The Landmark Trust

In October 2025, students from Bradford College studying the Level 3 Diploma (UAL) in Creative Media Production & Technology visited Calverley Old Hall to work on a live brief for The Landmark Trust. Inspired by the history of the site and its restoration project, the students collaborated to produce a series of five podcast episodes, developing their skills in research, interviewing, audio recording, and editing. Join Naayaa and Neha to discover the community engagement at the heart of restoring Calverley Old Hall in this uplifting episode. Learn how a passionate local community got involved in the project to rescue this historic gem. From a medieval-inspired community-designed garden to traditional craft skills workshops, find out how the Landmark Trust empowered locals to gain new skills. 

In October 2025, students from Bradford College studying the Level 3 Diploma (UAL) in Creative Media Production & Technology visited Calverley Old Hall to work on a live brief for The Landmark Trust. Inspired by the history of the site and its restoration project, the students collaborated to produce a series of five podcast episodes, developing their skills in research, interviewing, audio recording, and editing. In this episode, student Kevin uncovers the architectural secrets of Calverley Old Hall. From the 12th-century first floor manor house to the stunning 2021 discovery of the medieval Painted Chamber, this episode tracks Calverley Old Hall's evolution from a medieval manor to a restored community hub. Listen now to decide: is it just a house, or is it a living piece of history?

In October 2025, students from Bradford College studying the Level 3 Diploma (UAL) in Creative Media Production & Technology visited Calverley Old Hall to work on a live brief for The Landmark Trust. Inspired by the history of the site and its restoration project, the students collaborated to produce a series of five podcast episodes, developing their skills in research, interviewing, audio recording, and editing. In this gripping episode, students Hamza and Haaris explore the turbulent post-1550s history of the Calverley family. From the tragedy of a family murder to advantageous marriages and crushing Civil War fines, discover how the family fought to save their estate. Listen now to unravel this 'weird and wonderful' legacy. 

In October 2025, students from Bradford College studying the Level 3 Diploma (UAL) in Creative Media Production & Technology visited Calverley Old Hall to work on a live brief for The Landmark Trust. Inspired by the history of the site and its restoration project, the students collaborated to produce a series of five podcast episodes, developing their skills in research, interviewing, audio recording, and editing. In this episode, join Leon to discover the captivating origins of the Calverley family. From their initial relocation to Calverley from Scotland, to navigating high-stakes friendships with Henry VIII, this episode explores the family's journey through debt, knighthood, and religious defiance. Tune in to uncover the 'juicy' history of the family that shaped this architectural treasure. 

As one of Landmark's longest standing staff members, Linda Millard has worked at the heart of the organisation for 42 years. In this episode of the Landmark Chronicles, Linda takes us through five decades of the Landmark Trust, as the charity's many milestone moments interweave with the twists and turns of her own life. 

In this episode, we meet former Furnishings Manager, John Evetts. Working with the Landmark Trust for almost 50 years from 1976 up to his retirement in 2024, John helped to define Landmark's distinctive interior style - furnishing more than 200 historic buildings during his time here. 

In this episode, we meet Lundy Island's Managing Director, Derek Green, and follow his extraordinary journey from Glasgow shipyard apprentice to managing a wildlife rich island in the Bristol Channel.

Wendy Sargeant has been a housekeeper for Landmark in Staffordshire for 25 years, first at Tixall Gatehouse and then at Ingestre Pavilion, where she works alongside her friend Sarah Winter-Wright. Here, Wendy tells us about her time with Landmark and what it takes to get a building ready for its next visitors.

In this episode we hear from Martin Drury CBE, who was on the board of Trustees of the Landmark Trust for 23 years between 1988 and 2012, including 13 years as Chairman. Beginning with his meeting with Landmark founder John Smith whilst working at the National Trust in the early 1970s, Martin takes us back to where it all began. 

Sharon gives us her reaction to the newly repaired building, and reflects on her lasting connection to Calverley Old Hall.

Sharon reflects on her experience of living in a building like Calverley Old Hall, and her irreplaceable memories. 

Sharon shares her lasting memories of the building.  

Sharon describes her grandparents' cottage, including secret passageways and unknowingly sleeping in the painted chamber.

Sharon remembers the quirky features of her grandparents' house, including a train set and a bath in the chapel! 

