The Landmark Trust, which owns Calverley’s historic Old Hall, is offering people a chance to try traditional woodworking there as part of the run-up to the official re-opening in October.
They are offering two free, full-day furniture making workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday 27 and 28 August, led by Simon Dunn from History in the Making. Participants will be able to learn the types of skills needed to make one of three beautiful timber benches, which will be used on site at Calverley Old Hall in the Chapel and the new community garden.
These workshops run from 10am – 4pm, and each day will repeat, so only book onto one date. Over 18s only. Book here via Eventbrite.
Open day – October 6
After nearly three years of renovation work thanks to £1.6m from the National Lottery, the Old Hall. Woodhall Road, is ready to re-open both as a holiday let for ten and community space. Before the paying guests start to arrive in the autumn, The Landmark Trust is inviting locals to have a look around it all and take part in a number of activities to celebrate the completion of the works. These activities include:
- Drop in to the Community Space during the day to have a go at weaving. Many of the past residents of Calverley Old Hall made their living through textile work, so visitors can have a go at making their own small woven craft to take away with you
- Musicians from Leeds Waits will be performing around the building, playing traditional music on traditional instruments
- Re-enactors Frei Compagnie will set up their medieval camp, where you can meet soldiers, cooks and craftspeople and get a glimpse into medieval life at Calverley
Entry to the open day is free, but booking is essential via this link.
Background
The hall started out as a humble timber house in the 12th century. Successive owners made it a more substantial stone building, with the large halls, medieval windows and a chapel added over the centuries. It reached its heyday in Tudor times, with rare wall-paintings uncovered during the renovations.
The glory of the hall and its owners, the Calverley family, came to an abrupt halt in 1605 when Sir Walter Calverley murdered two of his sons there. He was pressed to death. While the family continued to live there, they eventually moved to Esholt and the hall was sold and divided into workers cottages. By 1861, 11 households lived on the site, including in the chapel. Over the next century or so it was converted into a farm, then back to homes. It was hit by fire, theft and vandalism, and was eventually bought by the Landmark Trust in 1982. The trust is a charity which buys historic properties for holiday lets.