Croft House, Burley Road

Si · Post by Si » Thu 15 Jul, 2010 11:33 am

The Little Sisters of the Poor used to come round work at Christmas time asking for a donation. They were two nuns - an Irish girl and an Italian woman who must have been 100 years old! They spoke so quietly, I've no idea what they said!

jim · Post by **jim** » Thu 15 Jul, 2010 11:46 am

I was once asked if I'd like to give to the Catholic Childrens Home. I said I'd got six and they could pick where they liked.

GeeWhitham · Post by **GeeWhitham** » Sun 22 Aug, 2010 4:56 pm

Croft House was in 1851 inhabited by Stephen Whitham, his first wife Sarah. his sons Thomas and Samuel and one servant. He was at that time a partner of the Perseverance works with his brother Joseph (my 3 * great grandfather) The 1851 census describes Stephen as "Iron master (employing 270 men)" In 1861 Stephen has moved to Harrogate and is now described as "Retired Iron Master"In 1861 Croft House has now been sold to Stephen's nephew Joseph Whitham (youngest son of Stephen's brother Joseph). Joseph is by this time running the Perseverance Works together with his brother James. Joseph is described as "Engineer and Iron founder" in the 1861 census. In this he is sharing the house with wife, infant son, and two servants.Joseph Whitham died in 1868 and is the last known Whitham occupant of Croft House.Stephen left the partnership with brother Joseph in 1851 and established Monk Bridge Iron Works. This he sold in 1854. I have recently acquired a photo of an oil painting of the Monk Bridge Iron Works presented to Stephen Whitham in 1854. This painting is currently in the ownership of the company who took over Monk Bridge. I can post this if anyone is interested.CheersGraham Whitham

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Sun 22 Aug, 2010 8:10 pm

GeeWhitham wrote: Croft House was in 1851 inhabited by Stephen Whitham, his first wife Sarah. his sons Thomas and Samuel and one servant. He was at that time a partner of the Perseverance works with his brother Joseph (my 3 * great grandfather) The 1851 census describes Stephen as "Iron master (employing 270 men)" In 1861 Stephen has moved to Harrogate and is now described as "Retired Iron Master"In 1861 Croft House has now been sold to Stephen's nephew Joseph Whitham (youngest son of Stephen's brother Joseph). Joseph is by this time running the Perseverance Works together with his brother James. Joseph is described as "Engineer and Iron founder" in the 1861 census. In this he is sharing the house with wife, infant son, and two servants.Joseph Whitham died in 1868 and is the last known Whitham occupant of Croft House.Stephen left the partnership with brother Joseph in 1851 and established Monk Bridge Iron Works. This he sold in 1854. I have recently acquired a photo of an oil painting of the Monk Bridge Iron Works presented to Stephen Whitham in 1854. This painting is currently in the ownership of the company who took over Monk Bridge. I can post this if anyone is interested.CheersGraham Whitham Is it this one - and if so do you know who the artist was?

GeeWhitham · Post by **GeeWhitham** » Mon 23 Aug, 2010 10:16 pm

This is the painting. I've been told its by Richard Dodd Widdas. Apparently it was commissioned as a retirement present and given to him on 1st January 1855. Stephen gave a party but sent son Samuel along to give a speech on his behalf. Stephen's widow may have redonated it on his death. I would like to obtain a high definition copy of the picture. My cousin Stephen Whitham (born 1967) is particularly interested!I'm not aware of any living direct descendents of Stephen. A lot of his granddaughters were spinsters. One, Grace I Whitham was a writer of children's books until the 1930s. I have amassed quite a collection of them via ebay. There is usually at least a couple of her books on there at any one time.

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Mon 23 Aug, 2010 10:41 pm

GeeWhitham wrote: This is the painting. I've been told its by Richard Dodd Widdas. Apparently it was commissioned as a retirement present and given to him on 1st January 1855. Stephen gave a party but sent son Samuel along to give a speech on his behalf. Stephen's widow may have redonated it on his death. I would like to obtain a high definition copy of the picture. My cousin Stephen Whitham (born 1967) is particularly interested!I'm not aware of any living direct descendents of Stephen. A lot of his granddaughters were spinsters. One, Grace I Whitham was a writer of children's books until the 1930s. I have amassed quite a collection of them via ebay. There is usually at least a couple of her books on there at any one time. That's very interesting - thanks Graham. There is an interesting Facebook group where I found a copy of the picture. They are ex workers of the Monk Bridge works.http://tinyurl.com/2wl44at

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Wed 25 Aug, 2010 10:14 pm

I remember that in the late 1960s/early 1970s there was an enormous old building near the bottom of Belle Vue Road (on the left going down) which I believe was a convent of sorts. It looked very forlorn and possibly abandoned and always fascinated me as I drove past on the 57/59 Hyde Park Circular buses. Does anyone please know what it was ??

iansmithofotley · Post by **iansmithofotley** » Wed 25 Aug, 2010 11:57 pm

Hi Chris,This may be a possible:http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... er=9014Ian

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Thu 26 Aug, 2010 9:53 am

iansmithofotley wrote: Hi Chris,This may be a possible:http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... er=9014Ian That's definitely it Ian - thanks very much for the help as this has been one of those vague "queries" in my mind for more than forty years. Even driving past I always felt a sort of "haunted air of mystery" about the place. The little semi circular turret in the centre of the Leodis picture absolutely confirms that it is the right building.