Shibden Hall facts for kids
Shibden Hall in 2010
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| Established | 1420 |
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| Location | Lister’s Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England HX3 6XG |
| Type | Historic house museum |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Shibden Hall | |
| Designated: | 3 November 1954 |
| Reference #: | 1254036 |
Shibden Hall is a historic house in West Yorkshire, England. It is located in a public park in Shibden, near Halifax. The hall is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historic place.
The building has been changed a lot over hundreds of years. But its old Tudor style, with its half-timbered front, is still easy to spot.
One of the most famous people who lived here was Anne Lister. She inherited the hall from a family member. Anne Lister was known for keeping detailed diaries about her life.
Contents
History of Shibden Hall
The history of Shibden Hall goes back a long time. It was first recorded around the year 1420. At that time, a person named William Otes lived there.
Early Owners and Families
Before 1612, the Savile and Waterhouse families owned the estate. You can see their family symbols carved into a large stone window at the hall. In 1612, the estate was bought for John Hemingway. He passed away young.
In 1619, John Hemingway's uncle, Samuel Lister, inherited the hall. This began a long period of the Lister family owning Shibden Hall.
The Lister Family Era
The Lister family owned the Shibden estate for over 300 years. They were wealthy people who owned mills and sold cloth. The most famous person from this family was Anne Lister (1791–1840). She became the only owner of the hall after her aunt died.
In 1830, Anne Lister hired an architect and a landscape gardener. They made many big improvements to the house and its gardens.
- A gothic tower was added to the building. This tower was used as a library.
- New features were created in the park. These included terraced gardens, rock gardens, and a lake for boating.
- A special "Paisley shawl" garden was added to the terrace in the 1850s.
After Anne Lister passed away in 1840, her partner, Ann Walker, inherited the estate. Ann Walker died in 1854. Then, the hall went back to the Lister family.
Shibden Hall Becomes a Museum
Later, a Lister family member named John Lister faced money problems. Arthur McCrea took over the mortgages. Mr. McCrea then gave the hall to the Halifax Corporation.
In 1926, the estate became a public park. In 1934, the Corporation opened Shibden Hall as a museum.
Restoration and Recognition
Shibden Hall has been a Grade II* listed building since 1954. This means it is a very important historical site. The park and gardens were restored between 2007 and 2008. This restoration cost a lot of money, with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The gardens themselves were also listed as Grade II in 2000.
What to See at Shibden Hall Today
Today, Shibden Hall is open to everyone. It is a great place to learn about history.
Museum and Workshops
The West Yorkshire Folk Museum is located in a barn and other farm buildings next to the hall. At the hall, you can see many restored workshops. These include:
- A brewery, where beer was made
- A basket-weaving shop
- A tannery, where leather was made
- A stable with a collection of old horse-drawn carriages
Park Features
The park around Shibden Hall is also fun to explore. It has:
- A display of dry stone walling, which is a traditional way of building walls without mortar
- A play area for children
- A miniature steam railway
Filming Location
Shibden Hall has been used as a location for movies and TV shows.
- The movie Peterloo was filmed here.
- The BBC/HBO TV series Gentleman Jack was also filmed at the hall. This show is about Anne Lister, the former owner.
Because of the TV series, many more people have visited Shibden Hall. The local council even planned to open the hall for longer hours.
Music Room and Piano
Inside the hall, the music room has a special square piano. It was made in 1769 by John Pohlman. This is one of his oldest pianos. The piano is still in its original condition, though its stand is newer.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Calderdale
- Listed buildings in Northowram
