| Description | Calverley Old Hall is a manor house that has its origins dating back before the 14th century. During the 13th century a family called Scot settled in the area and built a small stone hall house for themselves, of which traces survive. Soon afterwards, a timber framed solar wing was added. Then around c.1400, the solar wing was remodelled, enlarged and encased in stone. The original hall was then rebuilt c.1485, which was dated using dendrochronology techniques on the timbers present in the hall. The existing hall is large and open, with a false hammer beam roof. The chapel was built at the same time as the existing hall, with a roof structure that is a smaller version of that in the hall. Circa 1550, another chamber was added by a Sir William Calverley, High Sheriff of Yorkshire, who had 17 children to house. The north wing was then added c.1650 as a kitchen and dining room.
In the 18th century the Calverley family moved to Esholt Hall in Bradford, after which the hall was subdivided and a floor was inserted through the hall. The barns and stables disappeared along with the gardens and orchards, which are now replaced by the surrounding streets and houses. It is thought that there were also service quarters, which have since entirely disappeared.
Up until 1981, when the site was bought by the Landmark Trust, Calverley Old Hall remained in multiple occupation. This meant that the hall was never rebuilt in a fashionable style, which is why this medieval hall is in such a remarkable state of preservation (Mennim). The Landmark Trust have since gradually undertaken restoration work on the building, with the eventual hope of restoring it fully, but it is not known how much of this work has been completed. |