Clay House Park in spring sunshine

Looming above the junction of Stainland Road and Rochdale Road at Greetland, Clay House is one of the most imposing ancient structures in the Lower Calder Valley and a familiar sight to anybody heading along the old road from Elland to Salterhebble. The current four-gabled house was built by the Clay family between 1650 and 1661 on the site of an earlier house which is mentioned as far back as 1296. The estate was purchased by Greetland Urban District Council in 1923 and the grounds converted into a park which today marks the start of the Calderdale Way. Whilst public access to the grounds is still permitted, the house is now used for social functions and only open on certain days of the year.