Burntwood Hall facts for kids
Burntwood Hall is a historic house located near a village called Great Houghton, South Yorkshire in England. Over many years, it has been known by different names like Boomshack and Burntwood Nook. Today, it's a special place that helps elderly people and those with disabilities.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
From Farmhouse to Grand Home
Burntwood Hall started as a simple farmhouse. Around the year 1700, a very important lawyer from Barnsley named William Marsden bought it. He was also a manager for a powerful duke. Mr. Marsden changed the house to make it suitable for a gentleman to live in.
William Marsden passed away in 1718. He was quite wealthy and left his properties to his children. His son, also named William, became a lawyer too. He was also a Royal Surveyor, meaning he managed the King's woods in the north of England for King George III. He was a very influential person in the area.
A Soldier's Story
William's grandson, Captain Francis Marsden, was a British officer. He served in the early years of the American Revolution. He arrived in Boston in 1774. He was part of a special group of soldiers called Grenadiers. He likely took part in the battles of Lexington and Concord.
Captain Francis Marsden died at Burntwood Hall on February 12, 1780. He was only 27 years old. He passed away from wounds he received five years earlier at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. He was buried at Wakefield Cathedral. There is a special monument inside the Cathedral to remember him. His sister, Hannah Maria, paid for this monument.
Family and Land
The Marsden family owned a lot of land nearby. They gained more land from local commons (shared land) between 1761 and 1767. The family lived at Burntwood Hall for about 150 years. They also owned other smaller estates. The last Marsden to live at Burntwood Hall was William Henry Marsden, who died in 1815.
After the Marsdens, Mr. S. H. Taylor bought Burntwood Hall. He lived there for about 60 years. Then, the local Dymond family bought the estate. They continued to live there until 1961. For several years after that, the Hall was used as offices for a bus company.
Today, Burntwood Hall is a nursing home for elderly people. The old kitchen garden is now a special center for disabled people.
Architecture and Surroundings
The Hall's Look
The hall itself is a mix of different building styles. It has parts that look like classical buildings and parts that look like Gothic revival buildings. On the south side, there is a porch with strong Doric columns. The grounds once had an entrance lodge and a stable block. The stable block has now been changed into staff housing.
Secret Tunnel and Nature
Burntwood Hall has the only "secret" tunnel in the area that has been proven to be real. It runs for about 30 yards (27 meters) under the road. It leads to the old kitchen gardens.
The nearby West Haigh Wood and Howell Wood were designed as part of the hall's grounds. They were also used as a place for hunting game. Howell Wood is now a country park. It's possible there was once a hunting lodge in Howell Woods, but no signs of it remain today.
Artificial lakes were created in Howell Wood and West Haigh Wood. The one in Howell Wood is still there today and is used for fishing. Next to this lake is an 18th-century ice house. This old building is now home to various kinds of wildlife.
Howell Wood Country Park is managed by the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster.
