065 Grange Moor round

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Walk Summary:  Moderate 6.9 mile circular walk from Grangemoor to Briestfield then across to Fall House Green, past the Temple folly (Black Dick’s Tower) in Whitley Park, to Whitley Hall Farm, down to Spittle Royd, then back to Grangemoor.
Start :
Kaye Arms pub at Grange Moor
Locality:
Grange Moor
Area:
East
Start OS Grid reference:
SE2295915689
Start What3words :
beaters.offhand.positions
Difficulty:
Moderate
Distance miles:
6.9
Ascent meters:
365
Estimated Walk Time hours:
4.0
Pub & Locality:
Kaye Arms at Grange Moor
Parking:
Pub Carpark
Public Transport:
Buses 310, 314 or 316b from Holmfirth bust station to Huddersfield every 20 minutes. , then South Pennine community bus X41 from Huddersfield bus station to Middlestown, getting off at Wakefield Road Grange Land, then 5 minute walk to pub. Journey time circa 1.5 hours. Check bus times.
Walk Description: This circular walk covers the little known highlands of the Dewsbury plateau, between Huddersfield and Wakefield, circling the old Whitley Hall estate (1), the only remnant of which is the Temple folly (2) (Black Dick’s Tower) in Whitley Park, with its magnificent views over Huddersfield.  Starting from the Kaye Arms pub, Grangemoor, on A642 Wakefield Road, the walk goes up to Briesfield then across to Fall House Green, past the Temple folly (Black Dick’s Tower) in Whitley Park, across to Whitley Hall Farm, down to Spittle Royd, then back thrugh Grangemoor village to the pub. 
Other comments and points of interest: 
(1) The Whitley Hall estate was the home of the Beaumonts, who arrived in Britain with William the Conqueror and were awarded lands in Huddersfield in the early part of the 13th century, as part of the Honour of Pontefract, held by the De Laci family. Whitley Hall was built by Sir Richard Beaumont in the early 17th century, although there was probably a house on the site as early as the late 14th century. It was remodelled in 1704 and the grounds landscaped by Capability Brown. The Beaumont family continued to occupy the hall until 1917. The hall was demolished in 1950 … by an opencast mining company!
(2) The Temple (see photos), known locally as Black Dick’s Tower, was built between 1752 and 1754 by the renowned architect James Paine. He was a well-known architect of the period and was also involved in the second stage of work at Nostell Priory, Wakefield, in the eighteenth century. Black Dick was the nickname of Sir Richard Beaumont, the first baronet of Whitley Beaumont, born at Longley Old Hall in 1574. His mother, Elizabeth, was the daughter of John Ramsden. Black Dick’s ghost is reputed to walk in the grounds of Whitley Hall with his head under his arm.

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