Urgent repair work to Grade II Listed Gotts Park Mansion will help preserve the historic building for the future.
Planning permission has been given to replace existing basement windows, which are currently bricked up, with aluminium ventilation louvre panels and mechanical vents. It’s hoped increased ventilation in the basement will help reduce damp and corrosion.
It’s the latest in a series of improvements for the historic mansion.
Last year plans to install new steel beams and columns underneath existing corroding beams in the basement were approved. The works were essential to support the structure of the building, which dates back more than 230 years.
New vents were also installed last year to increase ventilation, but a planners’ report says more vents are needed to resolve issues with damp in the building.
The mansion is currently home to Gotts Park Golf Club, a community interest company which took over the management of the course from the council in 2016.
The planners’ report adds that the mansion is one of the first Greek revival structures in Yorkshire and is of ‘immense historical value’ which has influenced other buildings in Leeds.
Gotts Park Mansion was built in 1781 for Leeds merchant Thomas Woolrick. Benjamin Gott, a wealthy mill-owner, first leased the mansion then bought it in 1812. The mansion was then remodelled by Robert Smirke, architect of the British Museum.
Gott’s descendants lived in the mansion until the 1900s when, after the end of World War I, it was used as a hospital.
In 1928, the building and grounds were taken over by Leeds City Council on a 999-year lease from the Wades Charity, on the condition that they be used as a leisure space for the people of Leeds.
The mansion is currently home to Gotts Park Golf Club, a community interest company which took over the management of the course from the council last year.
It is admirable that so many people give their time to preserve the lovely house and park of Gotts House Mansion. I was told that the area was left in a bequest to the children of Armley – good thing it was or I suspect it would be covered in houses now. I remember looking over the Burley area and seeing all the smoke coming from the chimneys of the tightly packed houses – no wonder we had all the ‘smogs’. We also remember the water cooling towers of the Kirkstall power station being dropped so expertly, a wonderful sight. I hope the current children of Armley are building their happy memories of the park.