Derelict Thursday - Bramham House

This is for Sarumstrollers Derelict Thursday.

A handheld 3 shot HDR of Bramham House which has had a varied life.

It was built in 1806 by the then vicar of Bramham who sold it to the Bramham Park estate 8 years later. It served as a temporary seat for the estate when the main Park house was gutted by fire in 1828.

It was sold in 1856 to try and retrieve the family fortues after they were gambled away.

It passed through a succession of owners and it was purchased by the West Riding County Council Children's Department in approximately 1947, in anticipation of the implementation of the 1948 Children's and Young Persons Act.

It became a family group home for homeless and neglected children - they stayed together with siblings. It was supposedly a very well run and happy place to be.

In 1974 as part of the local government changes the house came under the control of Leeds City Council who started sending delinquent children on remand from courts which caused a lot of grief in the home and changed the enitre 'ethos' of the place. It eventually closed in the 1980s.

The site was also used as an ambulance station from 1947 to 2008 - these buildings were demolished in 2010 as they fell into disrepair due to vandalism.

There are plans to redevelop the site - but whether it will ever happen remains to be seen - access is very difficult and LCC want the developer to retain the house!