Denison, John, -, c. 1759-1820

The Ossington estate was purchased by William Denison, a wealthy Leeds merchant, from the Cartwright family in 1768. Its history can be traced back to the middle ages when it belonged to the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, from whom it passed to the Duke of Suffolk, Richard Andrews and then to Edmund Cartwright.

William Denison, followed by his brother Robert, made plans for improvements and alterations to Ossington Hall, particularly during the 1780s. It was subsequently inherited by their nephew John Wilkinson who changed his name to Denison and took over the running of the estate, continuing the improvements begun by his uncles. In addition to Ossington Hall, the Denison estates included lands in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Durham and Yorkshire, as well as businesses in Leeds.

Denison's heir was his eldest son, John Evelyn Denison, later Viscount Ossington, who held the estates from 1820 until his death in 1873.

Collection covers period 1575-1946, primarily 19th century.