North Lees Hall

Category:

Lees Hall is thought to have been the inspiration for Thornfield Hall, the home of Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre. The Eyre family lived at the hall between 1750 and 1882. Charlotte Bronte visited them in 1845, two years before Jane Eyre was published. Charlotte drew inspiration for her novel from the local area, basing Morton village on Hathersage.

North Lees Hall has a history 250 years older than the Bronte sister’s visit. It was built in 1590, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. There was a chapel near to the hall for Catholic worship in 1685, but it was torn down by Protestants. The rebuilt round-headed doorway is a poignant memorial to religious hatred