The History of Myddleton Lodge, Ilkley

The spa town of Ilkley, West Yorkshire, has long been a stronghold of the Catholic faith. This part of Yorkshire was home to several noble families who kept their faith strong and inspired others around them, even during difficult times such as the Reformation.

Catholic Families in Reformation England

At the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, the Middelton family had a Catholic history going back many generations. They were one of the best known families in the area and had owned land in the district from the twelfth century, with their estates stretching as far north as Cumberland.

The village of Middleton (which is spelt differently to the family’s surname) stands high above the River Wharfe, with stunning views across the valley to Ilkley and the moorland beyond.

Myddleton Lodge, which was to become so connected with the Catholic faith, was first known as Stubham Lodge and was used as a hunting lodge.

Myddleton Lodge as a Catholic Hideout

Until the Reformation, the Middelton family held several important public offices. When Catholicism became illegal in England, their strong faith left them at the edge of society, subject to fines and penalties.

The family’s home, Myddelton Lodge, became a centre for Catholics of the region to meet in secret. From 1688 onwards, a priest was in residence at the Lodge almost continually until the mid nineteenth century.

The lodge was the family’s main home from the 1790s onwards and a chapel was built there in 1825. It was well known throughout the local area and beyond. People travelled from miles around to hear Mass there, often because they didn’t have access to a local Catholic church.

The Recent History of Myddleton Lodge

The Middeltons showed an interest in the wider community, and donated land to allow the building of the Church of the Sacred Heart, which stands beside the river at Ilkley.

In 1912, Myddleton Lodge was sold outside the family for the first time, to a Bradford wool merchant Sidney Kellett. He and his wife lived there and upon their death, the lodge was sold to the Passionist Fathers and so returned to the Catholic Church.

Their first Mass was celebrated there in 1922 and the chapel and Calvary at the site were restored over the next few years. The Passionist Fathers remained at the lodge until 1985, when it was purchased by the Diocese of Leeds, to be used as a retreat centre.

However, the Diocese were unable to keep the lodge due to its Grade I listing, which meant it required expensive maintenance. The Lodge was sold into private hands once again in 2000 and has remained so ever since.

There is still a Catholic presence close to the lodge, as the Myddelton Grange retreat centre stands beside the Lodge, a reminder of the continuation of the Catholic faith in this beautiful area of Ilkley.

Sources

Collyer, R and Turner J Ilkley: Ancient and Modern [published 1885] This text is available on CD rom from various sources, including Yorkshire Ancestors.com Records relating to Myddleton Lodge are held at the Bradford branch of the West Yorkshire Archives Service

The Cavalry at Myddleton Lodge, Ilkley

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