This mysterious 22-room building, formerly at the junction of Norton Lees Road and Norton Lees lane was built in the early 18th century, but has little background available. In the 1960s Lees House was divided into flats. Following a fire where a child tragically lost their life, it was demolished in the 80s (?) although some of the external walls are still present.

William Cockayne junior lived at Lees house in 1891. In September 1916 an advert lists a sale including a Freehold Property of William Cockayne Esquire Deceased, sold by Auction

Lot 2 Lees House, Norton Lees
Substantially built and well arranged Freehold Family Residence with Extensive grounds, Tennis Lawn and Carriage Drive, together with the Stabling and Loose Boxes, Coach and Motor Houses, Harness Room (with harness cupboard and sliding glass doors) Fowl Pens, Manure Pit, Coal and Coke places, Wash House, Greenhouses, Stoves, Vineries, Peach Houses, Garden Frames, Potting Shed, revolving Summer House, and all the usual outbuildings.

The House contains on the Ground floor; Entrance Porch, Spacious Tiled Entrance Hall, Front and Back staircases, Drawing Room with Large Bay and Side Windows (26ft 6in x20ft 6in) Dining Room (21ft x14ft 6in) Breakfast Room with Passenger lift, Smoke Room, large kitchen (with Longden Cooking Range), Pantries WC., with provision meat, and wine cellars in the Basement.

On first floor; Full-sized Billiard Room with staging, 5 Principal Bed Rooms, Bath Room with double Lavatory and separate WC

On the second floor: Large Nursery with 4 Maids’ Bedrooms

William Cockayne, Lees house, Norton Lees, Meersbrook bank. Kelly’s 1891.

William Cockayne, Draper, Lees House, Norton Lees (Kelly’s 1893)