Description

LEEDS

SE23NE OTLEY ROAD, Weetwood 714-1/6/1217 (East side) 19/10/51 Weetwood Hall

GV II*

Large house, now hall of residence. 1625, extended late C18, 1887, 1926; restored and extended 1992. For Daniel Foxcroft. Gritstone ashlar, slate hipped roof. 3 storeys, part cellar, 7-bay facade to SE, this main block 3 bays deep with C19 and C20 extensions to rear left, the NW. SE front: entrance bay 5 has moulded quoined surround, large lintel with carved shield and string below datestone, initials missing, date '1625'. Thin Ionic columns on pedestals supporting entablature with deep dentilled cornice. Sashes with glazing bars in plain stone surrounds, the frames recessed. The moulded string at ground-floor window-head height has the scars of the cut-back pendant stops of the original fenestration. Projecting eaves band, banded stacks to left and right. Rear: central C17-style doorway under a single-storey passage, C19 rear wing projects on right; on left a fine recessed-chamfered 8-light cyma-moulded mullion and transom window with king mullion, moulded string with pendant stops above; patterned leaded lights. A similar window to 1st floor, without transom; 4-light mullion window right, ground and 1st floors, two 3-light windows to 2nd floor. Left return: the main block has a C17-style porch with attached Ionic columns and raised lettering: '1625 AC 1887', 3-light bay window right, recessed bay left linking to the C19 and 1926 wing; sashes with glazing bars above, as front. Right return: the main block has a projecting full-height flat-roofed central bay with recessed chamfered mullioned windows of 5 lights, the ground floor projects again as a single-storey addition with moulded parapet, continuous dripmould, square gate pier attached right and an octagonal room with stone slate roof opening into the rear yard. INTERIOR: a narrow entrance hall with large room left, the doorcases pedimented and scrolled, with panelled reveals, the ceiling having restored C17 plaster with alternating panels of circular and Greek cross shapes connected by bars, heraldic emblems in the panels, a bird above a flower, lion etc. A small room on the right has the remains of a plaster frieze of hunting dogs chasing a stag, a square panel with flowers and a cased-in ceiling beam; stone stairs to 1st floor and cellar beneath this room, not examined.

The rear wing has the former kitchen fireplace with quarter-round moulding to jambs and joggled voussoirs, 2 cased-in chamfered spine beams. HISTORICAL NOTE: Daniel Foxcroft was related to Anthony Wade who rebuilt New Grange in 1626 (now The Grange, Beckett Park, qv), the family probably came from Halifax. In 1663 Weetwood Hall had 11 hearths and the estate remained in the family until c1760-80; Tuke's map of 1781 shows Lady Denison as owner of the estate. In 1824 Joseph Oates died at Weetwood Hall, he was probably a tenant of Lady Denison; the estate was sold to Christopher Beckett and tenanted during the C19: the important Marshall family of Marshall's flax mills in Holbeck (qv) have C19 connections here as at New Grange, Henry Cowper Marshall was resident in 1864 and Henry Marshall, flax spinner, in 1875 (Directories). Alfred Cooke was the owner of the Hunslett Printing Works (qv) and added the Otley Road lodge (qv) as well as extending the Hall in 1887. In 1919 Sir Hickman Beckett Bacon was the vendor of the estate to Leeds University for a hall of residence and extensions were built in 1926. (Directories of Leeds, 1864, 1875, 1888; Hopwood WA (pers.comm.): 1992-).

Listing NGR: SE2698638029

External Links

• Weetwood Hall official website
• Wikidata Q17533926

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

• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover