Ghyll Royd Care Home has been delving into its local heritage as it prepares to welcome the Aireborough Historical Society this March. The home has been exploring its fascinating origins, uncovering a rich tapestry of industrial and family history that connects the modern care home to the very foundations of the Guiseley community.

The home stands on the site of the original Ghyll Royd House, once the grand residence of the Peate family. As the owners of the prominent Nunroyd Mill, historically situated directly opposite the home, the Peates, including Noel Peate, were instrumental in shaping the local economy and social landscape of the Edwardian era.

From Industrial Hub to Community Haven

While the Westside Retail Park now stands where the mill once hummed with activity, the geographical history remains. Nunroyd Beck still flows beneath the modern retail units, leading back to Nunroyd Park, a location that remains a favourite spot for the residents of Ghyll Royd Care Home today.

The investigation into the site’s heritage also highlighted the architectural legacy of the Peate family. The Edwardian villas on the neighbouring street, also named Ghyll Royd, were originally commissioned by the Peates specifically for the senior workpeople of the mill, creating a dedicated community directly opposite.

Etymology of the Yorkshire Landscape

The research further explored the poetic origins of the “Ghyll Royd” name. In local terminology, “Ghyll” refers to a narrow, steep-sided ravine or stream, and, “Royd”, is a traditional Yorkshire term for a forest clearing.

The home believes that the word “Royd” in it’s name likely refers to a clearing in nearby Esholt Woods, which may have historically linked directly to the land at Nunroyd Park.

A Continuing Legacy of Family Care

The transition from a private family estate to a care home reached a significant milestone in 2001, when the home was acquired by Tony Spellman. As the second home to be operated by the Spellman family, the acquisition of Ghyll Royd continues to represent a key chapter in Spellman Care’s 35-year legacy.

“We are incredibly proud to be part of a location with such a rich industrial and family heritage,” said the management team. “It is wonderful to see that the same sense of community established by the Peates all those years ago continues to thrive within our walls today. We are very much looking forward to the visit from the Aireborough Historical Society in March to learn even more about our roots.”