WOOD LANE HALL
SOWERBY
HX6 1NE

Perhaps one of the finest vernacular buildings in West Yorkshire is magnificent Wood Lane Hall, built by successful yeoman clothier, John Dearden in 1649/1651, incorporating earlier frame and some early C18- C19 alterations. This magnificent GRADE I Listed F Plan building is the last, we believe of the two storey open-hall houses in West Yorkshire. This fine open-hall gives access to five parlours and service rooms. Stairs give access to six bed chambers and bathrooms by means of the gallery which runs around three walls. In the open-hall is a very fine Tudor arched fireplace, original decorative ceiling and king mullion windows.

Wood Lane Hall has an aura of antiquity and status of the time, is set in approximately one acre of delightful, secluded mature landscaped gardens, (see attached plan) together with approx 2 acres of meadow land. In addition there are, in keeping with the House, double garage, wash house, kitchen garden and utility areas together with large cellars and attics.

This elegant property is in superb condition with oil central heating and cast iron radiators. The rooms are of exceptionally large dimensions and with the original features, including magnificent original fireplaces, ornate cornice, friezes, wide stone staircase and beautiful woodwork.

Stone Gate posts with iron gates lead to driveway and formal lawns, shrubbery borders, flower borders, mature trees and meandering pathways surrounding the building. There is a large Yorkshire stone flag and cobbled courtyard. This property is located in a beautiful setting, in an area of outstanding natural beauty with awe inspiring views over miles of magnificent open countryside. The property offers peace and tranquillity and yet is approx. four miles from the M62 network for accessing major towns and cities. Leeds Bradford Airport is approx. fifteen miles. Alternatively the centre of Hebden Bridge is approx. three miles or one mile from centre of Sowerby Bridge for all amenities including a railway station which has a regular services to Leeds or Manchester.

Ground floor Magnificent C17 TWO STOREY PORCH - 2.31m x 2.27m with a fine 'Rose Wheel' window. The carved double arched Entrance is surmounted by carved header stone initialled J.D. & E.D. 1649 with central carved stone portrait of the original owner and a carved stone Doric column to each side of the Entrance. There are moulded cornice and ball finials: Stone side tabling and stone flagged floor. Original oak, brass studded and with brass furniture entrance door and arched topped fixed arrow type window leading to…

Off the Passageway on the right is the MORNING ROOM - 4.65 x 4.59m 6-light chamfered mullion window to the front. Window to side. Two radiators

ELEGANT DRAWING ROOM - 6.28 x 4.54m Parquet floor. Moulded and decorative cornice. Two radiators.

FINE EXAMPLE OPEN HALL - 7.27 x 7.20m approx. This two storey open hall has an aura of antiquity and status of the time. It has a magnificent three tier twenty seven section period stone mullion window. There is access to parlours and, by means of the gallery running round three walls, and with many early turned balusters set in carved panel giving access to most of the bed chambers. Large magnificent carved stone Tudor arched fireplace - cornice and wood panel above, carved with floral motifs.

FAMILY DINING ROOM - 5.50 x 3.72m max. Chamfered mullion window. Ornate ceiling.

DINING KITCHEN - 5.16 x 4.6m Carved fireplace with 'Aga'. Bespoke pitch pine craftsman built fitted kitchen comprising floor and wall cupboards, drawers and island unit. Fitted cupboards. Solid marble work tops. Stone fireplace with arch carved lintel inset with oil fired 'Aga'. 'Belfast sink' Stone flag floor. Oven and halogen hob. 4-light window. 2-light mullion window. Stairs to the first floor.

Second LANDING 9.90 x 2.16m max. At the end there is a large beautiful wheel rose window with some original leading. Two chamfered mullion windows. Two entries to the Gallery.

GALLERY -The gallery running round three sides has turned balusters set on carved panel; fine panelling with hearts and carved frieze, panelled doors with arched surrounds; elaborate moulded ceiling has pomegranates, shields and lions in relief and fluted central boss. Chamfered Tudor arched doorways; three original doors of four moulded panels and with butterfly hinges. Original floorboards are beautifully waxed. Four radiators.

BEDROOM THREE - 2.65 x 3.06m. This bedroom is quite unique in that one of the previous owners (in the Sugden family) had a great love of cargo ship cruising and he had this room created in an extremely authentic form as a Ship's Cabin with all the expected features even down to the life jacket and other cruising memorabilia and is kept as a 1920's / 1930's ship's cabin and has been left untouched.

Also from Landing Two there is access to…

BEAMED BATHROOM ONE - 3.57 x 2.74m max. with cast iron style Bath, wash hand basin and wc. Mullion windows to the rear. Wooden floor. CLOAKROOM with wc and wash hand basin

BEDROOM TWO - 6.28 x 4.56m max. Window to the rear. Wash hand basin. Heated towel rail. Antique cast iron radiator. Windows to side and rear.

BEDROOM FOUR - 5.52 x 4.46m Mullion window to the rear. Wash hand basin.

From the Gallery access to… BEDROOM FIVE - 5.54 x 5.23m (Guest Room) Original stone fireplace. 6-light window to the garden frontage and old original leaded light window to the side. Wash hand basin. Moulded cornice and spine beams.

From the Gallery there is also access to INNER LANDING with second staircase to ground floor (Kitchen), Master Bedroom, Bathroom and Attics.

MASTER BEDROOM- 5.55 x 5.21m max. Mullion windows to side and rear. Wash hand basin. Ogee-chamfered fireplace. A fine king- post truss.

