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The medieval West Yorkshire Manor House for hire with a murderous past

Part cosy staycation, part history field trip, part murder mystery tour

Georgina Pellant - 7th May 2021

Sitting on the outskirts of Leeds is an exceptional medieval manor house combining cosy countryside staycation and history field trip in one.

Part ruin, part historic holiday let, Grade I-listed Calverly Hall is of great historical importance and ranks in the top 2.5% of all listed buildings in the country.

With various parts of the building dating from the 13th to 17th centuries, it is now being painstakingly restored to its original glory – a project that has so far spanned over two decades.

Whilst the restoration is finished it remains open to holiday lets, giving visitors exclusive access to some of the historic ruins contained on site.

These include the 15th-century great hall and 14th-century solar, awe-inspiring in scale but currently derelict and floorless. Both still contain the remains of eighteenth-century dwellings.

It also has a fascinating murderous past.

Inhabited by the Lords of the Manor of Calverley from around 1250 to the 18th century, as the story goes one Walter Calverley brought the family into disrepute when he murdered half of his family there in 1605.

He'd lost his father at an early age and, after returning from Cambridge, was forced by his guardian to break off an engagement with a neighbour and instead marry a young woman he did not actually like.

This led to him developing a gambling habit and running up some serious debts - mortgaging all his lands and spending his wife's dowry.

When news reached him that a family member had been arrested for what he owed, he allegedly flew into a rage and attacked his two small children before turning on his wife.

The house later fell into disrepair before being rescued at auction by the Landmark Trust in 1981.

With various parts of the building dating from the 13th to 17th centuries, it is now being painstakingly restored to its original glory - a project that has so far spanned over two decades.

Whilst the restoration is finished it remains open to holiday lets, giving visitors exclusive access to some of the historic ruins contained on site.

These include the 15th-century great hall and 14th-century solar, awe-inspiring in scale but currently derelict and floorless. Both still contain the remains of eighteenth-century dwellings.

Sitting on the outskirts of Leeds, it is a quirky choice for summer staycations - perfectly situated for country woodland walks and trips into the city for dinner alike.

There are also some good walks from the door to local pubs and the Liverpool-Leeds canal.

With room to sleeps five, bedrooms are comprised of one master bed, one twin room and one single. The property is also dog friendly, so no need to leave your furry friends behind.

The magnificent, heavily-beamed main living space combines a cosy place by the fire with a formal dining area, whilst the vast master bedroom is light and spacious - overlooked by a grand portrait.

Priced £311 for four nights (equivalent £15.95 per person per night), relax in gracious 17th-century rooms, complete with fine moulded beams and flagstone floors.