Lottery money to help study history of long-vanished hall

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £46,800 to a project to investigate the history and development of the former Thornhill Hall in Rectory Park, Dewsbury.

The history and development of the former hall, a moated medieval manor house, will be investigated and brought to life through a range of community-based activities thanks to the HLF award.

Thornhill was the seat of the Savile family in the 14th to 17th century.

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The hall was built around 1450 and comprised a stone-built manor with moat and gatehouse in its own park, which was redeveloped around 1600.

Immediately to the north of the island is the site of a 17th century bowling green while to the west lie three earthwork terraces which are probably the remains of a formal garden of the later hall.

During the Civil War, in August 1648, troops of Lady Anne Savile defended the hall against the Parliamentarians, but were forced to surrender and the hall was accidentally blown up and destroyed.

Today, the site is largely overgrown and the only visible remains are the moat, part of the fireplace and front wall, two damaged statues which may have been on a gatehouse plus loose stones from the former buildings.

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The remains are grade II listed and currently classed as being ‘at risk’ by English Heritage and the site, moat, former bowling green and site of the formal gardens are a scheduled ancient monument.

The project, which will start in the summer, involves the engagement of an archaeologist to work with the community and schools to help them learn about the history of the site, and its former buildings through a varied programme of activities, events and research; scrub clearance works on the island to facilitate the discovery and recording of masonry from the former buildings and easier access for participants and the production of a leaflet and interpretation panel about aspects of the site’s history.

The project will be run by The Friends of Rectory Park and Kirklees Council.

Council Cabinet member Councillor David Sheard said: “This should be a fascinating project which will shed light on an ancient part of Thornhill and I will look forward to seeing the results. I hope the community will take a keen interest in their past.”