.org/details/lifeofreverendth00brad/page/n7/mode/2up

The other is Saved to Serve: The story of the Wesley Deaconess Order 1890-1978, by E. Dorothy Graham

Below is just a summary that has been collated from these two books.

1902-1907
Rev. Thomas Bowman Stephenson (1839-1912)

At the 1900 Wesley Conference Dr. Stephenson resigned as Principal of The Children’s Home, however he still believed himself to be still capable of service as a circuit minister and declared himself ready to take an appointment from the Conference in the ordinary course. After some negotiations with other places, it was decided that he should be appointed as Superintendent to the Ilkley Circuit in September 1900.  In addition, he continued his work with the Wardenship of the Wesley Deaconess Order.  At this time the Order’s headquarters was Mewburn House in London with additional training facilities in Calvert House, Leicester.  With extra accommodation being required for training deaconesses, Dr. Stephenson now based in Ilkley, and wishing to commit full time to the Order he desired for the headquarters to be close by.

In February 1902 Ilkley College was purchased for £4,500.  £3,000 was donated by two business friends of Dr. Stephenson and along with eventually a grant of £3,000 from the Twentieth Century Fund in 1903 there was sufficient funds for the purchase and the necessary alterations to establish the Wesley Deaconess College.

The College was to provide accommodation for the Offices of the Order, the residence of the Warden & the training of 27 Students.  In addition, it was designed to be the Mother House of the Order and provide a Home for the Deaconess-Evangelists and for other members of the Order who might need rest.  In 1902 Rev. Stephenson moved out of the Ilkley Manse and into the Wardens residence.

Despite workmen still putting finishing touches to the building the first 17 students started their studies on 30 September 1902 and the official opening, slightly delayed, was on 30 October and conducted by the President of Conference, Rev. John Shaw Banks.

In these first few years in Ilkley Rev. Stephenson managed to advance and finalise the building of the Wesley Assembly Hall on Wells Road, now Chapel House (see Blue Plaque No. 9)

By 1907 Rev. Stephenson was advised by his doctors to retire and the Methodist Conference that year on accepting this documented … ‘As the Founder and Principal of the Children's Home and Orphanage in the first place, and as the Founder and Warden of the Wesley Deaconess Order and Institute in the second place, he has accomplished a work which is unique in the history of Methodism …’.  Dr. and Mrs. Stephenson retired to Clare Bank, Dollis Park, Church End, Finchley.. He died in 1912 and was He was laid to rest in the City of London Cemetery at Ilford, in the plot of ground set apart for those who had died at the Children’s Home.

His Earlier Life

Thomas Bowman was born the youngest of six children to John Stephenson, who had been appointed a Wesley missionary to the West Indies in 1823 until 1828 when he married Mary Bowman.  They were from county Durham and had corresponded throughout his time in the West Indies.  The plan was for both to return to the West Indies but circumstances meant John ended up minister in the Shetland Isles instead.  After three years on the Islands, they returned to England.

With his father moving around due to placements Thomas was schooled at Beford Charity School, Edward VI Grammar School, Louth and Dudley Grammar School before attending Wesley College Sheffield.  At the age of 14, whilst at the college he met Ellen Lupton, whom he afterwards married. She was the youngest daughter of Mr. John Lupton, cloth manufacturer, a prominent Bramley Methodist.

On leaving Wesley College, Thomas was accepted Richmond College, London to train for the ministry as well to undertake an Arts Course at the University of London.  His probationary years were at Norwich and Manchester Grosvenor Street before being ordained in 1864, the same year as his marriage to Ellen Lupton.  His first appointment was at Droylesden then Bolton followed by Lambeth in 1868.

In 1869 whilst at Lambeth along with Francis Horner and Mr. Alfred William Mager, Rev. Stephenson canvas for and established “The Childrens’ Home”, The object of which is to rescue children who, through the death or vice or extreme poverty of their parents, are in danger of falling into criminal ways.

