Castle Hill Hotel: The history of the hotel's planning disaster and Victorian history

In the 1990s, the Thandi Brothers acquired the historic Castle Hill Hotel and had plans for its refurbishment. Such plans were given the green light in 2002.

However, problems arose during the demolition works when the building’s tower became unstable. Permission was granted to replace the original building but the developers breached planning conditions.

As a result, a planning enforcement notice was issued, ordering the demolition of the newly-built structure. Now, the only building standing on Castle Hill is the Grade II-listed Victoria Tower.

In October 2020, planning permission was granted for a restaurant with bedrooms, interpretation facilities for visitors, and a car park to be built on the site. This is yet to materialise because the developers need Scheduled Monument Consent to be granted by Historic England.

When the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) approached Historic England in December, it was revealed that the Thandi Brothers were yet to apply for the necessary permissions. Until this is obtained, the plans will continue to be on hold.

The fascinating history of the Castle Hill Hotel dates back further than the 20th Century as was highlighted in the March 21 edition of the Huddersfield Local History Society’s newsletter which has helped to inform this article. The newsletter, by Brian Haigh, begins in 1810 with the public house on Castle Hill and explains the following.

According to the 1841 census, Richard Ainley was the landlord until his death in 1848. His widow, Elizabeth Ainley, became landlady in 1851 when her late husband’s licence came up for renewal.

Mrs Ainley suggested that a new hotel be built on-site and put this idea forward to be discussed at the Police Court. When her proposal was heard, Joseph Brook JP, Chairman of the Huddersfield Improvement Commissioners is said to have remarked that “the public were crying out for accommodation and proper places of refreshment.”

Mr Brook said he had no objection to the plans as long as “a new and safe road was made” for accessing the hotel. The application was granted on August 26, 1852.

Almost two years later on March 25, 1854, the Huddersfield Chronicle informed readers of arrangements being made for the opening of the new hotel at Castle Hill. The site was anticipated to become a convenient Summer resort for the people of Huddersfield, complete with a flower garden and bowling green.

Mrs Ainley had previously advertised that the hotel would be let. The licence was then transferred to Richard Noble of Almondbury that September.

Huddersfield’s first professional architect, William Wallen, is thought to be responsible for the hotel’s design. Mr Wallen also proposed another tower be built on the hill that would stand 95 feet tall tand contain a restaurant, museum and observation room. However, this never materialised.

Isabelle Ramsden, a trustee of the Ramsden Estate during the minority of her son, Sir John William Ramsden, wasn’t keen on the proposals. She claimed her son’s “antiquarian taste” is “quite shocked” at the prospect of the old fort being disturbed for a new building.

However, the hotel must have received Sir Ramsden’s approval as it was constructed once he came of age. It is suggested that the reason for this could be because the new hotel was meant to replace the existing alehouse, being regarded as an improvement.

This didn’t happen and both buildings coexisted on the historic site, with the former pub reopening as a temperance hotel in 1855. The pub is finally thought to have been demolished in the 1940s or early 50s.

Local historian Philip Ahier, in his book On the Hill, has documented the landlords from the 1890s to the 1940s. In 1874, the hotel was taken over by Bentley and Shaw of the Lockwood Brewery.

Hammonds took over from Bentley and Shaw in 1944 and subsequently became part of Bass Charrington.

Mr Haigh’s full article can be read on the Huddersfield Local History Society’s website.