BATHROOM TWO - 3.70 x 3.11m Four piece suite comprising restored period central peninsular white enamelled enclosed bath with veined marbled panels, wc, wash hand basin and restored period shower. Mullion window. Radiator.

EXTERNAL Across the cobbled side courtyard is the stone built DOUBLE GARAGE with concrete floor and pair of heavy oak brass studded entrance doors with brass hinges and door furnishings. Adjoining is a stone built outside access WASH KITCHEN with lighting, power sockets, water supply and panelled central heating radiator.

The gardens are lovely - with the majority of the well stocked and mature gardens are to the front of the property. These are unique, with lawns, specimen trees, large shrubbery, perennial and rockery gardens with meandering pathways. To the rear is a kitchen garden and utility area. The views are superb overlooking miles of open countryside.

VIEWING - Strictly by appointment with our office.

LOCATION - From our Hebden Bridge office turn right and proceed for approximately one mile into Mytholmroyd. Turn right taking the Littleborough/Cragg Vale Road. Under the railway arch and turn left on to Scout Road. Follow this road which changes names to Sowerby Road and Pinfold Lane. Pass the old Church on the right and proceed for approximately 500 metres. Wood Lane is a narrow lane on the left before reaching the T-junction. Continue down the lane and turn right down a single track lane to The Gate Post for Wood Lane Hall.

Utilities to the property consist of spring water supply, electric and septic tank drainage.

Tenure is Freehold.

GRADE: I Wood Lane Hall Wood Lane, Sowerby, West Yorkshire HX6 1NE Full description: House. Dated 1649 and 1651 incorporating parts of earlier frame and with late C18-early C19 alterations. For John and Elizabeth Dearden. Coursed squared stone, stone slate roof. Hall with cross-wings plan, 2 rooms deep. 2 storeys with cellar and attic; 3 bays, outer 2 gabled. Chamfered plinth, transomed double chamfered windows with cyma-moulded mullions and some stanchions, string with decorative stops flanking windows, decorative stopped dripmoulds to principal 1st-floor windows, coped embattled parapet with finials to merlons and coped gables. Between central (hall) bay and right bay is a 2-storey porch: doorway has fluted jambs on plinths, imposts, bi-cusped lintel carved with male head and '1649 IDED' above; it is in architrave of fluted columns on lozenge-decorated plinths supporting entablature with head in frieze, moulded cornice and ball finials; large 1st-floor rose window with mouchettes and some original leading and glass under dripmould with headstops dated 1651; fronting central finial is sundial; right return of porch has 1st-floor window and gutter spout. Central, hall, bay: tall 9-light window with king mullions and 2 transoms breaks string and has dripmould; to its left a doorway, formerly a window with chamfered lintel. Left bay projects and both this and right bay have a 6-light window with king mullion to ground and 1st floors and a stepped 3-light single chamfered window with moulded cill to attic, left bay has a 2-light window to each floor of right return. Ridge stack at right end of hall paired, corniced, diamond-set flues; 2 other stacks to right wing, on left of ridge. Rear: 3 gabled bays with 2-storey porch between right hand bays. Plinth, double chamfered mullioned windows transomed except for untransomed 2-light cellar windows, string. Porch: dog-kennel; arched light and 2-light windows above to either side; entrance is up steps on right return through chamfered quoined, Tudor-arched doorway; on right of a 4-light window. Right bay: a 2-light window to each floor. Central bay: a 6-light window with king mullion; broken spout below; two 3-light windows above. Left bay: two late C18-early C19 2-light windows; on left, steps down to plain stone surrounds doorway. Gables have chamfered coping and finials. Left return: a 4-light and three 2-light windows to ground floor; string returned from front; two 4-light and one 2-light windows above; gutter spouts, each carved with a face or animal. Right return: sashes with glazing bars to 1-and 2-light flat faced mullion windows. Interior: hall: full-height; large very fine chamfered Tudor-arched fireplace with fluted Ionic pilasters on lozenge decorated plinths, cornices, wooden panel above carved with floral motifs and spiral frieze rises into cornice with knobs on frieze; gallery running round 3 sides has turned balusters set on carved panel; fine panelling with hearts and carved frieze; panelled doors with segmental arched surrounds; elaborate moulded pilaster ceiling has decorative panels with pomegranates, shields and lions in relief and fluted central boss. Front left room has chamfered segmental-arched fireplace with wooden leaf-carved panels above and flanking consoles; carved frieze to panelled walls. Kitchen, to rear centre, has very wide fireplace; in one section the 2 spine beams have moulded plasterwork on soffit with central lozenge and pomegranates; in the left end the spine beams are chamfered and the window has stanchions and leaded glazing. The right wing has altered late C18-early C19 and the ground floor room has a bolection-moulded fireplace, large panels on walls, cornice, imported earlier dog-leg stair with spiral and decorative-panelled balusters. 1st floor: chamfered Tudor-arched doorways; 3 original doors of 4 moulded panels and with butterfly hinges. Front left room has a good cyma-moulded Tudor-arched fireplace, moulded cornice and spine beams. Rear left room has ogee-chamfered segmental-arched fireplace; leaded lights to window; a king-post roof truss with vertical struts and continuous mortice in soffit of tie beam for former partition wall. At top of stairs to rear left is a section of early balusters. Another king-post roof truss visible in central rear room. The wheel window is identical to that at New Hall.

MORTGAGES: Arranged by Independent Financial Advisors. FREE quotation, without obligation, at the best available rates. Please ask for details. To assist you in your decision to move we will be happy to call at your home and give a verbal valuation on your existing property. There will be no charge or obligation.

Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other loan secured on it.

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