Images by Cool Places Britain

Located on a hill above the main road from Halifax to the M1, Shibden Hall is a lovely manor house whose early parts date to 1420.

Shibden Hall is quite popular because it offers visitors a fascinating journey through the lives of the people who lived and worked here.

Its most famous resident was the noted diarist Anne Lister (1791 – 1840).

Anne wrote a detailed diary of her daily life and left behind twenty-six volumes of 7,722 pages. The diaries give a great insight into Anne’s life as a landowner, business woman, intrepid traveller, mountaineer and lesbian.

Since Shibden Hall is the focus of the BBC drama series written by Sally Wainwright, ‘Gentleman Jack’ exploring the life of Anne Lister (1791 – 1840), people flock to see her house and her memorabilia.

Walking

Shibden Hall is set in West Yorkshire, with the Yorkshire Dales to the north and the Peak District to the south. The area around Halifax is great for walking. Many trails start from Shibden Park.

You could also head for Calder Valley. The Calder Valley meanders some 15 miles west from Halifax towards the Lancashire border. There are many fine walks in this area, many of them starting and ending in Hebden Bridge.

Halifax walk
Hebden Bridge Loop
Stoodley Pike hike
Mary Towneley Loop

Cool Places to Explore: Hardcastle Crags.