In July 2024, we were lucky enough to be able to record some short oral histories with local Calverley resident, Sharon Gott. Sharon's grandparents were long standing tenants at Calverley Old Hall, living in one of the cottages created within the section of the building now known as 'The Parlour Block', which we now know houses one of the most important Tudor painted schemes in the UK. Sharon's grandmother, Mrs Hilda Bartle, was one of the last to vacate the building in the early 2000s, and Sharon has fond memories of her grandparents' time at Calverley Old Hall.   Here, Sharon shares her earliest memories of her grandmother's cottage, which she describes as a family hub. 

The textile industries are of particular importance to the social, political and financial history of the country and via our Landmarks it is possible to trace this history and tell the story of both the trades and crafts associated with it.

The textile industries are of particular importance to the social, political and financial history of the country and via our Landmarks it is possible to trace this history and tell the story of both the trades and crafts associated with it.

The textile industries are of particular importance to the social, political and financial history of the country and via our Landmarks it is possible to trace this history and tell the story of both the trades and crafts associated with it.

Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley (near Calverley Old Hall), keeps a nationally important archive of weaving machinery, fabrics and documents. Meet Curator Rachel Moaby and weaver Agnis Smallwood and discover more about how traditions are being kept alive.

Furniture makers Alice Blogg and Alasdair Kilpatrick were both commisioned to make furniture for the community rooms at Winsford Cottage Hospital. Here they talk about following in the footsteps of the hospitals designer, CFA Voysey.

Every year Landmark gives away 50 stays in our buildings to the beneficiaries of other charities. Here, Caroline Standford talks with Beverley Lord, a volunteer from River House Trust, a community based centre in Hammersmith for people living with HIV, and what their stay at Woodsford Castle meant to them.

The mysteries of the quantity surveying are exposed in this one to one between Historian Caroline Stanford and Quantity Surveyor Adrian Stenning.

Our propery surveyors and project managers reminisce about some of their favourite Landmark projects.

Caring for the books in Lundy's Landmarks involves some special challenges, as Lundy Librarian Michael Williams explains.

Well-stocked bookcases are an essential ingredient of a Landmark stay. Who looks after them? How are they chosen? Two of Landmark's Librarians, Ros Taylor and Elizabeth Jurd, talk books.

Conservation architect Martin Stancliffe remininsces about Culloden Tower and its restoration in Landmark's early days.

Cy Neil and Marilyn Donohue reflect on their lives as Regional Property Managers caring for Landmark's buildings in Scotland and South West England.

Will and Jude Gaches, both apprenticed to their father Philip, worked on our recent restoration of Cobham Dairy. Here they reflect on what drew them to learn decorative plastering as a traditional craft skill - and what it's like working for Dad.

Master plasterers Philip and Anna, who both worked on Cobham Dairy, reflect on their different routes into their craft and the satisfactions of creating fine decorative plasterwork.

Joined Up singing at the Old Parsonage

The Carmarthen Band plays at West Blockhouse.

Shake a Leg performed on Lundy

North Argyll Carers provide support for those acting as full time carers in and around Oban. A 50 for Free stay at Saddell House turned out to be a transformative respite for them, as Mairi, Joan and Kim explain here.

A classic tale from George Eliot specially dramatised and performed for us by Sudden Impulse Theatre Company.

Some of our best kept secrets lay beneath our feet. Discover the ghostly remains of landscapes, whose traces tell stories of design genius, playful pastimes and even a place on the stage of rock and roll history.

Actor and Landmark Ambassador Natascha McElhone reads a dramatic extract from John Fowles' famous novel The French Leiutenant's Woman, a work completed by Fowles when he lived at Belmont.

Every year Landmark gives away 50 free stays in our buildings to the beneficiaries of other charities. Here, Sonia and Robert, both diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, explain what staying at Belmont meant to them, hosted by their inspirational mentor Elaine Nicholson.

Recorded at a Landmark Trust open day at Morpeth Castle, this audio clip captures the delight of visiting this building during our open days which we hold in collaboration with the Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering.

The story unfolds in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife. Two newly donated portraits prompt the telling of the tragic death in a duel of Alexander Boswell, son of the celebrated 18th-century diarist James Boswell of Auchinleck House.

Join Dr James Fox as he talks about the fascinating history of our newest Landmark property, Dunshay Manor in Dorset.