History Of Birks Hall

The area of Birks Hall is on the left of Shroggs Road going from Lee Bridge to Wheatley, Birks Hall house was on the Pellon side of the valley.
In 1540, John Milner sold to John Lister, of Halifax, for £18, two acres of land in Halifax, called the Byrkes. The witnesses were Brian Otes, John Bentley, John Thomas, George Milner, and others.
In 1542, the Dean's became owners of the estate and held it for about 150 years.
In 1566, a William Boithes, a weaver by trade, was tenant at Byrkes. He fell into arrears with his rent and Robert Dean had to terminate the tenancy.
In 1657, Robert Ramsden, of Stoneyroyd, along with his brother Paul, became entitled under the will of their uncle, Robert Ramsden, of the messuage called the Birkes, and a close thereto adjoining, in Halifax on trust to sell the same for the payment of the testator's debts.
In 1690, Samuel Threapland, the most interesting man who has lived at the hall, bought Birks from Mrs Rigg and John Thorp.
A Release dated August 5th 1690, states that Mary Rigg, of Halifax, widow, relict of Thomas Rigg, late of Halifax, yeoman, sold to Samuel Threapland, MD of Shelf the moiety of two messuages called the Baites, or Bate Stubbings, the Birks, and the Holme, 2 barns, gardens, etc, in Ovenden and Halifax
At Bradford Parish Church on 6th June 1670, Francis Ramsbottom married Agnes Threapland, (Dr Threapland's sister). As the doctor remained a bachelor, his sister's children, the Ramsbottoms, became his heirs. Francis Ramsbottom, nephew to Dr Threapland, inherited his Ovenden estates, to which the doctor had added Little Brackenbed to the Birk's lands.
Francis Ramsbottom (son of the above Francis) inherited Birks in the spring of 1707 and in the following year he married Sarah, the daughter of John King, of Lower Bairstow. He was by trade a maltster, and the kilns at Birks were worked more or less for 150 years afterwards. There are remains of the vats still be found in the outbuildings.
Mrs Ramsbottom's brother, Samuel King, was a bachelor, and though he possessed Lower Bairstow, he came to live at Birks Hall soon after his sister's marriage. Samuel King died in 1724. Sarah Ramsbottom died 17th August 1733. Francis Ramsbottom died suddenly on 25th June 1737. On July 27th 1738, administration was granted out of the Archbishop's Court at York of the goods etc., of Francis Ramsbottom, to Samuel and Thomas Ramsbottom his sons.
Samuel Ramsbottom became master of Birks after his father's death, in midsummer of 1737. Letters of administration of the estate were granted to him and his brother on July 27th 1738, and a month later, he too was dead. The Northowram Register says:
Mr Ramsbottom of Birks Hall, died Aug 26th 1738. Francis, the third son, was the next owner of Birks
In 1762 he entered into a contract with the town's trustees to allow the people of Halifax to take water from Birks Hall Estate for a consideration of £300, but he died before the contract was executed. Francis II died 10th January 1766, and his wife, Martha died 12th March 1773. The only son and heir of Francis Ramsbottom, was Robert, born about 1740. His initials and date - RR 1772 - are on the fall-pipe heads at the front of the house. He completed the agreement about the Halifax Waterworks, Robert did not follow his father's trade as a maltster, but was a merchant.
The water from the springs in Birks Wood was conveyed in lead pipes to the reservoir at Gibbet Hill. It filled a 3in pipe, upon an annual average 150 gallons of water every twenty four hours had to be conveyed to Birks Hall
In 1783, Mr Ramsbottom bought Mixenden Hall. Robert died November 20th 1812, aged 72, his wife Mary lived to the age of 90, dying March 24th 1822. Robert and Mary Ramsbottom had a son, he also was called Robert
Robert was the last male Ramsbottom and Birks Hall then passed to his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth.
In 1853, Mary (Mrs Lancashire) and Elizabeth (Mrs Brooke) gave £400 and the land for building Pellon Church and Parsonage.
Mr and Mrs Gott used Birks Hall as a residence as well as Armley House. The Halifax Courier of March 23rd 1861
Mrs Gott died without issue, and Mrs Rhodes succeeded to the property as tenant for life under the will of Mrs Elizabeth Brooke. On the death of Mrs Rhodes, Mr Herbert Rhodes, succeeded. He died without issue, and his brother, Captain Rhodes, succeeded and became tenant for life
In 1888, the late Alderman James Booth, then Mayor, purchased Birks Hall. chairman of the High Level Railway Company. Reserving about four acres for the railway, he transferred the other 56 acres to the Corporation for £19,625.
Finally, Birks Hall was used as a Convalescent Home to receive the children from Borough Fever Hospital.