herbal power has arrived at East Riddlesden Hall.

Costumed tours of the 17th-century mansion are giving visitors an insight into the central role herbs played in people's daily lives hundreds of years ago.

And the herb border at the National Trust property has been replanted with species found in the book "Culpeper's Herbal and English Physician".

Plants such as artichokes, sea holly, cornflower, winter cherry, teasels and bugle are mixed with common herbs including lavender, sage and mint.

The work of Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) was credited with enlightening the general population about medicine.

Prior to his writings on herbal remedies, advice had only been available in Latin.

Liz Houseman, for the hall, said: "Herbs have a special place in nearly everyone's life -- be it in cooking, relaxation, aromatherapy or medicine.

"Those who lived at East Riddlesden Hall over 400 years ago would have used herbs in their daily lives.

"Culpeper was said to be 'the man that first ranged the woods and climbed the mountains in search of medicinal and salutary herbs'.

"Some of his theories were that greater celadine was a good remedy for warts, tansy for getting rid of worms, and cornflower for treating minor wounds and mouth ulcers."

The costumed tours -- which take place between 12.15pm and 4.15pm each day the hall is open -- explain the uses of herbs in medicine and cooking, as well as covering other aspects of life at the house in times past.

Opening times are 1-5pm Saturdays and noon-5pm Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Last admission is 4.30pm.