Bolling Hall, Bradford

Gatehouse Classification - Pele Tower

Has been described as a Certain Solar tower (peel-tower)

There are major building remains

NameBolling Hall, Bradford
Alternative NamesBowling Hall
Medieval CountyYorkshire West Riding
Historic CountryYorkshire
Modern AuthorityBradford
1974 AuthorityWest Yorkshire
Civil ParishBradford

A large hall, the most substantial surviving in Bradford. It' is also the earliest in structural origin being an enlargement on the basis of 2 medieval probably C14 towers. Sandstone and gritstone rubble. The towers with parapet copings and stone slate roofs. The main south front between the towers is mid C17, circa 1660 and has a remarkable variety of fenestration and motifes: cross mullioned windows, semi-circular and circular mullioned windows, 2 canted bays through 2-storeys of 8 lights and a vast hall window of 5 plus 5 lights with 2 transoms. Rising from the lintel of the hall window is a 3 light semi-circular window and 3 light ogee window, above this there is also a Victorian canted bay window next to the right hand tower. The rear elevation has projecting wings, the west one is the only ashlar faced part of the hall and has plain mullioned windows but there is a probably reset medieval window of 3 ogee headed lights on the top floor. The east wing has mullioned and transomed windows. Inside the hall has an C18 ceiling and a gallery to the rear. One room on the first floor retains lively original plasterwork consisting of broad bands foliage and birds contained between them. (Listed Building Report)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSE17303143
Latitude53.77892
Longitude-1.73885
Eastings417300
Northings431430
Length
Width
Dimensions Comment
Vault
Vault Comment
Orientation
Orientation Comment
Wall Thickness 1
Wall Thickness 2
Map
Holder
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Copyright Tim Green and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license.View full Sized Image
Copyright Tim Green and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license.View full Sized Image
Copyright Tim Green and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license.View full Sized Image

Books

  • Turner, Maurice, 2004, Yorkshire Castles: Exploring Historic Yorkshire(Otley: Westbury Publishing) p. 11, 219, 235
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Yorkshire(Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 21
  • Emery, Anthony, 1996, Greater Medieval Houses of England and WalesVol. 1 Northern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 317
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties(Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 302
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum(London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 514
  • Ryder, P.F., 1982 (paperback edn 1992), The Medieval Buildings of Yorkshire(Ash Grove Book) p. 108-22
  • Pevsner, N., 1959, Buildings of England: Yorkshire: West Riding(London, Penguin) p. 132-3
  • Ambler, L., 1913, The old halls and manor houses of Yorkshire, with some examples of other houses built before the year 1700(London: Batsford) p. 50 online copy

Antiquarian

  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p. 569
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543(London: Bell and Sons) Vol. 5 p. 38, 39 online copy

Journals

  • Wood, 1960, Country LifeVol. 128 p. 1482
  • Scruton, W., 1883, 'Bolling Hall' Old YorkshireVol. 4 p. 107-111 online copy

Guide Books

  • WYAS, 1988, Historic Houses of West Yorkshire: Bolling Hall, Bradford