Weetwood Hall

WEETWOOD HALL

Large house, now hall of residence. Built in 1625, extended in the late 18th century, 1887, and 1926; restored and extended in 1992. Originally built for Daniel Foxcroft. Constructed of gritstone ashlar with a slate hipped roof. The building is 3 storeys with part cellar, presenting a 7-bay facade to the south-east. The main block is 3 bays deep with 19th and 20th century extensions to the rear left and north-west.

The south-east front features an entrance bay with moulded quoined surround, a large lintel carved with a shield and string below a datestone reading '1625' (initials missing). Thin Ionic columns on pedestals support an entablature with deep dentilled cornice. Sash windows with glazing bars sit in plain stone surrounds with recessed frames. A moulded string at ground-floor window-head height bears scars from cut-back pendant stops of the original fenestration. The eaves have a projecting band, with banded stacks to left and right.

The rear elevation features a central 17th-century style doorway under a single-storey passage, with a 19th-century rear wing projecting on the right. On the left is a fine recessed-chamfered 8-light cyma-moulded mullion and transom window with king mullion, moulded string with pendant stops above, and patterned leaded lights. A similar window appears on the first floor without transom, with a 4-light mullion window on the right at ground and first floors, and two 3-light windows on the second floor.

The left return of the main block has a 17th-century style porch with attached Ionic columns and raised lettering reading '1625 AC 1887', a 3-light bay window on the right, and a recessed bay on the left linking to the 19th and 1926 wing, with sashes above as on the front. The right return features 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, a square gate pier attached on the right, and an octagonal room with stone slate roof opening into the rear yard.

Interior: A narrow entrance hall contains a large room on the left with pedimented and scrolled doorcases with panelled reveals. The ceiling has restored 17th-century plaster with alternating panels of circular and Greek cross shapes connected by bars, with heraldic emblems including a bird above a flower and a lion. A small room on the right preserves remains of a plaster frieze depicting hunting dogs chasing a stag, a square panel with flowers, and a cased-in ceiling beam. Stone stairs lead to the first floor and cellar beneath this room (not examined).

The rear wing contains the former kitchen fireplace with quarter-round moulding to jambs and joggled voussoirs, and 2 cased-in chamfered spine beams.

Historical context: Daniel Foxcroft was related to Anthony Wade who rebuilt New Grange in 1626 (now The Grange, Beckett Park). The family probably came from Halifax. In 1663, Weetwood Hall had 11 hearths and remained in the family until around 1760–80. Tuke's map of 1781 shows Lady Denison as the owner. In 1824, Joseph Oates died at Weetwood Hall, likely as a tenant of Lady Denison. The estate was subsequently sold to Christopher Beckett and tenanted during the 19th century. The important Marshall family of Marshall's flax mills in Holbeck had 19th-century connections here and at New Grange; Henry Cowper Marshall was resident in 1864 and Henry Marshall, flax spinner, in 1875. Alfred Cooke, owner of the Hunslett Printing Works, extended the Hall in 1887 and also added the Otley Road lodge. In 1919, Sir Hickman Beckett Bacon sold the estate to Leeds University for use as a hall of residence, with extensions built in 1926.