Thorpe Underwood Estate - The Home of Chapter House Boarding School

At the heart of our magnificent campus, with all its modern amenities, is Thorpe Underwood Hall.

We are beautifully situated between Harrogate and York. From the earliest days of Christianity in England there has been a building on this site, described in the Domesday Book as Chirchbie, Usebrana and Useburn and in 1150 as Kirkby Juxta Useburn.

In 1292, the Monastery of Fountains Abbey obtained a licence of ‘free warrant’ at Thorpe Underwood Hall, which

the Abbot and his monks chose as a retreat for their ‘solace, profit and pleasure’.

The circular ‘Stewpond’, now beautifully restored, is still to be seen, so called because the monks used the fish it provided to have food always available ‘in anticipation of the passing wayfarer’.

During the 19th century, Anne and Branwell Brontë lived at the house for a time.

Following a disastrous fire in 1895, today’s building, designed in the Tudor style, was constructed by William Aneley of York. The architect, Walter H. Brierley, won an architectural award for his design work.

Many of the oak beams from the original building were saved and used in the main hall and much of the stonework, thought to be Roman, was probably quarried at Aldborough.

We are in Yorkshire ...
For more than 2000 years Yorkshire has dared to be different. Once a kingdom in its own right, England's biggest county has never lost that sense of being special. A "grandeur you don't get anywhere else", the power of its history and pride of its people make this a place where 'ordinary' simply won't do.	Yorkshire is "most sublimely beautiful". Ruined abbeys and castles, great houses and gardens are framed by high moors, wooded hills and lush farming country. Three National Parks: the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and the North York Moors protect more than 1000 square miles of matchless walking country.	Nothing beats the timeless appeal of the seaside. Golden beaches, majestic cliffs and Great British resorts. Scarborough, Bridlington and Cleethorpes bustle with life; Whitby is a historic port and Filey and Hornsea are traditional favourites and proud to stay that way.

Yorkshire's grandeur is "inspirational". The Brontes of Haworth. The late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes. Sculptor Henry Moore. Artist David Hockney. Composer Delius, superb choirs and the world best brass bands. All with their own vision.

Yorkshire vision changed the world. Captain Cook learned his skills at Whitby and sailed round the world in a flat bottomed Yorkshire collier boat. William Wilberforce set out from Hull to abolish slavery.

The South Pennines was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and the might of our industry made Britain a world power. York, Roman stronghold and Viking capital, is one of Europe's greatest mediaeval cities. It is also stylish and fun.