Burghwallis Hall

The early Manor House with fishpond was situated in the Park, to the South of the present Hall.  Building on this present site probably started during lordship of the Gascoigne family.  As Sir William was the High Sherriff of Yorkshire, the old Manor would most likely have been 'out of fashion' to his eyes and a house of higher status was built next to the Church.  The oldest surviving parts are roof timbers of Tudor date and would have been part of the Hall resided in by Thomas Gascoigne, who died in 1554.  it is unlikely that the Lord (consecutive 'Sir Williams') resided here; younger members of the family would be in residence to run the affairs of the estate.

The hall probably remained as a Tudor building for many years after it passed to the Anne family about 1690. During the 18thC., a five bay South-West wing with a centre three bay rood pediment was built and exterior rendered with stucco. Michael Anne inherited the estate in 1802; after his marriage in 1810 he sold the family estate at Bodney in Norfolk, using some of the proceeds to enlarge and alter the Hall at Burghwallis. Stucco was removed and the central pediment on the South-West wing dismantled to all for a further story with five gables.

In 1941, the Hall was sold to the Bishop of Leeds.  The Anne family had always been of the Catholic faith and in 1946, tradition carried on as the Hall passed to the 'Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Good and Perpetual Succour'.  They turned the Hall into a rest home for elderly ladies.  In 1986, it was sold to the Dominican Sisters of Oakford, a South African Foundation.  They made extensive alterations, building a new Chapel and a retreat room, although the Hall continues to be a Rest Home for elderly ladies.