Greenwood Lee, Heptonstall

Greenwood Lee House is a large yeoman clothiers’ house, Grade II* listed and perhaps one of the finest vernacular buildings in West Yorkshire. Although the porch bears the date 1712, it is recorded as having been sold twice in 1650. For a time it was in possession of the Sutcliffe family and in 1762 it was purchased at auction by Abraham Gibson. There was a rumour that Abraham was so drunk at the auction that he didn’t know what he was doing. Abraham ran a cotton spinning mill at Greenwood Lee and built on an extension to house a water wheel before moving down the valley to work at Gibson Mill. Gibson Mill was eventually given to the National Trust in the early 1950’s along with Gibson Mill. The Trust sold Greenwood Lee off and it is now in private ownership. The position is magnificent, overlooking Hardcastle Crags, a National Trust area of outstanding natural beauty.