Ebor House

Ebor House is a house dating from the mid-18th century, with later 19th-century alterations and refenestration. It is located on Middleton Road, Belle Isle, Leeds. The house is constructed of brown brick in random English bond, with a hipped stone slated roof, the left bay having been rebuilt. It is two storeys high and originally comprised three bays, although the central bay projects forward with a pediment, and the left bay has been rebuilt with a flush wall. The central bay features a wide, glazed double door with glazing bars to a fanlight, set within a pedimented surround. The left bay has a projecting bay window with glazed doors, and a segmental-arched casement window above. The round-arched window within the pediment is also glazed with bars, while the remaining windows are 4-pane sashes set into original 18th-century openings with large stone sills and lintels; those flanking the entrance likely have lowered sills. A small window has been inserted in bay three on the first floor.

The interior has undergone extensive re-ordering in the late 19th century, but the original through-corridor plan remains on the first floor. The staircase retains original fine knopped column-on-vase balusters on the upper flight and landing. A barrel-vaulted cellar lies beneath the rear rooms.

The house, formerly known as Haber House, was referenced in 1740 and was likely built by William Fenton (1719-1774). A survey of the estate, including farm buildings, was undertaken in 1757 by Thomas Fenton. William Fenton's nephew, William (1764-1837), who was a partner in the Leeds engineering firm of Fenton, Murray and Wood, lived at the house. It was used for Catholic services between approximately 1754 and 1776, with a possible secret space in the roof. The Parnaby family later purchased the property. Extensive fish ponds in the surrounding area are thought to have been created for John Parnaby’s fish farm, and he was awarded a medal by the French government in 1873 for his work.