6 Queen Street

 

STATING THE CASE

 

To whom it may concern

As to the property known as No. 6 Queen Street, Skelmanthorpe

Sometime around 1970, the Denby Dale Urban District Council condemned the row of houses on the east side of Queen Street, Skelmanthorpe as being unfit for human habitation and as they became vacant and the tenants rehoused – they were demolished, the two at the bottom of the street being so dealt with. Seeking a site for a small textile collection at the time as a nucleus for a museum I saw that the cottage No 6 suited that purpose admirably (it had been a weavers' cottage for centuries) and with my object in mind I approached the owner of it, whom I knew, a Mrs P Gledhill, then living at No 8, Felcote Avenue, Dalton, Huddersfield, to see if she would sell it. It was at the time derelict and vandalised. She told me that the house was to be demolished and that the Denby Dale Urban District Council had written to her telling her that she must arrange for this be done, or they would do it for her at a charge of £75. She was worried over the charge and wanted to be rid of the property and said that if I would guarantee to pay the £75, then I could have the cottage and make what use of it I could under the circumstances and that she was glad to have it 'off her hands, and out of her mind' In the presence of her sister – her only living relative – a Mrs R Pell of Wakefield Road, Denby Dale, I promised to take on all liabilities. I took on the property as a gamble.

I then approached the Council and asked them to lift the demolition order on the cottage and said that I would make it good and that it was not for human habitation. This they refused to do. I then asked to meet them in chambers and this they agreed to do. At this meeting I put my case and had a sympathetic hearing, the majority of members being in favour of my request, but they said it was now out of their hands and that I should have to apply to the Town and County planning Authority – which I did, and made a personal appearance before them at Worsborough Dale, Barnsley. Once again I was fortunate in that the majority of members favoured the idea and said they would lift the order for one year and then review the position. Later, seeing the success of the project, the demolition order of the whole street was lifted – a decision which has enhanced the area and saved some interesting 17th and 18th century buildings; now listed. The Denby Dale District Council then offered me the next door and gave me a small grant to re-glaze the windows.

Mrs Gledhill had no deeds for the property nor could ever remember any. Many searches at the Registry of Deeds at Wakefield brought no results. She said her husband, Percy had bought the house before the marriage, that he died of war wounds on the 15th May 1918 and that she was the sole beneficiary. In the absence of any deeds I visited her again, together with her sister, her only living relative, (before mentioned) and asked if she would give me some written proof of our agreement, for although ' word-of-mouth' was good enough between our two selves I would prefer to have some written note from her; which she made for me and signed in the presence of her sister and next door neighbour on the 2nd February 1973. Knowing Mrs Pell very well, on two further occasions I asked if she was happy about the arrangement which had been made in 1973. On both occasions her answer was the same, that she was happy – as her sister had been to have all the upset of the property resolved. Both times she gave me notes of confirmation. These notes are dated at long distances apart 7th October 1983, and November 18th 1988.

(signed) Leslie Robinson

Relevant Information

 

STATING THE CASE

 

RELEVANT INFORMATION

Before her marriage to Percy Gledhill of Skelmanthorpe. Mrs Gledhill was
 

MISS ELLEN SENIOR OF PINGLE NOOK FARM, DENBY DALE

Before her marriage to James Pell of Kitchenroyd. Mrs Pell was

MISS ROSA SENIOR OF PINGLE NOOK FARM, DENBY DALE
 

ELLEN AND ROSA WERE SISTERS

 

PERCY GLEDHILL AND ELLEN SENIOR WERE MARRIED AT DENBY CHURCH ON THE 14TH APRIL 1917 BEFORE THE MARRIAGE PERCY LIVED AT NO 6 QUEEN STREET SKELMANTHORPE.

PERCY GLEDHILL WAS WOUNDED IN FRANCE AND DIED OF WOUNDS ON THE 15TH MARCH 1918 AGED 29

PERCY'S WILL WAS PROVED AND GRANTED BY ONE GEORGE SENIOR OF THE A.S.C. IT WAS VALUED £41. 10s. 0d

MRS GLEDHILL DIED A WIDOW WITHOUT ISSUE

MRS PELL DIED A WIDOW WITHOUT ISSUE