Ilkley Villas Walk
After the railway arrived in Ilkley in 1865 and then the land sales from 1867 the few thatched cottages of the village were swept away for new wide streets and stone terraces and villas. In 1870 Green Lane, on the east to west Roman road, became The Grove and new elegant streets were laid out leading up south towards the moor. PICTURE OF GROVE GARDENS
1. Start on The Grove at The Grove Garden, a sensory garden, at the bottom of Parish Ghyll Road, and walk up Parish Ghyll Road By 1871 this was a gated street described as ‘the Belgravia of the North’ in the Ilkley Gazette. On the left Dutch-gabled Hopewell Terrace faces the large Netherton semis set in gardens. Near the top of the road on the left, Ilkley High School erected in 1869 in stone retains a plaque. The houses opposite were named to reflect this was once an area of ‘fine oak trees’. On the top left corner isAcorn Mount [Greenways] designed in 1894 by Alex G Adkin. Opposite is a woodland park planted from 1897 for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
2. At the top of Parish Ghyll Road turn right to walk along Parish Ghyll Drive. Cross Oakburn Road and continue along Parish Ghyll Drive On the right is Ashburn House from the late 1860s with a long stone boundary wall. On the left is the boundary wall of 1870 Ferndale, standing at the junction with Princess Road. Ferndale was built by the Leeds architect William Hill for himself. On the right at the corner was a tall oak tree. One Oak House was built in the 1880s. A large garden leads to the stream in the ravine.
3. At the next junction leave Parish Ghyll Drive, turn second left to walk down Wilton Road These detached semis and large terrace houses were built in the 1890s.
4. At the bottom of Wilton Road turn left to walk along Grove Road On the right are the boundary walls of the 1870s Summerfield, home of the Cooke family until the 1930s, and 1890s Warlbeck. On the left are the gardens of 1890 semis and detached Inglehurst from 1880s.
5. At Heath Park turn left walk up to the middle to look back Opposite is Heathcote. It was built in 1906-08 on the site of 1880s Rose Mount and Heathcote for JT Hemmingway. He was a successful businessman who, starting as warehouseman, eventually owned Geo Richardson & Co Ltd - a worsted cloth merchants in Bradford. Heathcote and all its furnishings was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The garden was probably designed by Gertrude Jekyll.
6. Return to Grove Road, proceed west past Shannon Close and Grove Avenue On the right, after the hedge, is the stone boundary wall of 1890s Southern Hey, renamed as Glen Rosa before 1912, by Mr Ackroyd. Grove Avenue was built in the early 1900s by Ilkley builders Pease & Co.
7. At the cross-roads. turn right to walk down Victoria Avenue A house, Sunwood, on right by Milnes & France, and another on the left, the 1898 house The Briery for Sidney Kellett by AG Adkin.
8. At the next junction turn right to walk along Kings Road towards Ilkley centre On the left are mainly 1890s houses designed by Ilkley architect Alex G Adkin. On the right are stone walls from the back of the of the Grove Road houses, including the the rear of Heathcote.
9. Pass Easby Drive and continue along Kings Road Elmleigh and the other large houses down Easby Drive were built in the 1870s by George Smith. On right was the 1890s house, Warlbeck, home of FB Muff of Brown & Muff store, Bradford.
10. Turn right onto South Parade, walk to the end to Grove Road A street of 1870s and 1880s houses.
11. Turn left along Grove Road towards Ilkley centre On the left is Beck House, then Eldermere from the 1880s in gardens with the diverted Ewe Croft stream. Opposite is the 1880s Hawthorn Terrace and a pair of 1890s semis.
12. Cross Westville Road and continue on Grove Road On the left is Ashbrook built in 1890 for Wm Hepton by AG Adkin, then the 1905 house Morven for Dr T Hearder Brown by Connon & Chorley of Leeds, with the stream edging the gardens.
13. As you walk over the bridge look into the 1890s Spence Gardens {perhaps explore the paths, bridges over the stream and trees}. On the right is a detached house, a pair of semis and Grove Terrace all designed by George Smith in the1870s.
14. Cross Kings Road and follow Grove Road past the War Memorial Gardens then cross over to the left onto The Grove Here are semis from the 1870s. Notice the roof line of Acorn Villas. The Canker Well had a formal drinking fountain from the 1870s. At the rear of the small garden on the left is an 1844 marble trough from Ben Rhydding Hydro. Opposite is the 1890s St James building.
