Haley's Hotel began life as a pair of handsome semi-detached villas, called ‘Ballamona' (on the right as you face the front) and ‘Ravenstone' (on the left). They were built in 1887, in grand neo-Tudor style with turrets and half-timbering and a central door to the frontage, giving the effect of one imposing house. They were designed as gentlemen's residences by the distinguished Leeds architect George Corson, who was involved in developing the newly created Shire Oak Road in the 1880s. George Corson was Leeds' premier architect, responsible for the Central Library building (‘the municipal palace' as it was called), with its spectacular Tiled Hall, the magnificent Grand Theater, and numerous distinguished houses, offices, and commercial buildings around Leeds. These houses remained in his ownership until the early 1900s, and were home to a series of high-status tenants, mostly wealthy Leeds businessmen, and for a time George Corson lived there himself. They continued as separate residences until the 1950s when the two houses were combined into one and converted into a hotel, initially known as the Hartrigg Hotel. In 1990 the name was changed to Haley's.