Kirklees Hall

53°41′46″N 1°44′34″W

Kirklees Hall is a 16th century Grade I listed Jacobean hall, close to the English village of Clifton, West Yorkshire in Calderdale. The hall and grounds are now a collection of luxury residences. The previous owner, Lady Armytage, sold the property in 1983 but still lives within the grounds of the estate. In the 12th century, the Cistercian monks built Kirklea Priory. The former gatehouse can still be seen, though the site is on private land.

Robin Hood associations

Main article: Kirklea Priory

Kirklees is connected to Robin Hood as it is said to be his final resting place. In the folklore song Geste it is said that Robin Hood was the nephew of the prioress, who sheltered him when he was fleeing from the Sheriff of Nottingham.

She drained his blood (as was a common medicinal practice in those days). She drained too much and he died. Though one can't be certain of her intentions, local folklore tells us that it was murder. There is still a site for Robin Hood's Grave on the local Ordnance Survey map.

The grave is located a short distance from the building where Robin Hood died, easily an arrow shot away. The grave is clearly marked as belonging to Robin Hood. Because the gatehouse and grave are both located on private land, the truth about Robin Hood's final moments and resting place have remained a mystery for much of time.

For further information see www.robinhoodyorkshire.co.uk

Death of Lady Margarete Armytage

Maria Margarete, Lady Armytage, who died 4 April, 2008, aged 81, was the second wife and widow of Captain Sir John Lionel Armytage, 8th Baronet, of Kirklees Park, Brighouse, West Yorkshire. She was born circa 1926, the former Maria Margarete Tenhaeff, daughter of Paul Hugo Tenhaeff, of Bruenen, Niederhein, and married Sir John (whose GB Baronetcy was created in 1738) in 1949. He died in 1983. She leaves a daughter and a step-son, Sir (John) Martin Armytage, 9th Baronet. Lady Armytage lived in historic Kirklees Hall until 1997 at which time she moved to a smaller property in the grounds of Kirklees Park.

Her ladyship and Bishop Seán Manchester were linked for more than twenty years by the mysterious and sometimes sinister happenings in the vicinity of a ruin tomb on unconsecrated ground at Kirklees Park. It must be admitted that they did not always see eye to eye on how best to deal with these occurrences; especially at the beginning. As time passed, however, an understanding developed and the co-operation so absent at the beginning was eventually reached in an atmosphere of mutual respect. They both agreed, for example, that nocturnal visits by those immersed in witchcraft was counter-productive and, coupled with the attendant publicity generated by such people, served only to inflame the situation.

Bishop Manchester's final comment was made three years ago and ended with these words: "Lady Armytage has my complete sympathy and support in this matter. I shall do all I can to help." *

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