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.
Calverley Hall
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.
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Number 10 North is officially ‘open for business’ and here’s why it’s so important for Yorkshire
Number 10 North has officially 'opened for business' this week, and Andy Burnham has now explained his key reasons for launching it.
You may remember that earlier last month, Andy Burnham revealed he had intentions to create a Number 10 North if he was to become Prime Minister, with the new base expected to be a 'dominant driver of the UK's economy' once it was officially up and running... and now, fast forward to today, Number 10 North is officially 'open for business'.
Operating from Heron House in Manchester city centre, as previously reported on by The Manc, Number 10 North will be the Government’s new 'situation room for growth'.
It also brings the 'levers' of local economic growth and devolution together under one roof for the first time ever.
With the Prime Minister expected to work from Number 10 North each week, so that decisions about the country’s economic future will no longer exclusively be made in Westminster, and with other ministers also working from there on a regular basis, the Government says the move underlines its determination to 'do things differently'.
Number 10 North has officially 'opened for business' / Credit: gov.uk (via Wikimedia Commons)
Now that Number 10 North has officially opened, Andy Burnham has explained why this move is so important for Yorkshire and the north as a whole.
"For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre, and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve," explained Andy Burnham.
"Number 10 North will change that by putting more power into every postcode across the entire country. It will be the situation room for making Britain better, the place we use to get power out of Westminster, into the hands of people at a local level, so that they can turn things around.
"The days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good."
Featured Image - The Manc Group
News
Pints of Knowledge, Callum Campbell’s fastest-growing event, is coming to Leeds city centre this summer
Clementine Hall
The pub night that's packing out venues across the UK is coming to Leeds.
Let us introduce you to Pints of Knowledge, a phenomenon founded by Callum Campbell that has built a social media following of more than 160,000 people.
This is different to your average night out, it's a chance to meet new people and spark interesting conversation all in the relaxing surroundings of a pub.
The event has attracted thousands to its unique mix of expert talks, conversation and community in pubs across the UK.
Image: Supplied
And if you're looking to get in on the action then you're in luck, because Pints of Knowledge is arriving at The Wardrobe on Sunday 9 August.
So, what can you expect? From landmark legal history and the hidden pressures behind big systems to the evolving language of gaslighting and radical cinema, Sunday's Leeds programme will demonstrate exactly why Pints of Knowledge has struck such a chord with audiences across the UK.
Founder Callum Campbell, who has spent more than a decade producing live events across Britain, said bringing the concept to Leeds was the natural next step - and we're so happy he thought so.
Image: Supplied
He said: "I've always wanted to bring Pints of Knowledge to more cities across England, and Leeds has such a strong appetite for ideas and conversation. Watching this grow has been amazing, and I can't wait to bring it here.
"As more people look for experiences beyond a traditional night out, Pints of Knowledge offers something different: expert speakers, thought-provoking conversations and the chance to meet new people, all in the relaxed surroundings of a pub.
"People still love going to the pub, but they're looking for more from the experience. Pints of Knowledge is about hearing incredible stories, asking questions, meeting interesting people and leaving having learned something new."
Image: Supplied
The Pints of Knowledge programme at The Wardrobe will look like this:
12pm - Human rights lawyer Mahnoor Omer presents '10 Legal Cases that Changed History'.
2pm - Georgina Shute asks 'Why billion-pound systems are built by people who can't finish their to-do lists'.
4pm - Isobel Logan explores 'Gaslighting: The Evolution of a Concept Across Art, Relationships and Politics'.
6pm - Angelos Koutsourakis will examine 'Third Cinema, The Global South & Climate Change'.
Campbell added: "One hour you can be unpacking landmark legal cases, the next you're hearing about the psychology behind gaslighting, before finishing the day exploring cinema and climate change. That's what makes Pints of Knowledge different.
"This is just the beginning. We've seen an incredible response across the UK, and we're excited to build on that by bringing Pints of Knowledge to more cities across the country.”
Pints of Knowledge takes place at The Wardrobe in Leeds on Sunday 9 August, and you can get your tickets here.
Georgina Pellant -
7th May 2021 
