As I descended from Ilkley Moor back down into the town, I noticed the backs of these lovely old stone houses had a fascinating mixture of windows. Given half a chance, I'd love to relocate to Ilkley - but property there commands a hefty price tag, especially these big Victorian and Edwardian properties on the edge of the Moor, which were built when the town was a popular spa. At the end of this row is the house, now called Hillside, where Charles Darwin stayed in 1859, at the time of the publication of his book 'Origin of the Species'.
He wrote to his son William: "The House is at the foot of a rocky, turfy rather steep half-mountain. It would be nice with fine weather; but now looks dismal. There are nice excursions & fine walks for those that can walk. The Water Cure has done me much good; but I fell down on Sunday morning & sprained my ancle, & have not been able to walk since & this has greatly interfered with the treatment…".
Poor old Darwin it sounded as if he could have done with a nice hot foot spa and a strong cup of tea!
ReplyDeleteyou are quite right - what facinating windows and I wonder what lies behind them!!! Judith
ReplyDelete"the water cure". Had he been to Harrogate then? I don't think Ilkley has healing waters, does it?
ReplyDeleteNice windows.
Black and white was a good choice, we focus on all of those squares and shapes!I'd like so much to see the flats inside..:))
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to see such old houses still being used and yelling to the world proudly about their history while here we have houses in our street being pulled down to build bigger ones and the houses are only 20 years old!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely picture! It looks as though it could have been taken many years ago.
ReplyDeleteAJ - yes, Ilkley was a spa in those days and what is now apartments in Wells House (at one time Ilkley College) was a Hydro. There is little remaining except the spring at White Wells - look back to my posts around 8 July 2010 for more info.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see the comparison of how these houses have developed over the years within the framework of what they were allowed to do to them. I keep telling myself, it's Yorkshire stone. I know someone who lives in Wilsden who has this kind of stone on his house.
ReplyDeleteThat photo brings me back sweet memories. So thanks for sharing it. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely picture!
B xx
I love the backs of houses somehow. You often see them from trains through London and I always love looking at them and getting glimpses of lives within.
ReplyDeleteFabulous in B&W... well done, Jenny.
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