Royds Hall

Royds Hall Manor is one of the surviving manor houses in the Yorkshire Region. It is a Grade II* listed building situated on an elevation over 700 feet above sea level in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and was once the residence of the Lords of the Manor of North Bierley and Wibsey.

Maps of Yorkshire dated 1600 or earlier show Bowling hall, now a museum, and Royds Hall as the only two houses in the district. The house is also mentioned in the Domesday book.

Up to the year 1307 the Lord of the Manor of Royds Hall was William De Swillington. He left no heir, and after a short succession of owners the Hall and its estates passed to William Rookes of Rookes Hall, Norwood Green.

In 1313 The Rookes Family became the tenants of the land and owners of the land in 1538 when the land was granted to William Rookes for Knights service during the dissolution of the monasteries. This entailed 40 days annual service to the monarch, then King Henry VIII, and the duties and attendant privileges which were transmitted to the heirs of the House of Rookes.

After 500 years, Edward was the last of the Rookes line to inhabit the family seat. Edward was a colourful character who changed his name to Rookes Leedes, when he married a wealthy heiress, Mary Leedes. He was a prominent racehorse breeder and constructed a racecourse at the property. He was actively involved in the construction of Turnpike Roads in the area and was mainly instrumental in the cutting of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Despite the large fortune his bride endowed him he rapidly ran into debt, through gambling, and he ended his days in debtor’s prison in 1785.

In 1788, Reverend Joseph Dawson purchased the estate through the Low Moor Iron Company. The Reverend, trained as a scientist, was the chief technologist of the company’s success. During his time at the property he invited his friend Joseph Priestley, who went on to gain scientific notoriety, to stay at the property. Joseph Priestley discovered Oxygen and it is thought that he carried out many of his experiments at Royds Hall.

Successive chairmen of the Low Moor Iron Company occupied the property until the 1920s. Finally in 1932 Royds Hall was purchased by a private owner who stayed until 1975. Two further owners since lovingly maintained and improved Royds Hall, including millionaire businessman Sir Earnest Hall who was responsible for much of the restoration of the property, returning it to its former glory.

In 2014, Multibrands International Ltd, a Bradford-based company with operations worldwide, became only the fifth owners of this magnificent property.

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Wikipedia