Burnside History

Burnside was originally a private house designed by a leading Leeds architect, George Smith, and built in 1871. (George Smith also designed Tarn House, built 1873, which occupied the opposite corner site at the top of Wheatley Road). 

In 1877 Burnside was sold to Richard Taylor, a Selby schoolmaster who, assisted by his son Vincent, established a Wesleyan boarding school. Shortly afterwards Taylor applied to erect a classroom in the grounds. In advertisements, the school offered training for the ‘mercantile and professional life’ and pupils were prepared for Cambridge and London Universities. 

In the 1881 census it is difficult to distinguish members of Taylor’s large family from the boarders, but there appears to be 22 male boarders ranging from 8 to 15 years of age. 

In 1882 a refectory and dormitories were built between the main house and the classroom. On the day of the 1891 census, however, there were only two boarders registered at Burnside but there could have been a number of day pupils. In August 1893 Ilkley Grammar School opened and Burnside could not attract sufficient pupils to keep it viable. It closed as a school later that year. 

Richard Taylor sold the property and Vincent became a private tutor in Ilkley. Burnside reverted to being a private house and / or boarding house. It was finally sold for demolition and redevelopment around 1960. At least two (possibly 3) houses were built on the site.