In 1872 he went to Canada and set up a home in Hamilton where children could be sent to rehoming whilst in the UK a number of homes were set up an The Childrens’ Homes expanded significantly.  Throughout the 1870s Rev. Stephenson advocated and promoted the training of both men and women for work in the church, especially recognising the German ideal of Deaconesses.

It was not until 1890 that he established the Wesley Deaconess Institute to train Christian women for the service of Christ's Church at Mewborn House, 82 Bonner Road, London, the same year as his wife died.  In 1892 he was President of the Methodist Conference.

Rev. Stephenson married Sister Ella Macpherson in Feb 1893 and throughout the 1890s continued his work as a Circuit Superintendent, running The Childrens’ Home (both in the UK and influencing similar activities in Canada and America), and the Wesley Deaconess Institute before moving to Ilkley.

The following are the numbers of Deaconesses in 1907 showing the growth from the start in 1890

5 Officers of the Institute | 2 maintain and manage Doddington Home of Rest | 80 employed in circuits; 20 in London | 37 engaged in Central Missions; 8 in London | 15 engaged in Foreign Missionary work | 2 Deaconess-Evangelists | 3 at home for health of family  claims | 10 either qualified or probationer nurses | 19 Student-probationers for College Training during 1907.

 

1907-1920
Rev. William Bradfield (1859-1923)

Rev. William Bradfield was one of three names submitted as Rev. Stephenson’s successor.  Upon appointment he was given the same entitlement to allowances as a minister in circuit, £200 and £258 was approved for refurbishments of the House and furnishing.  He was also appointed Chairman of the Halifax and Bradford District (1907-23).

There was an additional sitting room with a fireplace, mantle shelf and tiled hearth installed for visiting and sick members of the order.

Rev. and Mrs Bradfield were welcomed as the new Warden and Lady Superintendent in September 1907.added to the two already at the college.  Over the first few years Rev. Bradfield proposed improvements to the facilities, however finances were not available.  By 1910 though the heating system was overhauled and the gymnasium adapted for use as a lecture room.

At the 1920 Conference Rev. Bradfield’s resignation from the post of Warden was accepted.  During his tenure the numbers of Deaconesses had increased to 277 from 156 with the vision of ‘a Ministry of Women, parallel to the Ministry of Men, and complimentary to it, and worthy of the best service that women of Methodism could give’ wrote the incoming warden Rev. Maltby in Rev. Bradfield’s obituary of 1923.

On retirement William Bradfield moved to 11, Staveley Road, Nab Wood, Shipley where he died.  On his death his wife purchased 14 Oakburn Road, Ilkley just down the road from the College.

William Bradfield originated from Gailey’s Mill, Kingsclere, Hampshire a son of a miller and famer; was educated at Headingley College; took a B.A. degree at the University of London and entered the ministry in 1884.  He held many important posts, including special circuit appointments at both Oxford and Cambridge.  He also held the post of Sub-Warden to the Deaconess Order prior to 1900.  It was on the termination of his ministry at Cambridge that he was appointed Warden to the Wesley Deaconess Institute in 1907.

Rev. Bradfield married Annie Mary Lanning (1864-1946) in 1888, and they had three surviving children.  The eldest James (1889-1962) became a farm labourer at Gaol Farm, Pirbright near Guilford and does not appear to have lived in the College, whereas Walter Lanning (1892-1916) and Frances Beatrice (1895-1967) were both residents at Deaconess Court with their parents.

Following William’s death his wife moved to 14 Oakburn Road from 1923 until 1926, when she moved to 1 Church Circle, Farnborough to live with her daughter.  Annie remained there until she died in 1946

Walter Bradfield was educated as a day boy at the Leys School, Cambridge from 1902 and then at Bradford Grammar School when the family moved to Ilkley, before going to Jesus College, Oxford in 1911, graduating in History in July 1914.

He joined the Leeds Pals in 1914 and was killed by a German Shell 5 December 1916.  Click on the picture for a more detailed biography.

https://www.bradfordgrammar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/WW1-biography-Walter-Lanning-Bradfield-5-December-1916.pdf

Occasionally his residence is given as 14 Oakburn Road, however this is the address where his mother lived when she applied for the memorial recognition at Couin British cemetery in France.

