Rare Tudor Paintings Revealed Beneath Walls of Medieval Manor House

Exquisitely detailed Tudor wall paintings hidden for hundreds of years beneath plaster walls in a near-derelict medieval manor house have been hailed as “a discovery of a lifetime” after they were uncovered by conservation specialists.

The mid-16^th century paintings cover three entire walls of an original chamber at Calverley Old Hall in Yorkshire and are thought to be more sophisticated than any other surviving domestic scheme of its kind in the county – possibly the whole of England.

Conservators from the University of Lincoln, UK, were invited by the Landmark Trust to inspect the walls, which were exposed during preparatory work in the upper chamber of the manor’s parlour block. The preparatory works have been made possible thanks to development funding* of £150,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The manor house of Calverley Old Hall, located in a now built-up urban area between Leeds and Bradford, is grade I-listed and considered amongst the most at-risk buildings in England. Developed by the Calverley family from the 12th century – the complex site is astonishing in scale but was almost derelict in condition when it was purchased by The Landmark Trust, who hope to embark on an ambitious restoration project to bring the whole site into new use.

Over two days, researchers from Lincoln Conservation – a specialist consultancy division of the University of Lincoln – carefully removed the plaster which had previously covered the paintings to see what remained beneath. They revealed a vast and intricate decorative scheme in red, white and black, executed in a vertical design and covering the timber studwork and plaster infill.

The paintings feature birds and small men in triangular hats sat on vases or balustrades. A mural of Tudor roses and pomegranates runs around the cornice. The scheme is a so-called ‘Grotesque’ style of work, a style named after Emperor Nero’s Golden Villa built in 1st century Rome – making the discovery even more exceptional.

Many vernacular houses (houses built to local traditions) once featured painted decoration, but the survival of complete wall paintings is especially rare in northern counties of England. The paintings are being described as one of the most exciting discoveries ever made by The Landmark Trust, who are now launching an appeal to raise £94,000 to conserve the remarkable works of art.

Specialists from Lincoln Conservation are currently working with the Landmark Trust to ensure the paintings are protected during restoration work. They will be further consulted on a condition assessment and subsequent conservation. This will be a painstaking and lengthy process requiring l specialist techniques and materials.

Paul Croft, Research Fellow at Lincoln Conservation, said “We are delighted to be working with The Landmark Trust to reveal these magnificent paintings. 

“Our team initially removed the wall plaster in five areas within the Chamber Block at Calverley Old Hall, to determine if any evidence remained for earlier decorative schemes. When we peered into the resulting void with our torches we were astonished to find traces of an early wall painting.

“We later removed all the remaining plaster to reveal a highly significant and very rare wall painting dating to the middle of the 16^th century.

“We are looking forward to our continued involvement in this project and contributing to their long term survival for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.” 

Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of the Landmark Trust said: “This is the discovery of a lifetime. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall: a complete, highly decorated Tudor chamber, stripped with black and red and white and ochre.

“The mythical creatures and twining vines, classical columns and roaring griffins are together a time machine to the age of the Reformation and the Virgin Queen.

“The Landmark Trust hopes to further uncover the secrets of these wall paintings and enable all to witness and enjoy them, but we can only proceed with additional public support.”

The University of Lincoln is home to the largest centre for conservation and restoration study in the UK and, with more than 40 years’ experience, is a leading authority in the field. Earlier this year, the Lincoln Conservation team were responsible for uncovering and restoring the original Prussian blue clockface on the Elizabeth Tower in London – better known as ‘Big Ben’.