Situated in the glorious North Yorkshire countryside, close to Ripon, Grantley Hall is an impressive building. Built by Thomas Norton towards the end of the seventeenth century in a grand palladium style, with construction being completed shortly before the reign of Queen Anne, the property remained with the Norton family for almost 200 years, with various wings and extensions added over time. The house was further expanded by the shipping magnate, Sir Christoper Furness, who bought the estate in 1900, followed by Sir William Ackroyd in 1925. With the outbreak of war in 1939, Sir William loaned the estate to the war effort and the house was used as a convalescent home for wounded pilots and soldiers. In 1947 the house and estate were sold to a private syndicate and broken up, ending years of family ownership.
The hall was then used a residential college for over 50 years until it was purchased in 2015 by Yorkshire-born Valeria Sykes, who had a vision to retore Grantley to its former glory by creating a five-star luxury hotel and wellness retreat. An extensive renovation project took almost three years to complete, successfully preserving the traditional elegance of the building, whilst adding modern comforts and state-of -the art facilities.
A cast iron rainwater pipe is one of the most recognisable features of a period property. It is often specified by planners and architects to maintain the traditional appearance of historic buildings and we are proud that J & JW rainwater pipes were chosen for Grantley Hall. It’s not just about looks, cast iron is strong and durable and will keep the property safe from rainwater for many years to come.
As part of the restoration, J & JW Longbottom supplied various sizes of rainwater pipe, all using our No. 308 ornamental ear bands. Ear bands are separate castings and fit around the pipe socket to hold the pipe against the wall. The project used square and rectangular sand cast pipes, plus round traditional pipes and our No.1 hopper heads were used on some of the pipe stacks.
The house has enjoyed a colourful and varied history, welcoming queens, princesses, MPs, artists and even received a visit from Dame Vera Lynn when she arrived to sing to the injured troops. Today, Grantley Hall receives guests from all over the world, who continue to enjoy its period splendour and grand architecture.
Grantley Hall©