IT has a long and distinguished history.

Joseph Crosland, whose family gave its name to the Crosland Hill area of Huddersfield, constructed the existing building in 1866. It was a family home originally known as Royds Wood.

This mansion, with French and Italian-style grandeur, incorporated a dramatic sweeping staircase, ornate ceilings, spacious and elegant rooms, a billiards room and large conservatory.

The house also had “pleasure gardens” where peaches were grown, an Italianate fountain, stables and a coach house.

Nine years after Joseph’s death in 1904, the house was sold to Huddersfield Corporation for £17,000. Two years later a dramatic period in the history of the house followed.

From 1915 to 1921 the building served as Huddersfield’s Military Hospital. Nurses and doctors lived in the house and prefabricated wards were built on the front field and gardens.

Specially-converted ambulance trains brought the injured to Huddersfield Railway Station. Originally intended for 500 wounded servicemen, by 1916 there were 2,000 beds.

Out of all the 22,000 military personnel who were treated here, only 75 died. This was the lowest mortality rate of any of England’s military hospitals.

The death toll included five Canadians, one of whom, Private Shearman, is buried in Edgerton Cemetery. Every year Royds Hall’s head boy and head girl lay a wreath at his grave and the school is currently trying to trace the man’s family in Canada.

Royds Hall Secondary School, the first co-educational secondary school in Huddersfield, opened on September 20, 1921, with 69 boys and girls.

The school’s most notable Old Boy (1927-32) was Cowlersley-born Harold Wilson, who was twice Prime Minister in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

While at Royds Hall, Harold Wilson appeared in several school plays, was well-liked and was top in Latin, French and history. He went on to Oxford University, but never forgot his roots. He kept in touch with old Huddersfield friends and his school throughout his life, presiding at several Royds Hall speech days.

Another notable former pupil is biochemist Sir Richard Sykes, former chairman of GlaxoSmithKline and president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He is currently chairman of The UK Stem Cell Foundation.