Royds Hall, the Justice Room

Slide 3 – “Squire Leedes” as he was familiarly called was a noted magistrate of George the Third’s time and sat to administer justice in a building within his own grounds, aview of which is now shown. The broad flight of steps outside, and the “Justice chair” within, are unmistakable signs of the ancient use of the building. Many humourous tales are told of the “Squire” who seems to have been a character. As an illustration of the familiar style of dispensing “justice” in those days the following story is related. An old man in Carr Lane named Pearson who had lost his donkey and having got wind of the missing animal, and also of the thief, went up to Royds Hall to consult the Squire as to whether he should “fetch law” to get the animal back. “Law! Law!” said the Squire, “ there’s no law for a donkey!” “Isn’t there?” said old Pearson “Well then I’ll help mysen to’t best I can find on’t common as I go hoam “, and was making his way out. “Stop, stop, Robert, I’ll give thee a warrant”, called the Squire – steps that no doubt saved him some trouble afterwards. The last tof the family as before mentioned Edward Rooke – Leedes, owing to his financial difficulties was obliged to sell his estates. He died in despair by his own hand in 1788, when Messrs. Hird, Dawson, Preston, Jarrett and Hardy purchased the whole estate and beame the founders of the wide-famed Low Moor Ironworks. Royds Hall afterwards became the residence of the Dawsons. The last member of the family, who occupied it till her death was Miss Eliza Dawson who died in May1875. It has been occupied since by various members and partners of Low Moor Ironworks.