 

Frances Bradfield in 1914 ‘came up’ to Newnham College, Cambridge and in 1917 graduated with a second-class BA degree in Mathematics.  Shortly afterwards around 1919 she joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) as a technical assistant aeronautical engineer in the Model Airplane Test Wind Tunnels.  Frances worked her whole career at RAE Farnborough specialising in wind tunnel research.  Bradfield's earliest published research at the RAE - credited gender-ambiguously to "F.B. Bradfield" - was published in December 1919 on "Wind channel test of Bristol Pullman body." During her first decade and beyond, Bradfield published her wind tunnel research prolifically, publishing two research papers most years.

In the early 1930s Francis worked with George Douglas then Head of Wind Tunnels at RAE Farnborough as his mathematician. Her job was to liaise between Hermann Glauert, then Head of Aerodynamics Department, and Douglas. Glauert was killed in an accident in 1934, and so Douglas was appointed Head of Aerodynamics Department and Bradfield became the Head of Wind Tunnels (more informally known as the small wind tunnel section of the model research department), a role she held for the remainder of the 1930s and throughout World War II with the title of Senior Scientific Officer.  In 1941 Francis was one of the two female Associate Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society doing "important work" at RAE Farnborough.   Bradfield became a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) in 1944 and won their Bronze Medal (for aeronautical design, with unique experience of experiments with aeroplanes in wind tunnels) in 1948 having already in being awarded an OBE in recognition of her role as Principal Scientific Officer at RAE Farnborough.

Francis was credited with mentoring many of the young men and women at RAE including Beatrice Shilling (Revolutionised the 1940 Rolls Royce / Merlin Spitfire and Hurricane engines) and Joanna Weber (Mathematician who was instrumental in the development of Concorde).  A former colleague, John Green described Bradfield, known as 'Miss B.', as "an exacting but kindly boss who had a powerful influence on the generation of young graduates who were posted into Aerodynamics Department at the beginning of the war – an influence that they carried with them through their later careers into senior positions...’

Francis Bradfield died in Poole in 1967 and her biography was published by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography on 9 May 2019, as part of their support for the Women's Engineering Society's centenary.

1920-1940

Rev. W. Russell Maltby (1866-1951)

William Russell Maltby and his wife were welcomed to the college in October 1920.  His appointment came after the Wesleyan Conference had considered the ‘desirability’ of the appointment of a suitable women as Warden’, however they concluded the constitution did not provide for it and that only a minister in full connexion with the Conference could discharge the duties but that when the occasion arises in the future the Constitution could be amended to secure a Women Warden.  It was not until 1980 that Sister Yvonne Hunkin was appointed!

Like Rev. Bradfield, Rev. Maltby proposed alterations to the fabric of the building and in 1921-22, the old library was divided into four bedrooms, a study and bathroom, while the old Committee Room was turned into a new Library and the original prayer room restored to its proper use.  Electric lighting was also installed.

In 1932 the College purchased 5 Queens Road (today no.7 and previously called Albert House) and Rev. Maltby and his wife Catherine and daughters Nancy and Jessie moved in.

Rev Maltby was deeply involved in the negotiations for the Methodist Union in the late 1920s and early 1930s especially where it concerned the Wesley Deaconess Order.  The colleges of the combining churches had good relations and were united relatively easily with Rev. Maltby appointed Warden.

In 1938 a proposal to increase the number of study bedrooms by 14 and a large lecture room was approved and ‘The Maltby Wing’ was built in 1939 for around £4,000, although the proposed official opening ceremony in September was cancelled due to the outbreak of war.

As well as Warden of the College, Dr. W Russell Maltby was president of the Methodist Conference in 1926 and played a leading part in modernising methodism in the 1920s and 30s.  Lecture tours in connection with the Student Christian Movement and the Wesleyan Foreign Missionary Committee took him to India, Burma, Ceylon, West Africa and Australia.

In 1940 Rev. Maltby retired due to ill health, and maintained contact with the Order, settling locally in St Fillans on Grove Road (no.23), Ilkley.  He is buried in Ilkley Cemetary.  During his tenure as Warden some 250 deaconesses were trained under him.

