This West Yorkshire manor once sat at the heart of a vast agricultural estate. Explore the rooms inside East Riddlesden Hall and you’ll discover a house with many layers and mysteries. See if you can spot the signs of our unusual past as you wander.
A Hall Through the Centuries
The striking house you see today, with its iconic rose windows, was built thanks to James Murgatroyd, who purchased the estate in 1638 and began constructing this distinctive Yorkshire manor house.
However, this was not the first building to stand on this site, and it is just one chapter in the hall's long history. Our story stretches back to the Domesday Book, when a timber dwelling occupied the site. Over the centuries, the hall has been home to gentlemen, farmers, salesmen, and even prize-winning cattle. By the 1930s, the hall faced an uncertain future and came close to being demolished. Thankfully, it was saved by two local brothers whose passion and determination secured its survival for future generations.
Step inside and discover the many layers of the hall's past, from its years as a tenanted property to the last family who called it home. Along the way, learn more about the brothers who rescued the hall when its future hung in the balance and helped preserve this remarkable building for the community to enjoy today.
Explore the Hall's History
Step inside and explore the evolving history of East Riddlesden Hall. From its earliest days to the lives of its tenants, uncover the stories that have shaped the Hall through the centuries.
In the 1930s the estate faced an uncertain future. The absentee owners began dividing and selling the land and the hall was marked for demolition. Thankfully two local brothers, John Jeremy and William Brigg secured the site. Gifting it to the National Trust and securing its future. You can find out more about their role as saviours in His Own Parlour.
The Kitchen Chamber brings the story of the Bailey family to life. They were the Hall’s last tenants from 1887 to 1935. Once the bedroom of Christopher and Gertrude Bailey, the space has been transformed into a 20th century-inspired room featuring photographs, books, artwork and personal items generously donated by Bailey family descendants.
Between 1775 and 1935, East Riddlesden Hall was home to generations of tenants rather than its owners. The Hall was divided into smaller living spaces, and at times as many as five families lived under one roof. The Maides Chamber explores this often-overlooked period of the Hall's history through objects uncovered beneath the floorboards and other discoveries, offering a unique insight into the lives of the people who called the Hall home.
The Dining Room provides an impression of the house during the Murgatroyd period. Its beautiful wood panelling and ornate plaster ceilings showcase the craftsmanship of the time. Look above the fireplace to discover an interesting inscription that offers another glimpse into the room's history.
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Discover the Collection
East Riddlesden Hall had very few contents when it was donated to the National Trust in 1934. Thanks to gifts, bequests and loans, the Hall has since been furnished with a diverse collection of objects. Look out for some of these highlights during your visit.
Famed for its weight and size, the Airedale Heifer grazed on the lower fields of the East Riddlesden estate in the early 19th century. Its owner, William Slingsby, was offered a large sum of money for her to be exhibited around the country before an injury led to the heifer's unfortunate death. We have the poll belonging to the Airedale Heifer in our collection.
The Bailey family were the last tenants at East Riddlesden Hall from 1887-1935. Kathleen Bailey donated a selection of family photographs to East Riddlesden, giving a glimpse of what life was like at the Hall in the early 20th century. A selection of these photographs can be seen in the Kitchen Chamber which is dedicated to the Bailey family.
The only original object to the house, this large chest would have held different types of grain for baking. It is an inventive piece of furniture because it can be completely dismantled by removing the wooden pegs. We have a model grain ark for visitors to have a go at building in the Kitchen.
Created in 1841 when Agnes was just 13 years old, this needlework sampler was created a year after she left East Riddlesden Hall. Her family were tenants at the Hall, until her father tragically died from inflammation of the lungs after saving someone in the canal. It is thought the sampler, with two figures at the top, was a way for Agnes to process her grief.
Painted in 1690, it is the only portrait of someone who lived at East Riddlesden Hall, the painting mistakenly names Elizabeth's daughter-in-law, Sarah, as the sitter. It was only after a costume historian dated the outfit, that the real sitter's identity was revealed.
An archive spanning 20 years of conversations, the letters chart the Brigg brothers' efforts to save East Riddlesden Hall from potential demolition, before gifting the Hall to the National Trust in 1934. The letters are displayed on a six-monthly rotation in His Own Parlour.
The Great Barn is one of the finest examples of a tithe barn in the north of England. Pause for a moment to take in the huge gabled entrances and incredible wooden frame of this magnificent building.
The Great Barn has undergone very few changes since the 17th century and retains many of its original features, including its riven oak structure and flagged flooring. The barn would have been used to house cattle over the winter, as well as providing storage for food and fodder.
Today it is home to a collection of carts and carriges that were gifted to us from our local community. The Great Barn is free to enter on open days, but it closed throughout winter. Please check opening times when planning your next visit.
Discover more at East Riddlesden Hall
Find out when East Riddlesden Hall is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Uncover the story of this 17th-century manor house and how each of its owners left their mark, then learn how two brothers stepped in to save it from demolition in the 1930s.
Enjoy the peace and quiet of this intimate Yorkshire garden. Take a stroll through the borders and experience the sights and smells of spring at East Riddlesden Hall. Find out more about the gardens here.
Learn about the important conservation work and cleaning that staff and volunteers carry out throughout the year to keep East Riddlesden Hall in excellent condition.
