Celebrating Calverley Old Hall
Forty-three years in the making, the momentous repair and conversion of Calverley Old Hall is now complete. Today, the building was officially launched with a series of celebratory opening events attended by a host of supporters, craftspeople and partners.
We were delighted to welcome the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, to open the building and meet many of the individuals involved in its metamorphosis.
Grade I-listed Calverley Old Hall was gradually developed from the 12th century onwards yet recently sat in a state of dilapidation, suffering from water ingress and vandalism, and considered amongst the most at-risk buildings in England.
Today, thanks to over 2,000 generous supporters, including The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are delighted to celebrate the complete repair and transformation of Calverley Old Hall, securing this important medieval building for the future.
L-R: Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of the Landmark Trust; Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West and Pudsey; Simon Thurley, Chair of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Landmark Chair, Alan Leibowitz at today's launch
Rachel Reeves, Member of Parliament for Leeds West and Pudsey, said:
“Visiting Calverley Old Hall today has been a great pleasure. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate its restoration and see the spectacular results of this incredible project that has brought so many people together to achieve one shared vision.
I look forward to seeing the revitalised building boosting both Calverley’s local economy and community activity in the years to come. Thank you to everyone who has made this remarkable transformation happen.”
A dramatic transformation
Landmark’s dramatic transformation is our biggest project to date. Architects Cowper Griffiths, who won an open architectural competition, have fused the conservation of medieval fabric with subtle and stylish contemporary design. The main medieval spaces have now become a house sleeping 10 people, available to rent as self-catering accommodation. To the rear we have created a dedicated community room available to hire, and an assured shorthold tenancy one-bedroom flat.
At the project’s heart has been public engagement, including the sharing of traditional craft skills with volunteers, trainees and apprentices. The rejuvenation also included a surprise discovery of a near-complete chamber of sophisticated Tudor wall paintings, now dated to c.1560 and painstakingly conserved by Opus Conservation.
The income generated by letting the building’s various spaces will ensure Calverley Old Hall never again falls into disrepair.
Director of the Landmark Trust Dr Anna Keay OBE says ‘Calverley Old Hall is a sensationally important medieval building that has now been completely reborn thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the design brilliance of Cowper Griffith Architects and the peerless skills of the craftspeople involved. There could be no better beginning to our charity’s 60th anniversary than to reveal the completed building and celebrate the achievement of all those involved.’
Landmark Chair, Alan Leibowitz; Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of the Landmark Trust and Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West and Pudsey in the Painted Chamber at Calverley Old Hall
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said ‘we are delighted to have supported the magnificent restoration and reveal of the treasure that is Calverley Old Hall. This building was long at risk, and the Landmark Trust have not just saved the building but given it new life at the heart of this area, boosting the local economy and providing a new community space for all to enjoy’.
Click here for more information about Calverley Old Hall including the Tudor wall paintings, history of the building and Calverley family, together with further details about the holiday let or community space and to join events.
This project was possible thanks to National Lottery players together with support from the Culture Recovery Fund, trusts and foundations, generous gifts in wills and a remarkable 2,005 further individual supporters.