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Denton, Yorkshire, England. Further historical information.

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DENTON

DENTON, in the parish of Otley, upper-division of Claro; (Denton Park, the seat of Sir Henry Carr Ibbetson, Bart.) 5 miles NW. of Otley, 8 from Keighley, 10½ from Skipton. Pop. 192. Here is a donative Chapel, value, p.r. £20. Patron, Sir Henry Carr Ibbetson, Bart.

Denton Park is delightfully situated upon the banks of the Wharf; and "was for several generations the principal residence of the Fairfaxes, of whom Sir William Fairfax married Isabel, daughter of Thomas Thwaites, by whom he had the manor of Denton. This line, in seven generations, produced two judges, Sir Guy and William Fairfax; and two distinguished generals, Ferdinando and Thomas, successively Lords Fairfax, the well known commanders for the Parliament." To Thomas Lord Fairfax, the public are indebted for the voluminous collections of Dodsworth. In the old house at Denton, Prince Rupert lodged on his way from Lancashire to York, a few days before the battle of Marston Moor in 1644, and was only prevented destroying the house, by the sight of a fine portrait of John Fairfax, younger brother of the then Lord, who had been slain while defending Frankendale, in the palatinate, A.D. 1621. "In this house, where he had been born 60 years before, died Thomas, Lord Fairfax, the general, Nov. 12, 1671. In the same house, April 9, 1688, died Henry, Lord Fairfax, and was interred in the chapel at Denton." And here was born Edward Fairfax, an English poet, the son of Sir Thomas Fairfax. He had a liberal education, but led a retired life at Fewston, his favourite seat, where he devoted himself to the muses; and died about 1632. --Neale. --Whitaker's Loidis and Elmete.

Denton Park was purchased by Henry Ibbetson, Esq. of Red Hall, near Leeds, in the year 1690; and at his death his eldest son, the late Samuel Ibbetson, succeeded to it; who leaving an only daughter, Alice, the estate being entailed on male issue, descended to the late Sir James Ibbetson, the eldest son of a younger brother, Henry Ibbetson, Esq. created a Baronet in 1748, during the life time of his elder brother Samuel. The original Castle, a very magnificent building, was burnt by accident in the time of Henry Ibbetson, the first purchaser, and rebuilt on a modern and moderate scale, by his son Samuel, on whose death it was pulled down by Sir James, and the present elegant structure resurrected by him, from a plan of that celebrated architect, Mr. Carr, of York.
[Description(s) edited from various 19th century sources by Colin Hinson © 2013]