SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Calverley Lane winds its way down from Horsforth to Calverley past the old Sandoz site, an area I know well.But westwards towards Bradford is an area I've never discovered until this evening.The pleasant hamlet of "New York" sees an old lane drop to Woodlands Drive and a rather magnificent old building is found westwards along this lane. A convalescent home of late Victorian construction - anyone know the origin? Missed by foot spotted by map another grand building known as "Rawdon College" is further on.....again anyone know the purpose and origin??Missed because I decided to drop down the hill again to the bottom track eastwards to Low Mill the magnificent brick chimney remains, before coming out near Sandoz, seen it done it, so up "Knott Lane" and the start of a series of grand victorian buildings comprising of a chapel, and a series of lodges at breaks in the high walling revealing driveways to several Victorian mansions? Or simply grand houses? Anyone know the history of any?

ParkyGood one. A forgotten corner, the better for being relatively 'land-locked'. Good mountain bike country, you could have connected up with the canal towpath, tea in Skipton?!

I believe Rawdon College had a religious connection. A former seminary perhaps. I haven't been that way for over 30 years and it had closed then.

tomq wrote: I believe Rawdon College had a religious connection. A former seminary perhaps. I haven't been that way for over 30 years and it had closed then. Yes on one map it says Baptist??

I know there is a pretty wacky place down there called the 'eagle lodge' or something which is some new-age retreat or something. All the way along Woodlands Lane are some fabulous old Victorian mansions and million pound plus properties. Woodhouse Grove school is based at the end of this stretch of the Aire valley where the main road through Appley Bridge cuts across the river / canal. They have extensive grounds / playing fields. Also there is a railway line so these 3 transport routes can make getting from one side of the valley to the other quite tricky - even on a mountain bike. Before the old hospital on Woodlands Drive was converted into apartments and houses my friends and myself organised a rave there in the mid 1990s as one of our friends was being paid to look after the place while the sale of the property went through. Literally hundreds of people turned up and when the police finally turned up - the next day, the party was on its last legs anyway! That place was an urban explorers dream and we had the run of it for weeks with electricity on. That was in the days before digital cameras though and I really wish I'd taken some photos of the old place now.

google horsforth carrs and there is a walk with details of buildings etc on the way.