Dyer’s Cottage offers you a unique experience. In the mid 17th century, a long stone farmhouse was built on the side of the Calder Valley, two miles from the small market town of Halifax, Yorkshire. Upstairs, the wool from the sheep would have been spun by the females of the household and then woven into pieces of cloth. Selling them became so much easier in 1777 when the beautiful Piece Hall was built in Halifax.

Early in the 19th century, Robert Wainhouse established a dye works on Washer Lane, about 200 yards from the farmhouse, enabling the cloth pieces to be colour-dyed using the plentiful supply of water from the hillside. The farmhouse at this time was owned by a Miss Wainhouse and was converted into a terrace of five separate cottages to provide accommodation for Master Dyers. Outside, four new doors were created on the long south facing side, and inside, new stone staircases were installed to access upstairs, together with new fireplaces, a cold water supply and a WC in the back yard. The original ceiling beams remained as they are continuous and probably structural.

From 1854, the dye works was owned by John Edward Wainhouse 1817-1883. He had a passion for architecture and his designs can still be seen all over the Skircoat area. He added the distinctive porches to many of his properties, including Dyer’s Cottage, and reflecting the importance of water, there are water troughs and wells engraved with his initials. You can explore the Heritage Wainhouse Trail (a copy is in Dyer’s Cottage) and see the legacy for yourself. Most notable are his house West Air, now the Grade II listed Wainhouse Tavern, and Wainhouse Tower, the tallest folly in the world standing at 250ft tall. It has 403 steps leading to ornate balconies which are open to visitors on some bank holidays. Although designed as a chimney for the dye works, it was never actually used as such.

The estate of John Edward Wainhouse was sold at auction in 1886 and James Kenyon, my great-great-grandfather (1844-1915), a successful local businessman who had been born in the cottage, bought the old farmhouse. He allowed his married daughters to live in a cottage each and this is how our cottage has remained in the family.

A rudimentary electricity supply and a new fireplace were installed in 1934, but it was not until 2014/15 that a hot water supply, gas central heating, a fully equipped handcrafted kitchen and a luxury bathroom were added. The original features have been maintained and restored wherever possible and complimented by a mix of antique and contemporary furniture such as the Hypnos superking bed which can also be made up as twin beds.

Please take a look at our website, follow the virtual tour and read our reviews. This is a unique, exceptionally well-appointed, comfortable self catering cottage, which sleeps up to three adults and a baby. Perfect for singles, couples, two or three friends or small families. You may well have seen the beautiful countryside and historic buildings around us in TV dramas such as Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack. Please get in touch if you have any questions about this historic cottage which several guests have described as a “true home away from home”.