"Yeadon Moor Dam Whereas some wicked
and evil designing Person or Persons, did, on the 24th instant at night, make a
Breach in the Dam on Yeadon Moor, designing thereby to distress the lower part
of the Town of Yeadon by such an uncommon quantity of water issuing from the
said Dam :
This is therefore to give NOTICE that FIVE
GUINEAS Reward will be given on Conviction of the Offender or Offenders, to any
Person informing of the same and will be paid by John Cooper, agent to William
Rookes Esq."
Image by kind permission of the British Newspaper Archives, research by Edwy Harling
Further text by Christine Lovedale
In 1774 Esholt Hall was occupied by by William Rookes and
his wife Anne nee Stansfield, it is possible that water from the breached Dam
flooded part of the Esholt estate, prompting the reward offered.
Joseph Cawthra
of Yeadon Manor and owner of the Old Dog Mill also caused a problem to the
townsfolk of Yeadon when he diverted the course of the beck which flows down
from the Dam towards the Green.
The Old Dog Mill was built over the foot of the beck, a
good flow of water was essential for his steam engine, said to be one of the
first in the area. He was sued by the townspeople and compelled to restore the
beck to it's natural course. A few years later around 1802 Cawthra emigrated to
Canada.