The Bramley History Community Archive

Bramley Old Hall, to give it its full title, seems to have been shrouded in mystery for hundreds of years.

The Hall was situated on Lower Town Street, (approximately 150 yards on the left after leaving the 'Old House' and going towards Town End) but the front of the house did not face on to Lower Town Street itself.

Many stories have been relayed over hundreds of years about what was an undoubtedly ancient and impressive building. Bramley Old Hall must (and we believe without doubt) have been the oldest, largest and, more than likely, the most expensively built house in Bramley of old.

The firm belief that there was a passageway leading from the hall to Kirkstall Abbey is one to have come firmly down the paths of time. Although there is no actual proof of its existence there must have been evidence of there being one leading from the house itself for the story to have started. The notion is such a romantic one, it is almost inconceivable that anyone should wish to see it disproved at some future date.

Many years ago a Mr. Bretheric, a descendant of one of Bramley's oldest families, lived in the Hall for many years, but unfortunately details of his years of occupancy are not known to us, but indications are that this would have probably been in the 18th or early 19th centuries.

It would appear that various entries were made in the Vestry and Parish Registers relating to the Hall.

In 1854 a Mr. Benjamin Wilson endeavoured to trace the Hall's history, but seems to have been no more successful than others before him or since. A letter to Mr. Wilson, dated 21st February 1953, goes as follows.

"Dear Sir, - The earliest deed we have is 4th February 1800 being a conveyance from a Daniel Wilson and his wife and Benjamin Ferrand to John Barker, Snr., of Bramley. Daniel Wilson, Esq., is described as of DalhamTowers, Westmorland, and appears to have possessed the Old Hall in right of his wife, Sarah, who was the heiress of Robert Harper, of near Wakefield, which Robert Harper is described as being the heir-at-law of a Robert Harper, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Middlesex. But by an old abstract which carries us as far back as January 1705, the Old Hall appears to have belonged to a Miles Walker, and was then settled on his wife, and on the 28th November 1723, was sold to the Robert Harper above mentioned. There is no reference in anything we have which can connect it with the Abbey lands. If such a connection does exist it will have to be traced from the Miles Walker mentioned above to a period very remote. – Yours respectfully,

J. Wood"

Referring back to the subterranean passage. Attempts have been made over the years to explore this passage, but on each occasion such attempts have been aborted due to the foul smelling air and poisonous gases being emitted.

The existence of the passage has often been in question, but at the time of the building of the Sandford housing estate, parts of what could have been a passageway are reputed to have been found. Then there was always the question of how would they have tunnelled under the river Aire? In recent times when, it was discovered that most of Leeds was actually built on solid bedrock, the possibility of there having been such a tunnel seemed more feasible, but still no evidence, or investigation, to support this myth has ever been discovered or undertaken.

At the end of the 19th century the Hall was almost removed to make way for the tramlines to be laid along Town Street, and onwards to Rodley. However, the Hall withstood this first proposed demolition and lived on for more than another half-century before it fell into ruin and was eventually torn down to make way for what was described as 'The improvement of Bramley' in the 1960's and 70's. It has been said by some - "We're still waiting for it".

There were many old stone properties, sitting in their quaint surroundings, which would have made the eyes of many a property developer just gleam with delight when contemplating the amounts of money they would make when selling on such homes. In fairness, not all the old properties were in a state where they could have been resurrected, so to speak, but yet there were many which could, and should have been preserved

2008.