Calverley folk were today given the chance to have their say on a planned community space in the soon-to-be-developed Grade 1 listed Calverley Old Hall.
The Landmark Trust, which owns the historic hall, secured £1.6million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to refurbish the building, part of which dates back to the 12th century. Once finished, the Hall will be a holiday let for up to ten people. The development also includes provision for a community space.
The Trust has teamed up with the University of Sheffield and masters students from the School of Architecture to hold discussions with local people on how the space could be best used. The students were on hand to hear ideas for the space, which will be equipped with a kitchen and outline progress to far. There was also a virtual reality tour of the hall.
Ideas so far put forward are for a meeting room, yoga space, art classes, cinema and recital space. Further suggestions can be made via the online questionnaire here. The students will bring the discussions together in a report to the Landmark Trust, which will make the final decision.
As part of its engagement with local people, the Trust is running a series of free traditional weaving workshops. Working with a professional artist and Sunnybank Mills, Farsley, the workshops will help design an artwork inspired by the Old Hall. The workshops will be at the Old Hall on October 22 and 24, with practical experience of weaving at Sunnybank Mills between 8 and 17 November. The workshops are free, but spaces are limited, booking is essential.
There will also be a Christmas wreath-making workshop on November 26, at a subsidised cost of £10 per person. More information here.
Calverley Old Hall is on Woodhall Road. The complex site includes a two-storey, largely 14th-century Solar Block, a late 15th-century Great Hall and Chapel, plus early 16th-century Parlour Block and 17th-century Lodging Block.
The West Leeds Dispatch has featured the Old Hall many times since we started seven years ago, including the Hall’s murderous past more than 400 years ago when Sir Walter Calverley murdered his two young sons. Read about it here