Shibden Hall, Interior

Slide 4 – The entrance to the Hall on the south side is by a long narrow porch, which opens into a long passage (as was the case in all medieval mansions) through the entire width of the house. On the left of this passage is the most interesting apartment in the building, the central hall or ‘House Body’ which occupies the centre between the two gables of the older portion of the house, and retains both within and without the characteristics which must have marked it soon after its erection. The room is a square apartment, open to the roof, and lighted by a stone window which bears some very interesting specimens of stained glass. It was put in by Robert Savile about 1504, a former owner. The Central Hall is furnished with old English furniture, in keeping with the place. The dining table dates from the time of Queen Elizabeth. The table is narrow, as compared with most present day dining tables. The reason for this was that that the family and their guests sat on one side of the table only, and were served by the attendants from the opposite side. A fine collection of portraits of the Lister family is also hung in the Hall.