Charles Tiplady Pratt

“ The conspicuous and pleasantly-situate house on the Barnsley Road which is now Barnby Hall was built about sixty years ago on or very near to the site of a former residence of considerable importance, the seat of a "family which derived from it their hereditary name, and ranked with the principal gentry of these parts." In the Pedigree of Barnby of Barnby given by Hunter the family is traced up to a William de Denby, who married Sarra, daughter of Sir Alexander Venavre, Veneur, Le Hunt, or Le Hunter. ”

“ Daniel Rowley, of the same family, was living at Barnby Furnace in the early part of the last century.
Jowett House in the Parish was for many generations connected with the Lindley family, Upper House with the Shirts, Norcroft, Upper and Lower, with the Wooffendens and the West family. The original farm-house of Hillhouse was altered and enlarged into its present form about fifteen years ago, and was the residence for a few years of Mr. Roddam Stunhope. On the footpath leading from Hillhouse to the Church we find one of the most pleasing views in the Parish or neighbourhood. ”

“ Fawkes of Farnley, and was added by purchase to the Cannon Hall estate in 1826.
Banks Hall has in the present century been the residence of Mr. Thomas Wilson, Mr. Richard Thorp, and Mr. Thomas Ridley, of Northumberland, who tried the experiment of "gentleman-farming" there without much success. It was during the eleven years that it was occupied by Mr. Thomas Wilson, a man of conspicuous taste and ability, son of Mr. Daniel Wilson, of Barnby Furnace, that the grounds were laid out in their present form. ”