After buying the land off William Ferrand, Arthur Harry Briggs built Cottingley Manor and at the same time demolished the Cottingley Bar house. The Manor was a private residence until its conversion some years later. |
Arthur Harry Briggs died at Cottingley Manor in March 1920. |
In 1948, Cottingley Manor was bought by the Roman Catholic Church to act as a Secondary School for St Walburga's. It could not have been a bigger contrast to the 1814 Sunday School at the bottom of Main Street which was run by local volunteers. Cottingley Manor once more become a community focal point with its vast gardens, beautiful lake and leafy setting. |
As well as schooling, the Manor was home to regular masses and formed strong ties with the church. |
In 1996 the community in Cottingley was dealt a blow when the Cottingley Manor School building was sold to a Leisure company. Two years later and after a £1 million-plus overhaul the Cottingley Manor Health and Leisure Centre was opened. |
But its prime location and stunning surroundings attracted the attention of Surrey based Cannons shortly after its grand opening and once more the Manor found new owners. |
Cannons spent another £1 million on the Manor and pledged to put Cottingley at the forefront of health and leisure. |
The history of the building may have been forgotten by the visiting keep-fit fanatics but a sense of awe is always visible on their faces when entering the splendid grounds. |
