Rylstone Project
Nortons’ Old Hall, its Gardens and Fish Ponds
The old map above reveals the site of the Norton family's late 15th century manorial hall and grounds, built by John Norton. It is now covered by buildings of Old Hall Farm. Shown below is a depiction of Nortons' Old Hall by Birket Foster in 'The White Doe of Rylstone' by William Wordsworth.
The surrounds of the Old Hall are shown below in a photograph by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, where the outline of the old manorial fish ponds, situated by the once extensive 'pleasure gardens' are still visible. St. Peter's Church is close by.
Site of Nortons' Old Hall
St. Peter's
Church
Fish pond in Old Hall gardens
The ponds had a dual purpose as both an attractive garden feature and producing fish for the table. They were a common feature of medieval and tudor villages and estates.
A photograph taken by a commercial photographer, Humphrey Burton, in summer 2009, shows one of the ponds full of water.
