Rev James Armytage Rhodes was a wealthy man, property-owner and magistrate in Hebden Bridge.
He was educated at Cambridge.
He had interests in the canals and canal shipping.
He owned much property in Hebden Bridge, including Mytholm Hall, and Crow Nest Farm.
He was not a vicar, but
a clerk without cure of souls
and took holy orders in order to make himself
a more completely qualified country gentleman
He is recorded as having conducted burial services. In 1914, he was said to be incumbent at Horsforth Church.
He was instrumental in the appointments of Rev Sutcliffe Sowden and Rev George Sowden as Vicars of Hebden Bridge.
In 18??, he married Mary Turner.
On 6th October 1810, Alexander Turner and James King borrowed £7,000 for 1 year from John Edwards of Northowram Hall. The loan was secured as a mortgage against land and property owned by the pair; much of this was at Blackshawhead. By 1824, the loan had not been paid back, and Thomas Fournis Dyson, Edwards's beneficiary, was pressing for payment. When Turner's daughter Mary, wife of Rev Rhodes, inherited the estate, she insisted that her husband pay the debt on her behalf. Rev Rhodes paid back the loan in full – plus interest – out of his own pocket, on the condition that all documentation relating to the matter be destroyed.
Since there was no paperwork relating to any future legal matters concerning the property, Rev Rhodes swore an oath that
if ever required, he would appear at any Court of Law or Chancery in the land, and produce the deeds unless previously destroyed by fire or other meritable accident
He and his wife gave the land for the construction of St James's Church, Hebden Bridge which was built behind the Hall.
He loaned rooms at Mytholm Mill for use as a church school for local children.
He insisted that Hebden Bridge Railway Station be sited at least 1 mile from his property at Mytholm Hall.
It is believed that he never lived at the Hall but at Horsforth Hall, near Leeds, then at Roundhay, then the couple moved to Westhaugh, Carleton, near Pontefract where they died.
The couple were buried at Halifax Parish Church.
Some of the family's estate passed to the their favourite nephew Francis Rhodes
This & associated entries use material contributed by Diana Monahan
Page Ref: X22
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