Markenfield Manor, Yorkshire, England

Markenfield Hall is once again allowing visitors on certain days of the year after being closed to the public for many years, as it is still primarily a private family home.  

The current owners had an archaeological survey carried out on the property and it was discovered that the great hall is the oldest part of the house, dating from the late 13th Century. 

King Edward II granted a licence to crenelate (build defences), to John de Markenfield on the 28th of February 1310. After this time the current house began to take shape. 

The Markenfield family prospered throughout the middle ages, with members being present and fighting in the battles of Agincourt, Bosworth and Flodden.  It was their involvement in the Rising of the North, during the reign of Elizabeth I that brought an end to their prosperity. 

In 1569 Sir Thomas Markenfield and a large group gathered in the courtyard at Markenfield Hall under the banner of the Five Wounds of Christ.  They rode out towards London with the intention of restoring the Catholic Church to England. The Rising failed however and over 200 of the group were captured and executed.  Sir Thomas escaped to the Low Countries, where he lived in poverty for the rest of his life until his death 1592.  At the time of his death a Papal correspondent wrote: 

‘Sir Thomas Markenfield has been found dead, lying on the bare floor of his chamber, no creature being present at his death. He was in very extreme want and in a most miserable cottage.’

For Sir Thomas Markenfield’s part in Rising of the North, Markenfield Hall was forfeited to the Crown. Sir Robert Cecil, the Secretary to Queen Elizabeth, sent two commissioners to carry out a survey of the property.  After this Markenfield Hall became a tenanted farmhouse owned by the Crown.