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In brief
A firm favourite for period drama TV producers and ghost hunters alike, the stately and very haunted East Riddlesden Hall is full of historical charm and captivating atmosphere. With a ream of resident ghosts and mystical occurrences that defy explanation, this location is certainly not one to be missed.
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About
East Riddlesden Hall is a striking two-storey manor house situated in the West Yorkshire town of Keighley. Featuring beautiful wood panelling, stone fireplaces, and ornate plasterwork ceilings, the infamously haunted property is set in peaceful grounds that include well-kept gardens populated by cherry trees, colourful flowers, and a serene lake.
The stunning Stuart property has been used as the location for a number of film and TV period dramas, including Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, Channel 5’s drama Anne Boleyn, and the TV series Sharpe starring Sean Bean.
Now owned and managed by the National Trust, this lovely house provides a rich testament to the lives, loves, triumphs, and tragedies of those who once lived and worked there.
History
Records show that a dwelling has existed in various forms since the 7th century, but the East Riddlesden Hall that we see today is largely the result of a rebuild by successful cloth merchant James Murgatroyd. The local wealthy businessman purchased the estate in 1538 and set about creating the beautiful Jacobean-style construction.
Murgatroyd’s initials and those of his wife remain on one of the outbuildings dated 1640. Sadly, James died before the renovations were finished, but he would no doubt have been very proud that the completed hall provided the Murgatroyd family with one of the grandest properties in the whole of the Aire valley.
In the periods that followed, there were various family troubles that resulted in James’ son, John Murgatroyd, passing away prematurely after running up debts and living a decadent and self-indulgent lifestyle. John’s sister Mary had married into the Starkie family, and the hall was jointly owned by the two families until the Starkies took full ownership in 1708. Successive members of the Starkie family remained at the hall until the death of the last male relative in 1797.
Throughout the nineteenth century, the property was divided up and tenanted by various farming families. It gradually fell into a seriously poor state and was facing demolition until it was purchased in 1933 by prominent local businessmen and twin brothers, John and William Brigg (William - Mayor of Keighley 1912-1916 is pictured below).
The Briggs, sons of former MP for Keighley, Sir John Brigg, swiftly started a program of restoration. Just one year later, the brothers ensured that the architectural heritage of the hall would be preserved for future generations by kindly gifting the property to the National Trust. Following further remedial works, the property was rendered safe and was opened to the public that same year, 1934.
Ghostly activity
The hall and its grounds are said to house a plethora of ghosts and unexplained activity.
- Footsteps are regularly heard running upstairs and across the landing when nobody is there.
- In the Great Chamber, staff complain that bedding appears ruffled with no explanation, that furniture moves, and that the antique wooden cradle (pictured below) rocks by itself.
- The sounds of children playing and chattering are heard in the area now known as the Barn (currently used as the tearoom).
- Ghostly dogs, cats, and horses have also been witnessed on the grounds.
- The spectral figure of a woman in a grey dress is a well-known apparition seen at the hall. She is said to have been cruelly imprisoned and starved to death by her husband, who discovered her affair when he unexpectedly returned from the Civil War. Although the actual room of her sad demise is unknown, the staff have named the area she is spotted in most often as The Grey Lady's Chamber.
- Mysterious groaning and tapping sounds are heard with no rational explanation.
- Shadowy figures and those described as a coachman and men dressed in old style soldier uniforms have been reported.
- The ghost of a small boy dressed in Victorian clothes has frequently been seen playing by the lake. On one occasion, a worried staff member assumed that a child had been left behind from an earlier visiting school party. Shortly after the alarm was raised and the grounds searched, it seemed that the boy had simply disappeared. Is this the ghost of 5-year-old Edward Horner, who drowned in the lake in 1880?
- A woman wearing an old-fashioned blue dress has also been witnessed walking by the water and around the grounds. Visitors often assume that she is a member of staff dressed in period costume to promote the historical hall, until they realise that she has disappeared or staff confirm that no such attendants have been employed.
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Location
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Bradford Road, Riddlesden, Keighley BD20 5EL, UK
Access
Please note that East Riddlesden Hall is set over two floors with stair access only to the first floor. The reception and shop areas are at ground floor level. The tea room is located on an upper floor, but tables, seating, and service are available on the ground floor for visitors using wheelchairs or with mobility difficulties. The grounds and gardens have gravel paths and grassy areas.
Visitors are welcome to make complimentary use of the hall's own wheelchair. Please call 01535-607075 for further information.
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