Edgar Wood’s Briarcourt – An Arts and Crafts Renovation
Briarcourt, 28 Occupation Road, Lindley, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD3 3EE
The first of Edgar Wood’s architectural commissions in Yorkshire, Briarcourt was originally built around 1895 as a wedding gift from a mill-owner to his son. It has since been an architect’s residence, and a home, day centre, and workplace for hundreds of Council service users and staff for more than 65 years. Now back in private ownership, the latest chapter for this special building is a 10-years-and-counting process of stripping back the institutional trappings, repairing the frayed edges, and working to conserve her for future generations to appreciate.
As well as viewing the exterior, you will have the opportunity to visit the 3 main reception rooms and hallway of the house, which all incorporate original decorative features from across the applied art disciplines. You will also be able to see examples of contemporary stained glass in the toilets and porch. Stewards will be on-hand to answer questions about Edgar Wood, the design and history of the building, and the renovation process.
A new outbuilding will also be open where you can talk to Deb Lowe and Rob Hollywood, who have brought their skills in stained glass design and decorating to the renovations.
This event has been scheduled to tie in with other local HOD openings. Because of Edgar Wood’s family links to the village, Lindley is a hotspot for his architecture – so we recommend also visiting Lindley Clocktower and Lindley Methodist Church while noting his Norman Terrace house designs en route.
Briarcourt, 28 Occupation Road, Lindley, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD3 3EE
Briarcourt is a private house, so on-site parking is extremely limited and we can only offer parking to our volunteer stewards and visitors with mobility problems. Please do not bring your car to Briarcourt unless you have significant mobility problems. The nearest car park is on Victoria Street (just a few minutes walk away). Further car parks can be found on Acre Street and Lidget Street (which is a good central base for exploring Lindley and the range of HOD events). A number of bus services serve Huddersfield Royal Infirmary which is a 5-10 minute walk from Briarcourt.
We regret that the gardens won't be open to visitors. Please bear in mind that Briarcourt was designed as a domestic property and the size of the rooms reflect this. In order to prevent overcrowding, entrance to the house will be managed using a queuing system. The queuing area will not be under cover, so please come dressed for the weather. You may wish to consider avoiding visiting at opening time, as we predict that this may be a particularly busy period. Copies of 'Briarcourt - The Story of a House with a Heart' will be on sale. There are great places for refreshments in Lindley.