Details
LEEDS
SE23NE OTLEY ROAD, Weetwood
714-1/6/1217 (East side)
19/10/51 Weetwood Hall
GV II*
Large house, now hall of residence. 1625, extended late C18,
1887, 1926; restored and extended 1992. For Daniel Foxcroft.
Gritstone ashlar, slate hipped roof. 3 storeys, part cellar,
7-bay facade to SE, this main block 3 bays deep with C19 and
C20 extensions to rear left, the NW.
SE front: entrance bay 5 has moulded quoined surround, large
lintel with carved shield and string below datestone, initials
missing, date '1625'. Thin Ionic columns on pedestals
supporting entablature with deep dentilled cornice. Sashes
with glazing bars in plain stone surrounds, the frames
recessed. The moulded string at ground-floor window-head
height has the scars of the cut-back pendant stops of the
original fenestration. Projecting eaves band, banded stacks to
left and right.
Rear: central C17-style doorway under a single-storey passage,
C19 rear wing projects on right; on left a fine
recessed-chamfered 8-light cyma-moulded mullion and transom
window with king mullion, moulded string with pendant stops
above; patterned leaded lights. A similar window to 1st floor,
without transom; 4-light mullion window right, ground and 1st
floors, two 3-light windows to 2nd floor.
Left return: the main block has a C17-style porch with
attached Ionic columns and raised lettering: '1625 AC 1887',
3-light bay window right, recessed bay left linking to the C19
and 1926 wing; sashes with glazing bars above, as front.
Right return: the main block has a projecting full-height
flat-roofed central bay with recessed chamfered mullioned
windows of 5 lights, the ground floor projects again as a
single-storey addition with moulded parapet, continuous
dripmould, square gate pier attached right and an octagonal
room with stone slate roof opening into the rear yard.
INTERIOR: a narrow entrance hall with large room left, the
doorcases pedimented and scrolled, with panelled reveals, the
ceiling having restored C17 plaster with alternating panels of
circular and Greek cross shapes connected by bars, heraldic
emblems in the panels, a bird above a flower, lion etc. A
small room on the right has the remains of a plaster frieze of
hunting dogs chasing a stag, a square panel with flowers and a
cased-in ceiling beam; stone stairs to 1st floor and cellar
beneath this room, not examined.
The rear wing has the former kitchen fireplace with
quarter-round moulding to jambs and joggled voussoirs, 2
cased-in chamfered spine beams.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Daniel Foxcroft was related to Anthony Wade
who rebuilt New Grange in 1626 (now The Grange, Beckett Park,
qv), the family probably came from Halifax. In 1663 Weetwood
Hall had 11 hearths and the estate remained in the family
until c1760-80; Tuke's map of 1781 shows Lady Denison as owner
of the estate. In 1824 Joseph Oates died at Weetwood Hall, he
was probably a tenant of Lady Denison; the estate was sold to
Christopher Beckett and tenanted during the C19: the important
Marshall family of Marshall's flax mills in Holbeck (qv) have
C19 connections here as at New Grange, Henry Cowper Marshall
was resident in 1864 and Henry Marshall, flax spinner, in 1875
(Directories). Alfred Cooke was the owner of the Hunslett
Printing Works (qv) and added the Otley Road lodge (qv) as
well as extending the Hall in 1887. In 1919 Sir Hickman
Beckett Bacon was the vendor of the estate to Leeds University
for a hall of residence and extensions were built in 1926.
(Directories of Leeds, 1864, 1875, 1888; Hopwood WA
(pers.comm.): 1992-).
Listing NGR: SE2698638029
