Earlier Houses: There was a Medieval priory near the site of the current house.

House & Family History: In the 12th century the Cistercians built Kirklees Priory, a nunnery, here. In 1539, after the Second Act of Dissolution, the prioresses, Joan Kyppes, surrendered the priory to the crown. The Kirklees Estate was then granted to John Tasburgh and Nicholas Savill, the church and priory buildings demolished, and the stone used to build Kirklees Hall (the only remnant of the priory is the Grade II*-listed gatehouse). The Armytage family acquired Kirklees after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and made the house their seat for 400 years, selling up in the 1980s. Kirklees is deeply associated with the legend of Robin Hood, who is said to be buried here. In the folklore song "The Geste of Robin Hood," it is claimed that Robin Hood was the nephew of a prioress of Kirklees who sheltered him when he was fleeing from the sheriff of Nottingham. The grave of the famous man of Lincoln Green is supposedly in the woods near the River Calder, a short distance from the building where he purportedly died.

Collections: Robert Adam's Siena marble fireplace was sold in December of 1980. The remaining contents were sold by Phillips on June 9, 1987.

Garden & Outbuildings: The Grade II*-listed gatehouse is the only extant building from the earlier Kirklees Priory.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 211, 1854.

John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. V, 1822.

Country Life: XXIV, 256, 1908.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: John Tasburgh, 16th century. Sir Thomas Gargrave, 16th century. Pilkington family. Sir George Armytage, 3rd Bt., 18th century; Armytage family here until 1988.

Current Ownership Type: Flat Owners Company / Condo Association

Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family

Ownership Details: Today luxury condos

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No