Wycoller Hall

Wycoller Hall is a ruined 16th-century manor house in an English woodland setting, with walls featuring large mullioned windows and an empty doorframe where an ornate porch once stood. The surviving structures sit on foundations that supported a lived-in estate for centuries.

The Hartley family built the hall in 1596, and the Cunliffe family later expanded it through marriage connections in the early 1600s, creating a significant estate. After generations of occupation, the house gradually declined until only the stone walls remained standing.

The ruins are widely linked to Ferndean Manor from Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, as the author knew this area and likely drew inspiration from what she saw here. Visitors walking through the crumbling walls can sense the mood that permeates Brontë's novel.

The site sits within Wycoller Country Park and is freely accessible for exploring the ruins. Parking is available on the road from Trawden and near Height Laithe Farm, making it straightforward for visitors to reach the location.

A large fireplace from 1950 restoration work still stands inside the ruins and is one of the few preserved interior elements. Much of the building material was taken away over the years by locals for use in other constructions, making this remaining feature noteworthy.

Location: Trawden Forest

Inception: 1596

GPS coordinates: 53.84910,-2.10378

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:02