One of Huddersfield’s hidden architectural gems will open to the public for the first time, as part of a fund raising mission.

Visitors will be treated to a decadent afternoon tea and chance to see inside the Grade 1 listed Banney Royd Hall in Halifax Road, Edgerton, on March 2.

Private owner Marina Shaw decided to put on the event to raise money for Leeds Teaching Hospital’s PNH ward, which is treating her sister, Catherine Horne, for a rare blood disorder.

Marina, 52, said that she hopes 80 people will book a place to take advantage of the one-off opportunity to see inside the hall, which she bought with husband Mike Phillips, 56, in 2011.

They will be served sandwiches and cakes in the building’s drawing room, billiard room and dining room, which once housed accountant William Henry Armitage.

She said: “I’m quite excited about it because I think that this is the first time it’s ever been opened to the public and we’re doing it for a great cause.

“The hall is a beautiful example of Wood’s work and people will be able to see it in use as a home rather than the empty building it was when we bought it.”

She and her husband will prepare the teas to raise £800 for the ward to conduct research into Aplastic anaemia, which her sister, who lives in Slaithwaite, was diagnosed with in 2012.

Catherine’s family have so far have raised over £3000 for the rare condition, which is known to affect only three people in Huddersfield, through charity swims, walks and cycles.

The life threatening condition means that Catherine’s bone marrow doesn’t make enough blood cells, leaving her very tired, prone to infections and needing regular blood transfusions.

Marina said: “Catherine is continuing to receive treatment and we want to raise as much money as possible to fund research into her condition.

“We hope that people will help us find £800 to give to the ward.”

Banney Royd Hall was built by architect Edgar J Wood in 1902 and has been described as “the largest and most elaborate house of Wood’s career.”

It was used as a teachers’ centre for some years before being sold off by Kirklees Council to private buyers in 1995.

Tickets to the event, which cost £10 per person, must be booked in advance by calling 01484 768180 or emailing banneyroydevents@gmail.com.

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