Houses of Interest: Yorkshire
When I researched and wrote the Rupert travelogue entry for Yorkshire, and the entry for Adwalton Moor there were some great houses that I was unable to visit (namely because they were shut). I have slowly been plugging away at visiting and documenting them here on the blog.
Skipton Castle got it's own post, Knaresborough Castle was added to the Rupert Yorkshire post; which leaves Oakwell Hall. (And probably lots of others...)
Oakwell Hall gets the honour of kicking off the Yorkshire Houses of Interest entry. Oakwell was the inspiration for Charlotte Brontë's Fieldhead in "Shirley". More recently it has been used a number of times as a film set, including "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell".
Located close to the M62 and the Leeds branch of purgatory on Earth (aka Ikea), this Tudor manor house is beautifully maintained by Kirklees Borough Council.
The hall is presented as a seventeenth century home. I really like this approach, as so often historic houses have different rooms decorated for different eras, so it is really nice to see a house presented from one era in it's entirety.
Oakwell was in the ownership of the Batt family, who supported the King, John Batt was a captain and most probably fought at Adwalton Moor. The retreating Parliamentarian troops passed along Warren Lane (adjacent to the house) after the battle.
After the Royalist defeat at Marston Moor, John Batt surrendered the house to Black Tom in order to keep his family safe. John paid a fine of £364 to reclaim the estate in 1649.
What's there today?
As I have already mentioned, the whole house is presented as a seventeenth century residence.
One room documents the whole history of the house and has some cannon balls and musket shot from Adwalton Moor on display.
A fine portrait of Newcastle hangs in one of the rooms.
There is a beautifully maintained walled garden, and the remainder of the estate is laid out as a nature reserve with a number of trails.
Of course there is a tea room and shop.
The ECWS have assisted the Council with the Hall, and there are some civil war themed gates into the shop and function room courtyard: resplendent with helmets, swords and breastplates.
Postcodes for Sat Navs
Oakwell Hall WF17 9LG
Skipton Castle got it's own post, Knaresborough Castle was added to the Rupert Yorkshire post; which leaves Oakwell Hall. (And probably lots of others...)
Oakwell Hall gets the honour of kicking off the Yorkshire Houses of Interest entry. Oakwell was the inspiration for Charlotte Brontë's Fieldhead in "Shirley". More recently it has been used a number of times as a film set, including "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell".
Located close to the M62 and the Leeds branch of purgatory on Earth (aka Ikea), this Tudor manor house is beautifully maintained by Kirklees Borough Council.
The hall is presented as a seventeenth century home. I really like this approach, as so often historic houses have different rooms decorated for different eras, so it is really nice to see a house presented from one era in it's entirety.
Oakwell was in the ownership of the Batt family, who supported the King, John Batt was a captain and most probably fought at Adwalton Moor. The retreating Parliamentarian troops passed along Warren Lane (adjacent to the house) after the battle.
After the Royalist defeat at Marston Moor, John Batt surrendered the house to Black Tom in order to keep his family safe. John paid a fine of £364 to reclaim the estate in 1649.
What's there today?
As I have already mentioned, the whole house is presented as a seventeenth century residence.
One room documents the whole history of the house and has some cannon balls and musket shot from Adwalton Moor on display.
Another room, has a number of period costumes for you to try on; it also shows the construction of the building off nicely.
A fine portrait of Newcastle hangs in one of the rooms.
Of course there is a tea room and shop.
The ECWS have assisted the Council with the Hall, and there are some civil war themed gates into the shop and function room courtyard: resplendent with helmets, swords and breastplates.
Postcodes for Sat Navs
Oakwell Hall WF17 9LG
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