The Hollins, Warley

PH/28. The sketch and description were originally published in The Halifax Courier in 1912-1913. A castle-like building with a fine Norman tower. It is known that there have been three buildings on the site; the present one was erected short of a century ago by the Dearden family. The old houses were called Murgatroyd, or Moorgate Royd, signifying ‘the clearing on the way to the moor’, though the name Hollins is mentioned by Oliver Heywood in his diary, Dec 26, 1672. A remnant of the old 1632 house has been incorporated in the billiard room – an old-fashioned fireplace over which are inscribed the initials ‘JM’ and ‘MM’ (James and Marie Murgatroyd). The massive old cellars, much like dungeons, have been preserved. The Hollins was the last residence of one of our most celebrated local poets, William Dearden, author of ‘The Star Seer’ and ‘The Vale of Caldene’. PH/28.