The Knoll

Image of The Knoll house.

The Knoll was built in 1858 by Charles Stead. The land had originally belonged to the Ferrand family; it was sold to Titus Salt who then sold it to Charles Stead who was a director at Salt. There are photographs of the house but no building plans. The house had beautiful grounds. The entrance was at the bottom of Green Lane, the drive ascending through Fairnbank Wood. Charles Stead left the house in the 1890s as a result of the restructuring at Salts and moved to the Morecambe area. The Knoll estate was acquired by James Roberts, later Sir James Roberts, who was part of the syndicate which took over Salts. Who eventually moved to Milner Fields. Members of his family continued to live in the house until after World War I. The estate then had a series of occupiers until eventually Baildon Urban District Council bought it in 1946. The house was pulled down and flats built on the site; the grounds were opened in 1948 as a recreation ground and were subject to a series of rules and regulations.

I used to explore it just before it was demolished. It had a square tower and a spiral staircase. stained glass windows at the bottom of the staircase and a round stone raised water feature at the back. Thank you from Marilyn Cordingley (nee Knowles)

1891 Census Data

Dwelling: The Knoll

Name	Status	Age	Gender	Birthplace	Relationship	Occupation
Charles Stead	Head	68	Male	Wortley, Yorkshire	Married	Justice of the Peace & Worsted Spinner/Manufacturer
Mary Ann Stead	Wife	66	Female	Pudsey, Yorkshire	Married
Emily Stead	Daughter	42	Female	Bradford, Yorkshire	Single
Ella Marion Stead	Daughter	24	Female	Baildon, Yorkshire	Single
Mary Elizabeth Hoare	Servant	33	Female	Hunts, Woodston	Single	Domestic Servant
Elizabeth Jane Kennedy	Servant	30	Female	Castle Eden Durham	Single	Domestic Servant
Sarah Ann Wassencraft	Servant	26	Female	Shrewsbury Shropshire	Single	Domestic Servant
Kathleen Cowper	Servant	29	Female	Coalbrookdale Shropshire	Single	Domestic Servant
Annie English	Servant	17	Female	Napton, Peterboro	Single	Domestic Servant

Dwelling: The Knoll Lodge

Name	Relationship	Age	Gender	Birthplace	Status	Occupation
Abraham Duerden	Head	30	Male	Bradford, Yorkshire	Married	Domestic Servant
Louisa Duerden	Wife	32	Female	Swinton, Yorkshire	Married
Mary Ann Duerden	Daughter	8	Female	Bradford, Yorkshire	Single
Charles Duerden	Son	6	Male	Bradford, Yorkshire	Single
Hannah Duerden	Daughter	3	Female	Bradford, Yorkshire	Single

Dwelling: The Knoll Lodge Green Lane

Name	Relationship	Age	Gender	Birthplace	Status	Occupation
William Forrester	Head	40	Male	Scotland	Married	Gardener
Jane Forrester	Wife	40	Female	Manchester, Lancashire	Married
Christina Forrester	Daughter	15	Female	Scotland	Single	Miliner
Elizabeth Forrester	Daughter	12	Female	Altringham, Cheshire	Single	Scholar