1940-1952

Rev. W. Harold Beales (1886-1967)

Rev. Beales was a persuasive preacher, a pacifist and skilful conference leader, he held a roving commission with the Home Mission Department, 1934-40 prior to being appointed Warden of the Wesley Deaconess Order. His most distinctive work was done at Cambridge (1924-1930) where he initiated the Cambridge Group movement. Undergraduates, dons and local church members met in fellowships (similar to the traditional class meetings), retreats and projects for Christian action. The movement became 'Methsoc' and spread to other universities and colleges, influencing many future Church leaders.

During the war more opportunities for women in new areas of work, such as youth work and moral welfare meant that even with the Maltby Wing more accommodation was needed in Ilkley and in 1945 the College purchased Linnburn for £2,650 adding a hostel for 15 extra students and a caretaker’s flat.

Rev. Beales saw the Order through the war and the difficulty post-war years and retired in 1952.  He returned to Cambridge and died there on 17 September 1967.

1952 was the 50^th Jubilee of the College and a Celebration meeting arranged in Ilkley.  The accompanying programme included the following description ‘The Shape of the original building remains: visitors climb the winding steps to the tower, admire (an perhaps ring) the big bell in the corridor which rouses sleeping students at 6-30 am, the students’ common room is the room in which the first students in 1902 met to sew curtains and cushions for the not yet fully furnished building … The old cubicles have been largely replaced by study bedrooms … ‘.

1952-1964
Rev. Thomas Manser Morrow (1908-1974)

 

Rev. Thomas M Morrow was born in Kennington, London and entered the ministry in 1928.

Shortly after appointment the bedroom and library were updated, however a small fire in 1956 identified that the chimney serving the central heating system was dangerous.  Investigation revealed that the building needed a major structural overhaul.  An option was the closure of the college but that was not required.

Recruitment had fallen so much that in September 1960, Linnburn Hostel was temporarily closed, and was eventually leased to Ilkley College of Education from 1966-1968.

Following retirement as Warden Rev. Morrow was the Chairman of the West Yorkshire District from 1965 until his death in 1974.

1964-1968
Rev. Geoffrey Litherland (1911-1991)

Having entered the ministry in 1935, training at Wesley College Headingley, Rev Geoffery Litherland spent 22 years in the ministry before in 1957 he was appointed Principal of Queen’s College, Nassau in the Bahamas.  His mission was to move the College from its dilapidated state to new buildings and the make it a racially integrated establishment.  His obituary noted ‘In the face of much opposition, difficulties and delays the school was built and under his guidance became a centre of excellence in academic, artistic and sporting spheres for black and white Bahamian, Greek, Chinese, American and British children’

Unfortunately for the Ilkley College there was a continuing decline in the numbers of candidates and the introduction of a third year of specialised training meant a fundamental change to the Order.  In 1965 the deaconesses started sharing lectures with the Wesley College, Headingley, Leeds ministerial students.  However, at this time the whole future of the Ministerial Training Department and its theological colleges was being considered.  Conference in 1966 decided to close the Headingley college and discussions about the likelihood of selling the Ilkley property were undertaken.  By the end of 1967 the Deconess Order decided to move to Handsworth College, Birmingham.

Ilkley College closed on 14^th June 1968 and the sale of it and the other property associated with it for £24,000 was completed in October that year.  The furniture from the College Chapel went on loan to Eastbrook Hall, Bradford and eventually in 1985 was transferred to Christchurch, Ilkley.

Rev. Geoffrey Litherland continued as the Warden of the Order until 1972.

The Wesley Deaconess Order in the late 1970s and early 1980s struggled along with declining candidates until there were none in 1978-9.  However, in 1986 the Wesley Deaconess Order was reopened to both women and men, which led to the Methodist Conference in 1988 renaming the order as the Methodist Diaconal Order and continues today (2024).

Ilkley Local History Hub would like to hear from people with pictures or information about Deaconess Court/Wesley Deaconess College/Ilkley College - localhistory@civicsociety.ilkley.org