White Windows

[Stickerby]

Hi, just wandering if anyone can help in my research for white windows, in  sowerby. I have much information on the tenants just looking for more information when it was an Asylum in 1847 and apparently was an A.T.S     
Hostel after ww11 I cannot find any information on these
If anyone can help that be great

Stacey

[AlanBoyd]

There are many newspaper references. Here is a starter.

Added: in the 1851 census Daniel Hartnett has a school at Spring Gardens, Halifax, so this must be a new enterprise. In the 1861 census they are still at White Windows, but I imagine that you knew this.

Leeds Mercury - Saturday 03 July 1852

COMMERCIAL, MATHEMATICAL, AND CLASSICAL SCHOOL, WHITE WINDOWS HALL, Sowerby, near Halifax, conducted by Mr. HARTNETT, SON, and competent Masters.

White Windows Hall (the residence of the late Geo. Priestley Esq.) as a scholastic establishment, in extent, arrangement, and beauty of situation, is not surpassed, being rural, salubrious, and picturesque. The mansion stands upon a gentle slope, surrounded by extensive pleasure grounds, gardens, and plantations, commanding a splendid prospect of the adjacent country.

At this establishment, a sound liberal education is imparted; and the domestic arrangements being under the immediate superintendence of Mrs. Martnett, secure to the pupils every comfort of home.

The course of instruction comprises the usual branches of a commercial, mathematical, and classical education, the continental languages, drawing, music, gymnastics, dancing, &c. The lessons are given in a manner to enlist attention and promote inquiry, and so to secure the rapid improvement of the people; and while by receiving gentlemanly treatment he is led to form correct habits, the general arrangements of the school are such as to ensure salutary discipline and to promote self-culture.

The class rooms are lofty, well lighted, and in every respect suited to their purpose; thei dining rooms spacious and convenient; the sitting rooms to which the pupils retire in the evening replete with comfort; the dormitories large and well-ventilated; and the washing rooms fitted up with every improvement, and with an abundant supply of excellent water.

The play grounds, from their situation and extent, comprising several acres, afford every facility for physical exercise and development so highly promotive of mental energy. Suitable rooms are also appropriated to recreation during unfavourable weather. The pleasure grounds, which were designed with great taste, and laid out regardless of cost by their late owner, offer to the pupils opportunities of quiet enjoyment and study, which are seldom included in the advantages afforded at a school, and belong only to residences of the first order.

Upon the whole, both in an educational and domestic point of view, the advantages of this establishment are in accordance with the progress and spirit of the times, being founded upon on active experience of many years successful exertion in the education of youth.

The school will reopen on Wednesday, July Twenty first.
Terms, references, &c , on application. White Windows Hall is within a quarter of a mile of the the Sowerby Bridge Station on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

[maddys52]

Previous thread
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=866158.0

[AlanBoyd]

This is the only reference to an asylum that I have found.

Halifax Guardian - Saturday 10 April 1847

WEST RIDING SESSIONS.
These sessions for the Spring quarter commenced at Pontefract on Monday morning last.
[edit]

Mr. HILL then made an application on behalf of Mr. Sutton, for a license to the mansion tailed White Windows, at Sowerby, near Halifax, as a private asylum; and, after addressing the court at considerable length, in reply to some objections previously urged, the application was refused.

[bbart]

Snap, AlanBoyd!  I was just typing up the same, but from 1846!

Will post it anyways:

Leeds Intelligencer 24 October 1846

Refusal to Grant Licence for a Lunatic Asylum

At the West Riding Sessions at Leeds, on Thursday
last, Mr. Hill applied, on the part of Mr. John Sutton, governor
of the Manchester Workhouse, for a license to be granted for the
adapting of White-windows House, near Sowerby-bridge, for an
asylum for the accommodation of eighty pauper male, and twenty
private, lunatics.  The application was opposed by Mr. Hall, and
after considerable discussion, the license was refused.

So it looks like it never did become an asylum?

[Stickerby]

Awh great news, no wander can't find anything on it.
Thankyou

[bbart]

This link says it became a nursing home in the 1950's

https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/wtw/search/controlservlet?PageId=Detail&DocId=101754

There are articles in the newspapers that indicate White Windows was a hostel, in at least the years 1949 to 1954,  (just to help in the timeline).