A Short History of Ilkley Hall

By Kim Revill

Built in 1825 for Wakefield solicitor Benjamin Dixon, Ilkley Hall on Wells Road was one of the earliest houses in the area to be constructed for a professional of so-called independent means. It became known as Dixon’s Hall soon after it was built but has been known as Ilkley Hall for most of its life.

It is described as a regency villa, built over two storeys, and was complete with stables and a coach house. The roof is described as an ashlar hipped stone slate. Both Ilkley Hall and the nearby Rombalds Hotel were built on land owned by the aforementioned John Dixon – possibly a relative of Benjamin – who was chairman of Ilkley’s public library committee.

The façade looks today very much like it did in 1825 with its sash windows and architrave surrounds. The interior maintains some of its original features and the façade remains pretty much untouched.

“Growing up”

Ilkley Hall provided a solid childhood for many children and their parents. One of those families was Mary and Brigadier Sallitt OBE and their daughter, Jilly – now Dame Jilly Cooper (1935–present).

Jilly is a member of the Baines family who founded the Leeds Mercury newspaper in 1801. She was a pupil at the independent Moorfield School on Ben Rhydding Road and started out in local journalism herself, before going on to write popular fictional books such as Riders and Rivals, the latter of which was aired as a television series in 2024.

She also produced a series of non-fiction books entitled How to Stay Married. Jilly met her husband, the late publisher Leo Cooper, when the couple were both children growing up in Yorkshire.

Article taken from ‘Ilkley and Around in 50 Buildings’ by Kim Revill, published by Amberley Publishing