Thornhill Lees Hall

Details

DEWSBURY CB LEES HALL ROAD SE 21 NW (Thornhill Lees)

5/58 Thornhill Lees hall 30/6/49 G.V. I

East wing and part of central hall range of a timber framed house. The rest has been destroyed. Early C15 probably c.1412 for William Nettleton of Quarmby (whose family moved there at that date). Robert Nettleton added the hall in 1530 (Ambler). C17 coursed stone and quoins, to east, and ground floor to north. Some later brick infill to south and some recent alterations and stonework. The wing and hall form a T-plan and are separately framed, joined only by a small penthouse, containing the stairs, formed at the angle between the 2 structures.

The east wing is a 2-storey, 2-bay structure, of sawn oak jointed by round section pegs, driven from the outside. From this it is deduced that this wing was built before the hall. Close studding tosides, diagonal studding to gable ends; king post trusses braced to ridge. The ground floor is divided into 2 bays by a partition of vertical studding, both with a door into the hall. The 1st floor has a single chamber with an exceptionally fine plaster frieze and ceiling of C17 date. The floor deck is also said to be C17. Other plasterwork and wainscotting has been removed. The ceiling consists of squares, lozenges and triangles with flowers, fleur-de-lis and exotic fruit. The tie-beam of the centre truss is cambered and similarly plastered. The frieze is of affronted unicorns and lions with female figures and trees.

The open hall is I½ bays in length with posts with close studding bressumers and wall plates. King-post trusses are arched-braced to ridge. The centre truss is more elaborate with stop chamfers. 2 purlins to each pitch. At the east end is a well preserved canopy, the full width of the building, consisting of curved oak planks with lath and plaster infill. The west wall of the hall is of C20 brickwork and contains recent fireplace. On the north side is the penthouse containing an open stair from the hall to the 1st floor of the east wing. The stair has turned balusters. The walls of the penthouse are of C17 stonework, but mortice holes in the wall plate show that it was originally timber framed.

The house was occupied by the Nettleton family until 1655 when it was bought by Thomas Hobson who lived there until 1668, followed by the Radcliffe family. The Thornhill family of Fixby lived there in the C18.

T. G. Manby, "Lees Hall Thornhill - A Medieval Timber Framed Building in the West Riding of Yorkshire", (Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Vol. 23), 1971. L. Ambler, Old Halls and Manor Houses of Yorkshire, 1913. N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, 1967.

Listing NGR: SE2330919992

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

340743

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Ambler, L, The Old Halls and Manor Houses of Yorkshire, (1913)
Pevsner, N, Radcliffe, E, The Buildings of England: Yorkshire: The West Riding, (1967)
Yorkshire Archaeological Journal in Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, Vol. 23, (1971)
Yorkshire Archaeological Journal in Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, Vol. 23, (1971)

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