CALVERLY OLD HALL ~ YORKSHIRE
Calverley Old Hall is already known worldwide for its sensational historical discoveries.
A lost chamber of 16th-century wall paintings was found there in 2021.
The house is currently undergoing a major repair and renovation programme.
The oldest parts of the hall date back to the 14th century, but most of it is Tudor.
It was the seat of the Calverley family for centuries until the 1750s, when they sold the estate and moved to Esholt Hall.
The Old Hall began to be converted into cottages from the late 17th century, then the dreadful murders of 1605 happened.
A drunken Sir William Calverley killed his two toddler sons, stabbed his wife and threw a servant down the stairs!
In 2022, restoration work threw up more surprises. Several objects were found hidden in wall cavities, including centuries old children’s clothing, and ‘witch bottles’.
In past centuries, objects were often deliberately concealed in a building’s eaves or wall spaces, to ward off evil spirits.
A stoneware bottle found at the base of a roof truss in the great hall, is possibly a witch bottle.
The dark brown liquid has fingerprints and smears.
‘Witch bottles’, were hidden and would contain urine or hair, to protect a person from evil entities, and dark forces.
A white leather ‘pocket’ or pouch was found in the wall between the parlour and lodging blocks.
It hangs from a wide belt of gingery brown cloth, with a lining of coarsely woven linen.
From the mid- 17th century, such ‘tie-on’ pockets were worn by women tied around their waist, perhaps under an apron.
Inside the pocket is a small iron key.
Why was the pocket hidden in a wall?
What did the key unlock?
What secret was its owner hiding?
So many questions!
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