Manor Heath Halifax

Manor Heath was built for John Crossley (1812 – 1879), Son of John Crossley, the founder of Dean Clough Mills. With his two brothers, Joseph and Francis, John (junior) was part of a local, philanthropic family that helped shape Halifax as a thriving, industrial town. They were responsible for the building of the orphanage (now Crossley-Heath school), the alms houses, Park Congregational Church and The People’s Park. John Crossley was twice mayor of Halifax (1849 – 51 and 1861 – 63) and later became an MP for the town (1874-77). Six architects competed for the design of the mansion and it was the designs of Alfred Smith (one of the architects of the Army and Navy club in Pall Mall) that won the contract. The designs were originally Italianate in style, but were changed to be more Neo-Gothic at the request of John Crossley.

Thomas Risley, a Manchester based architect, was employed as the on-site architect.