Thornhill Hall facts for kids

Thornhill Hall is an old, ruined house in Thornhill, England. It sits on an island surrounded by a moat (a ditch filled with water) in Rectory Park. The remains of the house are protected, and so is the moat and the land around it. This means they are important historical sites.

Archaeologists dug here between 1964 and 1972. They found that two different houses stood on the island over time. The first was a big building from the 1200s. Later, around 1450, a stone house shaped like the letter 'H' was built. This second house was updated in the 1500s with new floors, walls, and a chimney.

History of Thornhill Hall

This is the original coat of arms for the Thornhill Family, before they intermarried with the Saviles.

For a long time, Thornhill Hall was the home of the Thornhill family. They were an important family during the time of King Henry III (in the 1200s). Over the years, members of the Thornhill family married into other families, like the De Fixbys and Babthorpes.

In 1370, during the reign of King Edward III, the last Thornhill family member, Elizabeth Thornhill, married Sir Henry Savile. Because she was the only child, the Thornhill family line at the hall ended. Thornhill Hall then became the main home of the powerful Savile family.

The Saviles also married into other important families, like the Calverley family. For example, when Sir John Savile died in 1503, he made sure his sister Alice, who had married Sir William Calverley, was taken care of in his will.

George Savile was given a special title called a baronet in 1611. The Savile family lived at Thornhill Hall until the English Civil War. This was a big conflict in England between 1642 and 1651. It was fought between the King's supporters and the forces of Parliament.

In 1643, Thornhill Hall was attacked by Parliament's army. Sir William Savile, who was the third baronet of the family, had made the house stronger to defend it. In August 1643, Lady Anne Savile's troops, led by Captain Thos. Paulden, tried to defend the hall against Parliament's forces, led by Colonel Sir Thos. Fairfax.

They were forced to give up, and sadly, the hall was accidentally blown up and destroyed. After this, the Savile family moved their main home to Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire.

Some ruins of the house and the moat are still there today in Thornhill Rectory Park. This large house used to have a secret underground passage. It led to Thornhill Parish Church, which is only a few hundred yards away from the park. The passage stayed hidden until the early 1990s. It was then filled in to make sure everyone was safe.

Recent Discoveries

In the summer of 2011, a group called the Heritage Lottery Fund gave money for a special study of the ruins. This helped experts learn more about how the old house was built.

Images for kids

• Part of ruined wall.jpg

  Part of a ruined wall

• Chimney stack.jpg

  A chimney stack that is still standing