Farnley Hall, West Yorkshire

The manor is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as Fernelei, so it is probable that this house was a replacement for earlier medieval structures.

Farnley Parish Church, built in 1885 and dedicated to St Michael, stands across the park from the hall.

In October 2011, the church was bought by Saint Makarios The Great Ecclesiastical Trust, who converted it for Romanian Orthodox use.

Along with the Danby coat of arms, there is a worn inscription on a stone panel at the rear in an archway which reads “Buildid the year of our Lord 1586 and in the reign of the Queen (?

[1][6] He had married Lady Mary Nevill, the daughter of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland and in 1576 became the High Sheriff of Yorkshire.

When he died in 1624 he was succeeded by his son Sir Thomas Danby (1610–1660) who was a Colonel in the Royal Army and Sheriff of Yorkshire.

[10] The University of Victoria in Canada holds a book written by Sir Anstrupus which is a collection of medical remedies which he considered useful for the benefit of his family.

[11] In 1695 he built a house at Swinton Park[12] and this property then was also passed through the succeeding generations of the Danby family.

[14] He was the friend and patron of the famous artist Julius Caesar Ibbetson who painted his portrait which is shown.

James Armitage (1730–1803) who bought the Hall from the Danby family was a very prosperous wool merchant in Leeds.

He was succeeded by his son, Edward Armitage (1764–1829), who in 1806 built a new driveway and refronted the building to include a grand portico supported by Tuscan columns.

In his will, he left his estate to his widow, Sarah for life, and gave her power to determine how it should be apportioned between their four surviving sons.

He entered the family iron business succeeding his uncle and father as chairman and managing director.

Robert Armitage (1866–1944) was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, University of Cambridge.