Slide 11 - The Gardens at Ribston are very tastefully and attractively laid out with a numerous assortment of trees and shrubs and flowering plants. Many of these were no doubt planted by Sir Henry Goodricke, the fourth Baronet, who died in 1738. Sir…
Slide 10 - Attached to the Hall is the Ancient Chapel of St Andrews, commonly called Ribston Hall Chapel, wherein are some memorials of the Templars as well as the Goodricke Family. There are also two memorial tablets to the present family of Dent.…
Slide 9 - The rooms of the house are lofty and well lighted, and admirably fitted up throughout. The principal staircase from the ground to the upper floor is of stone, which, though not of a very elaborate character, is, nevertheless, pleasing and…
Slide 8 - The Library, or Oak Room, also bears evidence of the great care devoted to the beautifying of the place,and above the mantelpiece there are some admirable carvings by Grinling Gibbons, which are fine examples of that noted carver's skill.
Slide 7 - Here we have another one showing a similar mantle-piece at the West end of the same apartment. Over each of these is a fine wall painting identical in size, but different in subject.
Slide 6 - The mantle-pieces at the East and West ends of the Saloon are of delicate and refined workmanship, of white Italian marble, inlaid with other coloured marbles under the shelves, which are supported on each side by fluted Ionic pillars with…
Slide 5 - The sumptuous character of the decorations and general appointments of the Saloon are again seen in this slide, which shows one corner of the room.
The rich and elaborate colouring to the ceiling, cornice and frieze, are especially fine,…
Slide 4 - The great saloon, which we now enter, measures 44 feet by 31 feet, is very handsomely decorated in the Italian style, and is said to have been completed in Sir John Goodricke's time. It is adorned with large wall paintings copied from some…
Slide 3 - Above the entrance door to the saloon is the date 1674 and the Goodricke cipher. Surmounting the whole is a shield bearing the Goodricks arms empaling legge, but this has now decayed through age.
Slide 2 - Sir Henry Goodricke, the 2nd Baronet, who succeeded to the estate in 1670, was a man of importance in his time, and a strong Royalist. He took an active part in the Revolution of 1688 and was a very active supporter of the Prince of Orange.…
Slide 1- In a beautiful part of the valley of the winding Nidd stands the historic house of Ribston Hall. The house is picturesquely situated on the elevated ground, more than half encompassed by the River Nidd, and the Park is widely extended and…
Slide 14. Such is the central point of the scenery in which walk the dauntless 'Shirley', the gentle Caroline, the Rectors, the inimitable Curates, and all the dramatis personae who take part in this perfect West Riding Drama.
Slide 12. Quoting again from 'Shirley' . . . . . .. She continues - 'And I cannot but secretly applaud the benevolent barbarian who had painted another and larger apartment - the Drawing Room to wit, formerly also an oak room - of a delicately pinky…
Slide 11. Very somber it was; long, vast, and dark; one latticed window lit it dimly - the wide old chimney contained now no fire, for the present warm weather needed it not; it was filled with willow boughs. The gallery on high opposite the entrance…
Slide 10. 'The enclosure at the front, half court, half garden, the broad paved approach, leading from the gateway up to the Porch, and the somber old vestibule beyond.'
Slide 9. Oakwell Hall is the place described in Charlotte Bronte's 'Shirley' as 'Fieldhead'. It tallies exactly with the real Oakwell. There are some beautiful touches in the pictures of Fieldhead which are offered us.
Slide 8. The accompanying photograph shows a copy of this placard. Revisiting the Hall, a short time after, I found the framed placard had mysteriously disappeared, also one of the stag's horns had been broken off, and these, and also the placard…
Slide 7. The Oakwell property passed out of the hands of the Batt's early in the eighteenth century, and afterwards came into the possession of another celebrity, Fairfax Fearnely, Esq., a sessions Lawyer of great repute and indomitable spirit. In…
Slide 6. Ascending the Staircase we reach the Gallery on the upper floor. The Oaken Balusters and handrail of the gallery front are seen, also a portion of the large Hall Window.
Slide 5. At the foot of the Staircase leading out of the Great Hall are folding dog-gates. These were used in olden times to prevent the dogs belonging to the household gaining access to the Rooms on the first floor.
Slide 4. Entering the Hall through the open porch which is protected inside with a stout oaken door, we enter a passage which extends through the building from front to back. On the left of the passage is a screen. Passing through one of the arched…
Slide 3. In front of the house is a grassy lawn, on two sides of which are the remains of a moat, which still holds water, over which is a stone bridge. Taking our stand under some trees, another peep of the house is seen.
Slide 2. Henry Batt pulled down and sold the bell in Birstall Church, and demolished the Vicarage house hitherto standing in the churchyard. However, in the reign of James the First the successor of Henry Batt, the spoileator, had a decree for…
Slide 1. Oakwell Hall, Birstall, is a building rich in historic lore, and is besides one of the best specimens of a halled-house of the sixteenth century - the date upon it is 1583, and the builder, Henry Batt, appears to have been a most eccentric…