| Description | Holywell Hall, Stainland (SE 08693 19684). Mill owner's house built in 1856.
'Substantial mill owners mansion built in 1856 (date stone). High quality ashlar gritstone mansion terraced on hillside. Italian Renaissance detail. 2 storeys and attic with 3 storeys to south overlooking the valley. Plinth, plat bands and sill bands, rusticated quoin pilasters; stepped frieze, boldly moulded cornice and parapet with balustraded sections. The principal entrance is set in the east gable end with a nearly full width break of slight projection. 3 window bays, the centre containing an imposing 2 storey porch a full bay square. Pediment gable above, with archivolt arched central attic window and flanking oeiuls de boeufs with architrave surrounds and keys. The porch proper has archivolt arched side openings with balustrading; pilasters to corners and Doric columns in antis, rising from pedestals levelled with side balustrades; Doric entablature. The first floor level has doubled Ionic pilasters to corners. The main entablature is broken forward over, and a balustraded parapet is set above. The north front to road (rear elevation) is more functional with 4 windows paired and single sashes in architrave surrounds with a canted stone bay first floor. The main front overlooks the valley with a balustraded terrace extending to the east. This elevation is on 3 storeys with rusticated quoin pilasters and plat bands, entablature etc, returned from entrance gable end. 4 window bays, architrave framed single windows alternating with full height canted bay windows. Set above cornice on this front, and to rear as well, is a large ashlar pedimented dormer with archivolt arched windows. The west gable end is plain with close set grouped round headed windows.
Interior has spacious well proportioned rooms, retaining original plasterwork and fireplaces, good cast iron balustrade to staircase. Built for Benjamin Mellor'.
(English Heritage listed building description. Date listed 21/07/1975. http://list.english heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1299848. Web site accessed 30/07/2013).
WYAAS archives hold a set of photographic prints of Holywell Hall taken in 1975. The photographer is unknown but the prints are attributed to the West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council (WYMCC).
In May 1975, The [Halifax?] Evening Courier reported that 'action was taken to preserve an outstanding example of a Victorian mill owner's house in the village of Holywell Green by the Lower Calder Development Services Sub committee' (The Halifax Evening Courier. 23/05/1975. Article regarding the proposed listing of Holywell Hall). The action was to give the hall listed building status. The hall was at one time threatened with demolition. A later article reported that the hall was to be converted into flats (The Halifax Evening Courier. 30/07/1976. Article regarding the conversion of Holywell Hall into flats). |