The Cedars, front view, with the original drive giving direct access to main Leeds/Barnsdale Road.
The Cedars. Front view i.e. south in the1960s. Shows the larger, main
block, cottage at the the side and the original main drive, which had
direct access to main road (closed because of safety problem because of
increasing traffic). The Cedars was built in the mid 18th century (shown
on a 1786 map) by Lord Mexboro' for his Estate Agents. The oldest part
is at the rear. Occupied 1841-1867 by The Rev P.Y. Savile, Rector of Methley,
until his new rectory was built. The next occupants were the Embleton
family, the last member, Mr Henry Cawood Embleton, living here until his
death in 1930. A banker, he lived here for several years with his sister
Maud, the last of five sisters. They employed several gardeners (5?) to
tend the 3 acres of land and large conservatories, including a tropical
greenhouse, where many exotic plants were grown.
Mr
H.C. Embleton was a great benefactor of St Oswald's Church and it was
largely due to his generosity that the 1926 renovations were possible.
He was also a great benefactor of the arts and music. Sir Edward Elgar,
his personal friend, often visited the Cedars. The 'musical' tombstones
at the entrance to the main drive to church and others near the cenotaph
are those of the Embleton family.
After the death of Mr Embleton, the house was divided into three: one
large double-fronted house, a cottage at the side of this and another
cottage behind. Later the large house was divided into two flats. In the
1980s the large house became a residential home for the elderly.
Just beyond the house can be seen the blue barge board of the Infant School
roof.
This side view, the west view, of the Cedars in the early 1980s shows part of the front of the house and French window leading onto the croquet lawn.
The Cedars full front view, by now a residential home
The Cedars 1991. Full view of the front showing the larger part - now a residential home and two cottages on the right. We can still see the old main drive, now unused and grassed being the forecourt in front of the main part.
