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Inside the abandoned Yorkshire stately home once used to film Jane Austen drama
In its hey day the Biggin housed members of a variety of famous families - D'Arcy, Gascoigne, Farifax, Goodrick - as well as Charles Allanson, MP for Ripon from 1768.
An urban explorer has shared images showing the inside of an abandoned Leeds mansion that was once used to film a Jane Austen blockbuster.
Kyle Urbex, originally hailing from Huddersfield, revealed the insides of the now-derelict Leeds film set after visiting the ancient house in Bramham Park, Wetherby.
Images show the remains of what was once a prestigious stately home: with 'creepy' yellowing bible passages clinging to the corridor of the upper floor, grand staircases beset with dampness and rot, and once-impressive walls and doors peeling their wallpaper and paint onto the floor.
Having been the site of the Nostell Priory monks' cell in medieval times, in its hey day the Biggin housed members of a variety of famous families - D'Arcy, Gascoigne, Farifax, Goodrick - as well as Charles Allanson, MP for Ripon from 1768.
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
In turn, in time Allanson was succeeded by his relatives the Winn family, one of whom, Sir George Winn, became Lord Headley in 1797.
The house was also once used during the filming of the Yorkshire TV series Lost in Austen, which sees disillusioned modern working girl Amanda Price `swap' her life for that of Austen's celebrated Pride and Prejudice heroine, Elizabeth Bennet.
Other people of note to have lived in the now-derelict mansion over the years include Mr Henry Ramsden, who lived in the property from the 1840s.
Then, in 1843, Bramham Biggin was leased out and greatly extended to function as Bramham College - boasting 130 acres of parks and gardens, as well as a new hall, theatre, gymnasium and cloisters, as well as a Grecian-style refectory with a glass dome.
The College gained a good reputation and during its short life and attracted the sons of leading Yorkshire families. Ultimately, however, it closed after falling into decline following a severe epidemic of cholera in 1869 wen several pupils died.
Today, those pupils are buried next to their headmaster under the yew tree at the eastern end of Bramham churchyard.
After the college closed, the buildings were dismantled and Bramham Biggin reverted to being a house - yet it still remained within the Bramham Park Estate, lived in by Mr Duncalfe and the Hon Christopher York up until the start of the second world war.
Image: Kyle Urbex
Image: Kyle Urbex
During the war, a Miss Brown ran a nursery school there and it was also used to house child evacuees fleeing Britain's inner cities for a period of time.
Speaking to Examiner Live on his visit to the house, urban explorer Kyle said: "
Kyle said the house was 'pretty cold' and "fairly stripped out of any sort of real features."
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month
Clementine Hall
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
Georgina Pellant -
21st April 2023 
