Royds Hall

Up to the year 1307 the Lord of the Manor of Royds Hall was William De Swillington. He left no heir, and after a short succession of owners the Hall and its estates passed to William Rookes of Rookes Hall, Norwood Green. In 1313 The Rookes Family became the tenants of the land and owners of the land in 1538 when the land was granted to William Rookes for Knights service during the dissolution of the monasteries. This entailed 40 days annual service to the monarch, then King Henry VIII, and the duties and attendant privileges which were transmitted to the heirs of the House of Rookes. After 500 years, Edward was the last of the Rookes line to inhabit the family seat. Edward was a colourful…

A significant property has stood on the site for over 800 years, evolving through the ages from a timber-framed structure into the grand residence seen today. The timber-framed house is dated to 1458. In 1640 William Rookes had the original timber frame encased in a stone façade and extended the property in 1651 to comprise two halls with four gables to the southern elevation. The final evolution of the main property took place in 1770 with the construction of the easterly cross wing. This is built in a typically grand Georgian style and provided the sixth gable which stands above the rest of the property.