Clay House
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Sitting within a lush rural park in the village of West Vale, just three miles outside Halifax, Clay House is a beautifully maintained Jacobean mansion.
Although the house was built around 1650 for John Clay and the Clay family, the historic grounds of the estate have been dated back to the 13th century. The grounds of the house were opened as a park in 1924, and in 1929, a war memorial was built on the site. And as with many ancient sites, there have been many stories of paranormal activity in and around Clay House over the years.
A striking four-gabled building of vernacular architecture, the house has many original features including 17th-century wooden panelling, a minstrels’ gallery and stone mullioned windows. With impressive corridors and a grand staircase, the estate is now managed by Calderdale Council and makes a fitting setting for weddings and private events.
The wonderful terraces to the front and sides of the house offer a great lookout over the surrounding park and nearby trails. Marking the start of the Calderdale Way, a 50-mile walking route that circles the borough of Calderdale – there are many distinctive and varied walks starting out from Clay House.
Explore the rugged ‘up and down’ Yorkshire countryside and the hills, moors and valleys of Calderdale. There are some exceptional views along the way too. Climb up to Bank Top, Greetland to see where a Roman altar was found in 1597 and then take in the dramatic panorama of the Lower Calder Valley from the top of the wooded North Dean hillside.
A beautifully maintained Jacobean mansion.
Depending on where you start and end your ramble, Clay House has a pretty rose garden and picnic area for you to rest and fuel up too.
