Sir Ernest Hall, who restored Dean Clough in Halifax, dies

Sir Ernest Hall - who once owned the historic 16th-century Royds Hall in Bradford and restored it to its former glory  - died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday.

He was best-known for his remarkable restoration of Dean Clough in Halifax.

Sir Ernest was born in Bolton on March 19, 1930, to Ernest and Mary Hall, both millworkers. 

From a young age, he exhibited a prodigious talent for music, leading him to attend the Royal Manchester College of Music from 1947 to 1951. 

At the age of 19, he performed Chopin's 12 Etudes Op 10, marking the beginning of a lifelong passion for the piano. 

It was at the Royal Manchester College of Music where he met his first wife, June Annable, with whom he had four children.

Sir Ernest began his professional career in the textile industry in Yorkshire, working at Mountain Mills in Queensbury with Tony Clegg. 

Demonstrating his business acumen, he later acquired Mountain Mills and, through a merger with Leigh Mills Group, transformed the company into Mountleigh Group plc, which eventually became known for its ventures into property.

In 1981, a pivotal year for Mountleigh, Sir Ernest and Mr Clegg completed a significant deal to acquire 800 houses leased to the US Air Force in Lakenheath. 

Two years later, Sir Ernest resigned from Mountleigh and, alongside entrepreneur Jonathan Silver and his eldest son Jeremy, acquired Dean Clough, formerly Crossleys Carpets. 

Dean Clough in Halifax (Image: Robert Batty via Telegraph & Argus Camera Club)

They gave the site a new lease of life as a space blending art and business. 

Now, slightly more than 40 years on, the 22-acre site continues to flourish and evolve.

Dean Clough thrived under Sir Ernest's leadership, attracting major arts organisations like the Henry Moore Foundation, Northern Broadsides and IOU Theatre, as well as prominent business tenants including the Halifax Building Society and NHS. 

He also collaborated with Vivien Duffield on the development of Eureka!, a national museum for children in Halifax.

In 1980, Sir Ernest separated from June and married Sarah Wellby, with whom he had another son, Leopold. 

Despite his numerous business endeavours, Sir Ernest never abandoned his love for music. 

He recorded the entire works of Bela Bartok at 65, Chopin at 70 and Busoni at 73, and he composed two piano sonatas.

Sir Ernest was widely recognised for his contributions to the arts and business. 

He was knighted for services to the arts in 1993, and received the Albert Medal in 1994 and the Mont Blanc Culture Award in 1996. 

He served as chair of Yorkshire Arts, chair of Northern Ballet and sat on the National Arts Council. 

Additionally, he was a Freeman of Calderdale and received 12 honorary doctorates.

In 2007, Sir Ernest retired from Dean Clough and moved to Lanzarote, where he built a concert venue next to his home.

He returned to the UK in 2021 to live with his youngest son, Leopold, and his wife Sarah.

He also penned an autobiography called How to be a Failure and Succeed.

His eldest son Jeremy, Dean Clough's managing director, paid tribute to his late father.

He said: "My father was a remarkable, memorable, enigmatic and charismatic human being. 

"He had an energy and zest for life which was irrepressible. 

"He was still planning for what he was yet to achieve, his ambitions and aspirations undiminished by his growing years. 

"We shared a love of work, music and family. 

"He was a veritable force of nature and will be sorely missed by his family and all who had the pleasure of knowing him."

His eldest daughter Virginia Lloyd, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and a former High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, added: "My father was an inspirational man who leaves behind a rich and diverse legacy. 

"I am incredibly proud to have been able to call him my father.

"I will miss him enormously."

Barrie Rutter, founder of Northern Broadsides, said: "Farewell friend: inspirer, advocate, performer and champion of all that is good for the human spirit."

A spokesperson for The Piece Hall in Halifax said: "The impact and importance to Halifax of his pioneering restoration of Dean Clough  cannot be overstated."

Sir Ernest is survived by his beloved wife Sarah, his five children Virginia, Vivian, Jeremy, Tom, Leopold and his 14 grandchildren.