The village may date back to the 10th century BC. Central to the village are the ruins of 16th-century Wycoller Hall. The village is a conservation area, and is closed to outside traffic. There is a car park on Trawden Road and another on the east side of the village opposite Height Laithe Farm on the road towards Haworth in Yorkshire.
The name is probably from the Old Englishwīc "dairy farm" and alr "alder", so means "dairy farm by the alders".[1]
Various ancient bridges cross Wycoller Beck, including 'Pack-Horse Bridge', a twin arched bridge in the centre of the village,[2][3] 'Clapper Bridge' (also known as Hall Bridge)[4][5] and 'Clam Bridge' (also known as Bank House Bridge).[6][7] The last is believed to be of neolithic origin (possibly 6000 years old) and is listed as an ancient monument. It consists of just a long stone laid across the river. It was damaged by floods in 1989–90, though has now been repaired. All three bridges are designated as both Grade II* listed buildings and scheduled monuments.
Wycoller Hall was originally the home of the Hartley family, and passed through marriage to the Cunliffe family in the early 17th century. The hall was built in 1550 by Piers Hartley, and was extended in the late 18th century by its last owner, Squire Cunliffe. The structure was dismantled in 1818, and reused in the construction of a cotton mill, to help repay debts owed by Henry Owen-Cunliffe, who was the last Cunliffe to live at the hall.[8] He was born Henry Owen of Sheffield and was left the Hall by a distant uncle (Cunliffe) if he changed his name to Cunliffe and educated himself.[citation needed] The hall subsequently fell into ruin and is reputed to be haunted by a variety of spectres.[9] Like the bridges, it is both a Grade II* listed building[10] and a scheduled monument.[11]
