Description

DEWSBURY CB LEES HALL ROAD
SE 21 NW (Thornhill Lees)

5/58
Thornhill Lees hall
30/6/49
G.V. I

East wing and part of central hall range of a timber framed house.
The rest has been destroyed. Early C15 probably c.1412 for William
Nettleton of Quarmby (whose family moved there at that date).
Robert Nettleton added the hall in 1530 (Ambler). C17 coursed stone
and quoins, to east, and ground floor to north. Some later brick
infill to south and some recent alterations and stonework. The wing
and hall form a T-plan and are separately framed, joined only by a
small penthouse, containing the stairs, formed at the angle between
the 2 structures.

The east wing is a 2-storey, 2-bay structure, of sawn oak jointed by
round section pegs, driven from the outside. From this it is deduced
that this wing was built before the hall. Close studding tosides,
diagonal studding to gable ends; king post trusses braced to ridge.
The ground floor is divided into 2 bays by a partition of vertical
studding, both with a door into the hall. The 1st floor has a single
chamber with an exceptionally fine plaster frieze and ceiling of C17
date. The floor deck is also said to be C17. Other plasterwork and
wainscotting has been removed. The ceiling consists of squares,
lozenges and triangles with flowers, fleur-de-lis and exotic fruit.
The tie-beam of the centre truss is cambered and similarly plastered.
The frieze is of affronted unicorns and lions with female figures
and trees.

The open hall is I½ bays in length with posts with close studding
bressumers and wall plates. King-post trusses are arched-braced to
ridge. The centre truss is more elaborate with stop chamfers.
2 purlins to each pitch. At the east end is a well preserved
canopy, the full width of the building, consisting of curved oak
planks with lath and plaster infill. The west wall of the hall is
of C20 brickwork and contains recent fireplace. On the north side
is the penthouse containing an open stair from the hall to the 1st
floor of the east wing. The stair has turned balusters. The walls
of the penthouse are of C17 stonework, but mortice holes in the wall
plate show that it was originally timber framed.

The house was occupied by the Nettleton family until 1655 when it was
bought by Thomas Hobson who lived there until 1668, followed by the
Radcliffe family. The Thornhill family of Fixby lived there in the
C18.

T. G. Manby, "Lees Hall Thornhill - A Medieval Timber Framed Building
in the West Riding of Yorkshire", (Yorkshire Archaeological Journal
Vol. 23), 1971.
L. Ambler, Old Halls and Manor Houses of Yorkshire, 1913.
N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, 1967.

Listing NGR: SE2330919992

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17530435

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide