History of Scargill House, Kettlewell, Skipton, North Yorkshire, England
 

Scargill House, Kettlewell. 1930's

Scargill House, Kettlewell. 1901

Scargill House, one of Clement Holdsworth's residences is located in Wharfedale, in the county of Yorkshire, England, three-quarters of a mile from the village of Kettlewell and four miles from Grassington.
The nearest market town, Skipton is 14 miles distant.

Scargill, a farmhouse at the time, was purchased by Clement Holdsworth from John Overend Wood; the sale being completed on 20 December 1900.
Here he shot grouse on Conistone Moor and fished for trout on the Wharfe.
His son George Bertram Holdsworth moved to Scargill from Catteral Hall in 1933, a year after his wife Mabel's untimely death.

After building improvements in the 1929's, 30's and 40's, and most probably earlier, the house grew into the grand estate it became in the 50's, and the Clement, George and Bill Holdsworth over the years held memorable shooting parties there.

Bill Holdsworth was the only survivor of George Holdsworth's family after the war. Living at Scargill he farmed the land and commuted daily to the family business, John Holdsworth & Co Ltd, at Shaw Lodge Mills in Halifax, and brought up his family, until the date he moved to his estate in Ireland, Bellinter Park in 1957.

At the time of its sale at auction in November 1957, after 57 years in the family's hands, the Scargill Estate was described as an "exceptional residential, agricultural and sporting property".
It comprised in all 1,050 acres, with 70 acres Park and Afforestation Land, two stock farms each of 500 acres, various properties in Kettlewell, over one mile of trout fishing in the Wharfe and 3,000 acres of shooting rights over Conistone Moor.

Scargill House, Kettlewell. 1957

From the Jackson-Stops & Staff catalogue........

THE SCARGILL ESTATE is situated in one of the most accessible and picturesque spots in Upper Wharfedale. It is close to the villages of Kettlewell and Coniston. The market Town of Skipton is 14 miles due South, approached by a fast road and served by main line railway from London; the daily 9.00am train from St. Pancras arrives at Skipton at 2.27pm. Scargill is very conveniently located in relation to the Industrial and Business centres of the West Riding being less than an hour's run from Bradford. The Residence and Estate Dwellings are directly approached by a country road and lie in the sheltered valley of the River Wharfe, which nevertheless enjoys an altitude of 650 feet above sea level; the invigorating air and the completely unspoilt grandeur of the surroundings make the Property a most attractive and healthy resort.

The attraction of the Estate must be enhanced by the Sporting attributes which have always been jealously nursed and improved. Benefits are just now being reaped from endeavours to create a good Pheasant Shoot. The Game Records speak for themselves over the value of Grouse Shooting. It is very seldom that an opportunity arises to secure the Sporting over a first class Yorkshire Moor. Last but not least is the recreation available with the broad and swift Trout Water of the Wharfe which forms the boundary of the Estate for 1¹/₄ miles.

Ownership of the Estate carries the right to Pew Sittings in the Parish Church of Kettlewell and share in the Lordship.

The Residence has an impressive approach through a stone pillared and wrought iron entrance, a tree lined Drive bordered by beech hedge and iron rail fence leading to the Carriage Sweep.

The Property has a southerly aspect and nestles protected at the foot of a wooded promontory from which site a view is commanded over the valley. Park-like surroundings reminiscent of the Border Country are provided by a Home Paddock interspersed with Fir Plantations. A general neat appearance is afforded by continuation of the beech hedge and painted iron railings around the small formal grounds which are laid out with Lawns and Ornamental Water Garden.

The Residence, of XVIII Century origin is substantially constructed of stone, rendered and colour washed, under a stone flag roof.

Scargill House, Kettlewell. 1975

Scargill House was sold to the Church of England in 1957 after William Holdsworth had decided to live on the Irish estate at Bellinter House, and in 1959 Scargill became a center for conferences and events.

Scargill House near Kettlewell in Upper Wharfedale, from 1959 a Christian Holiday and Conference Centre in the Yorkshire Dales, closed on 20 July 2008. A few weeks later, a Steering Group was formed with a view to raising sufficient funds to purchase, re-furbish and re-open Scargill House with a resident Community. This has now finished its work and handed over to the newly formed Scargill Movement Trust

In January 2009 it was announced that agreement had been reached between the Trustees of Scargill House and those representing The Scargill Movement for the purchase of Scargill House. This being subject to contract, survey and the approval of the Charity Commissioners.

For further information see . . . The Scargill Movement, www.scargillmovement.org

From the Photograph Album

Scargill House, Kettlewell, 1901 This is the earliest photograph I have found in the album. Taken from similar angle to the landscape photo taken 30 years later.	Mile House, a farm on the Scargill Estate near Kettlewell, 1901	The Tennats Arms, Under Kilnsey Crag Kilnsey, 1901
Scargill House, Kettlewell undated; note rear extension built already	Aerial photo of the garden at Scargill taken by Bill Holdsworth from a Spitfire, ca 1944	Aerial photo of The Maypole in Kettlewell taken by Bill Holdsworth from a Spitfire in ca 1944
Dina Maria Holdsworth's Austin Atlantic A90 Reg. BCP 775 At Scargill House, Kettlewell, 1948 Photo in WH-1 album	Land Rover LWB Reg. SUG 449 at Scargill House, Kettlewell, 1954 Which remained in use also at Bellinter in Ireland until sold in 1966	Balcony at Scargill House, Kettlewell, 1954
Scargill House, Kettlewell, and Cottages 1953	Michael Holdsworth and Flip on the drive at Scargill House, Kettlewell ca 1953	To Scargill! Mrs Norma Bryceson, Michael Bryceson, Bill Holdsworth, Didy Holdsworth and Sue Barnard at Scargill House, Kettlewell ca 1953
The Gate, Scargill House, Kettlewell 1953	The Gate, Scargill House, Kettlewell 1953	The Gate, Scargill House, Kettlewell 1953
The Gate, Scargill House, Kettlewell 1953	Scargill House, Kettlewell, 1957	Scargill House, Kettlewell, 1957
Scargill House, Kettlewell, 1975 This is a scan of one of my slides (2 April 2009, DWH)	Scargill House, Kettlewell, 1975 This is a scan of one of my slides (2 April 2009, DWH)
On the day of Celebrating sale completion Scargill House, Kettlewell 4 April 2009	On the day of Celebrating sale completion Scargill House, Kettlewell 4 April 2009	On the day of Celebrating sale completion Scargill House, Kettlewell 4 April 2009
A Post-Card bought at Scargill Scargill House, Kettlewell 1960s	A Post-Card bought at Scargill The Chapel, Scargill House, Kettlewell 1960s	A Post-Card bought at Scargill The Chapel, Scargill House, Kettlewell 1960s