Shibden Hall And Park

It was a nice day yesterday so we decided to go a little further afield than we usually do and visit Shibden Hall and Park which is in Halifax. We've never been here before so we didn't really know what to expect. It was a little cooler there than it was at home, and quite breezy too, we would have probably been better going today as it's been a really lovely day.

Shibden Hall dates back 600 years. It was built around 1420, and from around 1615 to 1926, it was owned by the Lister family. Anne Lister 1791-1840 became the owner after the death of her aunt. She was known as a well off Yorkshire landowner, traveller, mountaineer and diarist. In her diaries she detailed her life, including her financial concerns, her work improving Shibden Hall and her lesbian activities. Her diaries contain details of her romantic and sexual relationships, but they were written in a code derived from a combination of algebra and Ancient Greek. They were deciphered in the 1930's.

We didn't look around the hall as we had Archie with us, it was really the grounds which we came to explore. There was plenty of open space for Archie to have a good run.

There was lots of water in the park, so we had to keep putting Archie back on his lead. We saw a couple of dogs which had jumped in the lake, and as we didn't fancy having a wet dog in the car we took precautions. He even had a go at getting in to this little fountain which was built in to a wall.

This waterfall emptied out in to a pool. Luckily, it wasn't within easy reach for Archie.

It was only the ducks and geese which were using the boating lake. I'm sure it's well used in summer though.

There's a lovely playground for children, it's just a shame that my two are too old to use play equipment now. It does make me feel old though. Archie managed to find a huge sandpit too.

A little train takes it's passengers around the grounds.

There were some lovely crocus displays but they were a little worse for wear, the wind had certainly given them a battering.

We came across a tree stump which was covered in moss and fungi, fascinating.

Back towards the hall, we could see the wall which surrounds it. Can you see the open door? Daniel and Eleanor are nothing if curious so off they went.

Eleanor went in one direction, she arrived at the top.

Daniel went in another direction, we could just see a face peering out of a window.

We popped in to one of the cafes for ice cream, very reasonably priced, and there was another cafe down by the lake too. I really enjoy exploring new places.

On the way home we popped in to Halifax town centre, looked round the shops there, and also had a mooch around the Piece Hall. It was nice to see it busier than I've seen it previously. We had an all round nice day.