In 1882 Lady Macdonald sold the Manor and Estate of Gayhurst and Stoke Goldington to James William Carlile at the end of the 21 year lease to Lord Carrington.
The Carliles are a large family originating in Paisley, Scotland since before the Norman Conquest.
James William Carlile
He was born in London on 5th September 1823 and was always keen on helping others to improve themselves. In 1891 he set up the Meltham Institute with a library and reading rooms in Huddersfield.
Taking up residence in Gayhurst House in 1882, he quickly became a benevolent landowner towards his villagers.
He was responsible for:-
- Providing the Reading Rooms in Stoke Goldington High Street (1884)
- Setting up the Water Supply for the villagers (1887).
- Giving the Memorial Green (1903)
- Endowing the Recreation Ground (1903)
He supplied Thomas Wright with the history of Gayhurst for his interesting work “The Town of Cowper” (London, Sampson Low & Co., 1886).
He also wrote, in blank verse, “Everard Digby and the Gunpowder Plot.”
J W Carlile owned Gayhurst house for 27 years until his death in 1909, when it passed to his son William Walter Carlile
Acknowledgment: Photo and some details are from:
www.huddersfield.exposed/wiki/James_William_Carlile_(1823-1909)
(under the Creative Commons Licence – with thanks)