This material is based upon several old texts which were written when the house was still in existence
These include the Halifax Courier and the Transactions of The Halifax Antiquarian Society article entitled Birks and Brackenbed by T. W. Hanson, May 6th 1911.
Full extracts from wills and deeds etc can be found there.
The area of Birks Hall is on the left of Shroggs Road going from Lee Bridge to Wheatley, Birks Hall house was on the Pellon side of the valley.
In 1540, John Milner sold to John Lister, of Halifax, for £18, two acres of land in Halifax, called the Byrkes. The witnesses were Brian Otes, John Bentley, John Thomas, George Milner, and others.
In 1542, the Dean's became owners of the estate and held it for about 150 years.
In 1566, a William Boithes, a weaver by trade, was tenant at Byrkes. He fell into arrears with his rent and Robert Dean had to terminate the tenancy.
In 1657, Robert Ramsden, of Stoneyroyd, along with his brother Paul, became entitled under the will of their uncle, Robert Ramsden, of the messuage called the Birkes, and a close thereto adjoining, in Halifax on trust to sell the same for the payment of the testator's debts.
In 1690, Samuel Threapland, the most interesting man who has lived at the hall, bought Birks from Mrs Rigg and John Thorp.
A Release dated August 5th 1690, states that Mary Rigg, of Halifax, widow, relict of Thomas Rigg, late of Halifax, yeoman, sold to Samuel Threapland, MD of Shelf the moiety of two messuages called the Baites, or Bate Stubbings, the Birks, and the Holme, 2 barns, gardens, etc, in Ovenden and Halifax.
Oliver Heywood in his diaries says of Dr Threapland
He was the son of Samuel Threapland, of Wibsey, and was born in the year of Marston Moor
He became Master of Hipperholme school in 1672. Mr Threapland did not live at the School-house at Hipperholme but, tabled with Mrs Brooksbank at Field Head, near Norwood Green
Dr Threapland was also a Doctor of Physick and gave up his teaching to follow his medical profession. He specialised in cancer, and some of his patients boarded with him at Field Head.
Heywoods' Register records:
Timothy Collier that came from Yeadon in Guisely parish dyed at Widow Brooksbanks in Shelf under Dr Threapland's hands of a cancer. March 1st. Carryed home dead in a horse litter March 2, 1691 aged 69
In 1690, Mr Threapland purchased Birks. Above the stable door is a stone inscribed ST 1699, which may indicate that he partially rebuilt the house. The stone certainly does not occupy its original position and may have been over the old entrance to the hall. There is little of Samuel Threapland's original building left. The kitchen, with its long oak dresser and plate rack, may be relics of his occupancy. The good-looking gateway (now wanting its ball ornaments) is also of that period. I think that the doctor designed the windows on that side of the hall. The mullions are 17th century pattern but the sheets of glass are 2 or 3 times the ordinary size, and give more light that the usual windows of that time. Other traces of the 17th century, or earlier, Birks, have been improved out of existence.
The Northowram Register contains several entries referring to Dr Threapland's patients:
Thomas Trueman, died July 22nd (1696), under Dr Threapland's hands, aged 74. Robert Snowden, of Hanging Royd, buried Feb 11th, 1703, died at Dr Threapland's
Dr Threapland died 16th April 1707, working almost to the last.
Mr Dickenson writes in the Northowram Registers:
Brooksbank of Eland, (this is not the Mrs Brooksbank that he lodged with) died at Birks, near Halifax, April 16th, about four o'clock in the morning, having had a cancer cut out of her breast a few weeks before by Dr Threapland, who also died himself the same day at 11 o'clock at night. She was buried April 19th, at Woodkirk, and he at Wibsey, the same day; she aged about 46 and he about 63
By his will dated March 24th 6th Queen Anne, AD 1706-7 and proved 3rd Dec 1707 he leaves to Francis Ramsbotham, my nephew, all the Capital Messuage called Birkes, in Ovenden, wherein I now inhabit, and all the outhouses, edifices, barns, buildings, crofts, closes, lands, etc., thereto belonging, Together with all other my messuages, lands etc., in Ovenden, and also all my messuages, lands, etc. in Halifax (excepting a house and barn in Halifax, wherein John Bolland formerly dwelt, and now in the possession of Joseph Robertshaw).
To hold to him the said Francis Ramsbotham, his heirs and assignes for ever. Also all the goods and chattels within or about the said capital messuage in Ovenden aforesaid.
Mrs Anne Brooksbank was the hostess of Dr Threapland at Field Head, Shelf. She was according to Heywood, Tim Wadsworth's daughter, and was married to John Brooksbank on 2nd August 1679. In 1682, John Brooksbank settled Field Head on himself and Ann, his wife, for life, with remainder to use of their issue. They seem to have had one daughter, Susan. Dr Threapland left her £5 and a silver watch. Susan lived with her mother in the rooms at Birks for two years, and then married.
Mr Thos. Danson, of Winsley, in Knaresbro' forest, and Mrs Susan Brooksbank of Birks, April 24 -- (Northowram Register, 1709)
At Bradford Parish Church on 6th June 1670, Francis Ramsbottom married Agnes Threapland, (Dr Threapland's sister). As the doctor remained a bachelor, his sister's children, the Ramsbottoms, became his heirs. Francis Ramsbottom, nephew to Dr Threapland, inherited his Ovenden estates, to which the doctor had added Little Brackenbed to the Birk's lands.
Francis Ramsbottom (son of the above Francis) inherited Birks in the spring of 1707 and in the following year he married Sarah, the daughter of John King, of Lower Bairstow. He was by trade a maltster, and the kilns at Birks were worked more or less for 150 years afterwards. There are remains of the vats still be found in the outbuildings.
