Farnley Hall (West Yorkshire)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article discusses Farnley Hall, a stately home in Old Farnley, south west of Leeds, in West Yorkshire. See also Farnley Hall, in North Yorkshire.

Farnley Hall in west Leeds was built in Elizabethan times by the Danbys. They owned part of the manor and the hall until 1799, when it was sold to James Armitage. Sir Thomas Danby was first Mayor of Leeds, and Thomas Danby College in Leeds is named after him. The Hall was acquired by the Leeds City Council in 1945 and its grounds are now the public Farnley Hall Park.

Part of the 16th-century house still exists, including a much-eroded Danby arms. The house was drastically rebuilt in the 18th century, when much of the earlier house was demolished and replaced with an architecturally dull building. In the early 19th century a classical front was added. The 18th-century church was by Carr, but it is not known which part of the house this was.

There are fairly intact remains in the parkland at Farnley, although the current layout is from the early 19th century. 16th- and 17th-century maps show a deer park ,and the 1985 West Yorkshire Archaeological Survey said that the boundaries of the medieval deer park could be traced on the ground. However, it is unclear where these earthworks or ditches may be.

There is a cottage close by, which is several hundred years old and is linked to the park. Archaeological research is currently is progress.