Houndhill
Encyclopedia
Houndhill is a fortified manor house in Worsbrough
, Barnsley
, England
dating from the Middle Ages
. It was originally owned by the Elmhirst family who lived on the site from the 14th century. After several enhancements and ownership changes it is now back in the hands of the Elmhirst family as the family seat
. The manor house is now a Grade II* listed building.
mansion and then fortified by perimeter walls and turrets with provision for a garrison of approximately fifty men at arms.
for the Royalist
cause. Richard Elmhirst was the chief agent for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
whose house, Stainborough Castle sits across the valley from Houndhill. Richard Elmhirst held the fort from the time of the Battle of Edgehill
until late 1644. Oliver Cromwell
was returning south from his victory at Marston Moor and the Siege of York
and diverted forces to dislodge the stubborn resistance. The 50 defenders stood little chance and large parts of the walls were destroyed by the Roundheads. Legend has it that Cromwell himself dined in Richard’s kitchen after the brief siege although this is unsubstantiated. Richard Elmhirst was expected to be executed for his resistance but persuaded Cromwell to pardon him on two grounds. Firstly, that the house had been held against vagabonds on both sides. Secondly, that his wife, Elizabeth Elmhirst (née Waite) was pregnant with their eighth child, William. He was reprieved. During The Restoration Richard Elmhirst was granted the Elmhirst Coat of arms
by King Charles II of England
.
on HMS Africa (1781)
at the Battle of Trafalgar
in 1805 and Philip's nephew Charles Elmhirst rose to become a Lieutenant General in the 19th Century. During the Industrial Revolution
coal was discovered in abundance beneath the family lands. Houndhill was sold when the Elmhirst family moved into a purpose built castle named Elmhirst in the Ward Green
area of Barnsley. Air Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst
and Leonard K. Elmhirst
were both brothers who lived at Elmhirst. Subsidence from coal mining in the area led to the dereliction of Elmhirst in the 1930s and the family bought Houndhill back. It was bombed by the Germans during raids on the Sheffield area during World War II
but escaped undamaged. It did not take in refugees due to its proximity to the industrial target of Sheffield but did take German POWs to work on the land.
Today the house is still owned by the Elmhirst family after 700 years and remains the family seat. The house is not open to the public.
Worsbrough
Worsbrough is an area about two miles south of Barnsley in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England.-Geography:Worsbrough includes Worsbrough Bridge, Worsbrough Common, Worsbrough Dale, Worsbrough Village and Ward Green. The River Dove flows east-west through Worsbrough and...
, Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
dating from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. It was originally owned by the Elmhirst family who lived on the site from the 14th century. After several enhancements and ownership changes it is now back in the hands of the Elmhirst family as the family seat
Family seat
A seat or family seat is the principal residence of a family. The residence usually denotes the social, economic, political, or historic connection of the family within a given area. Some families took their dynasty name from their family seat , or named their family seat after their own dynasty...
. The manor house is now a Grade II* listed building.
Medieval times
The house first came to documentation in 1306 when Robert de Elmhirst worked the land. It was developed and fortified during the Middle Ages by nine generations of Elmhirsts. It was developed from a medieval manor into a TudorTudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
mansion and then fortified by perimeter walls and turrets with provision for a garrison of approximately fifty men at arms.
English Civil War
Richard Elmhirst held it during the time of the English Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
for the Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
cause. Richard Elmhirst was the chief agent for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1639 he instituted a harsh rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland...
whose house, Stainborough Castle sits across the valley from Houndhill. Richard Elmhirst held the fort from the time of the Battle of Edgehill
Battle of Edgehill
The Battle of Edgehill was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642....
until late 1644. Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
was returning south from his victory at Marston Moor and the Siege of York
Siege of York
The Siege of York in 1644 was a prolonged contest for York during the English Civil War, between the Scottish Covenanter Army and the Parliamentarian Armies of the Northern Association and Eastern Association on the one hand, and the Royalist Army under the Marquess of Newcastle on the other...
and diverted forces to dislodge the stubborn resistance. The 50 defenders stood little chance and large parts of the walls were destroyed by the Roundheads. Legend has it that Cromwell himself dined in Richard’s kitchen after the brief siege although this is unsubstantiated. Richard Elmhirst was expected to be executed for his resistance but persuaded Cromwell to pardon him on two grounds. Firstly, that the house had been held against vagabonds on both sides. Secondly, that his wife, Elizabeth Elmhirst (née Waite) was pregnant with their eighth child, William. He was reprieved. During The Restoration Richard Elmhirst was granted the Elmhirst Coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
by King Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
.
Recent history
Although farmers by tradition Richard's Great Great Grandson, Philip Elmhirst was a MidshipmanMidshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on HMS Africa (1781)
HMS Africa (1781)
HMS Africa was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched by Barnard at Deptford on 11 April 1781.-American War of Independence:...
at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
in 1805 and Philip's nephew Charles Elmhirst rose to become a Lieutenant General in the 19th Century. During the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
coal was discovered in abundance beneath the family lands. Houndhill was sold when the Elmhirst family moved into a purpose built castle named Elmhirst in the Ward Green
Ward Green
Ward Green is a district of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England in the Metropolitan borough of Barnsley.- External links :...
area of Barnsley. Air Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst
Thomas Elmhirst
Air Marshal Sir Thomas Walker Elmhirst KBE, CB, AFC, DL, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the first half of the 20th century and the first commander-in-chief of the newly independent Indian Air Force where he organised the funeral of Mahatma Gandhi following his assassination...
and Leonard K. Elmhirst
Leonard K. Elmhirst
Leonard Knight Elmhirst was a philanthropist and agronomist who worked extensively in India. He was co-founder with his wife Dorothy of the Dartington Hall project in progressive education and rural reconstruction....
were both brothers who lived at Elmhirst. Subsidence from coal mining in the area led to the dereliction of Elmhirst in the 1930s and the family bought Houndhill back. It was bombed by the Germans during raids on the Sheffield area during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
but escaped undamaged. It did not take in refugees due to its proximity to the industrial target of Sheffield but did take German POWs to work on the land.
Today the house is still owned by the Elmhirst family after 700 years and remains the family seat. The house is not open to the public.