Shibden Hall Halifax doorway
Shibden Hall Halifax doorway
Author: H.P.Kendall
Date: not dated
Location: Halifax
Format: Postcard - Mono
Document ID: 102296
Library ID:
Shibden dale has been a popular tourist destination for Halifax people since Victorian times. Shibden Brook becomes the Red Beck at Brookfoot downstream.
Over the years, 13 different spellings of Shibden have been recorded, all deriving from mispronunciations of Sheep Dene (The Valley of Sheep).
The house, Shibden Hall, is a Grade II* listed timber framed hall and the families that have lived there can be traced back to 1420. The home of the Oates, Waterhouse, Savile and then the Lister family, Shibden Hall has witnessed many changes over the centuries as a family home, reflected in architectural changes and in the furniture and collections within.
House now museum. Late medieval, altered in later C16 and in 2nd quarter of C19 with minor C20 alterations. Original timber-framed building with hall and 2-storeyed cross-wings substantially survives: C16 work includes some casing in stone and new central rear wing. C19 work involved much renewal and some re-instatement of original form of building, also addition of tower to west and kitchens to east. Stone roofs. Cross-wings preserve exposed framing (partly renewed) with close-set vertical and diagonal members in sill-high stone base. Rear of each wing has stone facing to ground storey. Windows reconstructed. South side of hall set forward in C16 (stone and timber) with long mullioned windows transomed to ground storey. Simple stone north wing with gable. INTERIOR: very much renewed but some original and C16 work remains and also C17 panelling in one room on ground and 1st floors. Former buttery has bolection panelling and complete joinery of early C18. West tower of Norman character with pyramidal roof. Arcaded loggia to south of traditional kitchen wing with low battlemented tower.