Mrs Ramsbottom's brother, Samuel King, was a bachelor, and though he possessed Lower Bairstow, he came to live at Birks Hall soon after his sister's marriage. Samuel King died in 1724. Sarah Ramsbottom died 17th August 1733. Francis Ramsbottom died suddenly on 25th June 1737. On July 27th 1738, administration was granted out of the Archbishop's Court at York of the goods etc., of Francis Ramsbottom, to Samuel and Thomas Ramsbottom his sons.
Samuel Ramsbottom became master of Birks after his father's death, in midsummer of 1737. Letters of administration of the estate were granted to him and his brother on July 27th 1738, and a month later, he too was dead. The Northowram Register says:
Mr Ramsbottom of Birks Hall, died Aug 26th 1738. Francis, the third son, was the next owner of Birks
In 1762 he entered into a contract with the town's trustees to allow the people of Halifax to take water from Birks Hall Estate for a consideration of £300, but he died before the contract was executed. Francis II died 10th January 1766, and his wife, Martha died 12th March 1773. The only son and heir of Francis Ramsbottom, was Robert, born about 1740. His initials and date – RR 1772 – are on the fall-pipe heads at the front of the house. He completed the agreement about the Halifax Waterworks, Robert did not follow his father's trade as a maltster, but was a merchant.
The water from the springs in Birks Wood was conveyed in lead pipes to the reservoir at Gibbet Hill. It filled a 3in pipe, upon an annual average 150 gallons of water every twenty four hours had to be conveyed to Birks Hall
In 1783, Mr Ramsbottom bought Mixenden Hall. Robert died November 20th 1812, aged 72, his wife Mary lived to the age of 90, dying March 24th 1822. Robert and Mary Ramsbottom had a son, he also was called Robert.
Mr Ramsbottom was killed in the quarry in Brackenbed Lane just below where the High Level Railway now crosses. Miss Lister's diary tells of his tragic death:
Tuesday, March 12th 1822: As Mr Ramsbottom, of Birks Hall, was yesterday taking shelter under a large mass of projecting stone, it fell, and instantly crushed him to death
Robert was the last male Ramsbottom and Birks Hall then passed to his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth.
In 1853, Mary (Mrs Lancashire) and Elizabeth (Mrs Brooke) gave £400 and the land for building Pellon Church and Parsonage.
On the death of her sister, the estate passed to Mrs Brooke. Mrs Brooke by her will devised the estates to her daughter, Mary Ann Gott, for life, with remainder in tail to her children. In default of issue to her daughter, Sarah Rhodes, for life, and on her death to her son, his issue in tail; with remainder to Herbert Rhodes for his life, with remainder to Captain Henry Brooke Rhodes for his life, with remainder to his issue in tail.
Mr and Mrs Gott used Birks Hall as a residence as well as Armley House. The Halifax Courier of March 23rd 1861, states that
Mr John Gott, while on his way from his residence, Birks Hall, near this town, on Monday morning met with a serious accident by the overturning of a cab in which he was riding on his way to the station. The horse took fright and ran furiously down Horton street, when the cab overturned
On the principal entrance to Birks Hall is the monogram of Mrs Gott – M A G – evidence that Mrs Gott altered and rebuilt the residence.
Mrs Gott died without issue, and Mrs Rhodes succeeded to the property as tenant for life under the will of Mrs Elizabeth Brooke. On the death of Mrs Rhodes, Mr Herbert Rhodes, succeeded. He died without issue, and his brother, Captain Rhodes, succeeded and became tenant for life of the estate under the will of his grandmother.
In 1888, the late Alderman James Booth, then Mayor, purchased Birks Hall. He was at the same time chairman of the High Level Railway Company. Reserving about four acres for the railway, he transferred the other 56 acres to the Corporation for £19,625.
Among the later tenants of the Hall were Mr Hilton, a merchant in the seventies, John D. Hutchinson, editor of the Halifax Courier and MP for the borough; and the last gentleman to live here was William A. Asquith, the toolmaker.
From the present appearance of the house and grounds and Birks Wood and Valley, it seems quite a paradox to remind ourselves that the Health Committee is responsible for the development of the Corporation's purchase. The Committee proceeded to make a tip on the land, and a huge wedge of refuse has transformed a pretty valley into a howling desert. They supplied the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a fire by night. The tip caught fire, and for months there was a fine pyrotechnic display in the Wheatley Valley.
Finally, Birks Hall was used as a Convalescent Home to receive the children from Borough Fever Hospital.
Birks Hall seems doomed to the most miserable end – to be buried alive and by garbage!
Owners of Birks Hall include:
Plans now approved in principle by five committees of Halifax Town Council provide for the development of the drive (Birks Hall Carriage Drive) to carry modern traffic and to join up with a road across the Birks Hall tip, this linking Pellon Lane and Hebble Lane across the Wheatley Valley.Before Halifax Corporation began tipping refuse at Birks Hall 70 years ago, the carriage drive ran to the house of that name. It was a big house of no particular architectural merit. It was used finally as a home for the keeper of the Cleansing Department piggeries and when it finally disappeared, the old drive, with its few banks of rhododendrons was the only reminder that it had existed. The house disappeared under the tip in 1937
The road was never built, the remnants of the carriage drive still exist but it is blocked. The tip became known as Shroggs Road Tip.
This Page contains material which has been transcribed by Sue Johnson [sue.halifax@btinternet.com] who has provided the transcription on condition that any further copying and distribution of the transcription is only for non-commercial purposes, and includes this statement in its entirety. Any references to, or quotations from, this material should give credit to the original author(s) and editors
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