ANCESTORS of the owners of Markenfield Hall, near Ripon, were either exiled or executed for their Catholic beliefs.

But the present owner, Lady Deirdre Curteis, has re-opened the tiny chapel at the manor house for services alternatively for Catholics and Anglicans.

Under Queen Elizabeth I, it became forbidden to practise the Catholic religion, and in the sixteenth century the family tenure of Markenfield came to an end when Thomas, the last of the line to live in the house, joined in the rising of the North, an attempt by Catholics to regain their freedom to worship and to replace Elizabeth with Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne.

Thomas became a leader of the rebellion together with his uncle, old Sir Richard Norton.

In defeat, Richard Norton fled abroad. His son, Christopher, and his brother, Thomas, were hanged at Tyburn.

Thomas Markenfield himself escaped to the Low Countries and died destitute, while in England he was known as a traitor.

The hall, described by one writer as one of the most romantic houses left in England, a medieval moated manor fortified by the Canon John de Markenfield, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Edward II in 1310, was then confiscated by the Crown.

Nowadays, it is the last inhabited manor house of its kind, and Lady Deirdre, widow of the late Lord Grantley, an ancestor of the family, lives there with her second husband, Ian Curteis, a dramatist and playwright for radio and television.

A staunch Catholic herself, Lady Deirdre has recognised church unity and services are held in the beautiful chapel for Anglicans and Catholics in turn.

Along with her husband, she has embarked on a project to restore the Great Hall, part of a dream restoration project started with her late husband.

The latest work being carried out by stonemasons is restoration of the grand fireplace in the first floor hall.

Next month, it is hoped that a blazing fire will once again light up the hall at night, and, who knows, perhaps even the shades of the Markenfield family may flit back, drawn by the light, and murmuring "just like old times".

Not that the house is inhabited by ghosts, or has an air of unease about it. "Far from it, the house feels warm, with an inviting atmosphere. I never feel nervous even when I am here by myself," said Lady Deirdre.

It was only in the Eighties that a member of the family, the 7th Lord Grantley, finally came with his wife to live at Markenfield.

This followed a chequered history among the succession of Lord Grantleys - one, as a young man, fled to Capri and never returned. It was rumoured he had killed his valet in a fit of temper.

Another, the 4th Lord Grantley, had an unhappy marriage which ended in divorce. He ill-treated his wife, at times with violence, and attempted to cite Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister, but failed.

Yet another, the 3rd Lord Grantley, who fought at Waterloo, took part in a sword duel with a fellow officer over remarks he had made about his wife and was forced to resign his commission in the Grenadier Guards when his superiors heard of it.

But, back to the Eighties. Thanks to the unstinting help of the architect John Miller, extensive restoration took place over two years, heating and bathrooms were installed, and the house became a home for the owners, at last.

The manor house, set in 600 acres, is a hidden gem, in rolling countryside not far from Ripon.

"People who come to the house say: 'Well, I've lived in Ripon all my life and I never knew that this was here'," said Lady Deirdre.

Along with her husband, she has made restoration of the Great Hall and securing its future her main project.

"It takes up an enormous amount of time, but it is a challenging, exciting and fulfilling project," said Lady Deirdre, who has also restored the orchard.

"When I inherited the hall when my husband, who worked for Lloyds for 40 years, died some years ago, I decided to continue with his dream and have been helped tremendously since by Ian, who is as enthusiastic as me."

The first thing to receive attention in the restoration of the Great Hall, which dates back to 1310 with parts possibly dating as far back as 1280, was the roof.

"It was leaking badly. Fortunately, being a grade I listed building, English Heritage helped with a grant. Although they are not contributing to any of the present work, they do insist in overseeing every detail," she said.

In November, fine stonemason John Maloney and his team were finally able to start unblocking and re-establishing the massive medieval fireplace in the Great Hall. Work is progressing carefully and with great sensitivity. Slowly, the enormous bulk of the fireplace has become apparent, dominating the hall. The arch of the new, recreated fireplace has been made from raw quarried stone in Ripon Cathedral stonemasons' yard from the same seam of magnesium limestone as the original. It is a replica of what stood there for at least 200 years.

Once finished, it is hoped to make the Great Hall into a library. Ian has 20,000 books, mainly on architecture, art and history, and Lady Deirdre has quite a few herself.

An official launch of the restored fireplace will be held, at which Lady Deirdre will light the fire with a taper for the first time.

"When Dr Richard Shephard, headmaster of York Minster choir, heard of this he asked if he could write a fanfare, which will be sounded when first flames are seen."

The hall has been financed over 100 years by farming by the Foster family.

"But like other farms, income has been reduced over the past few years and we needed to look at diversification," said Mr Curteis. "Hence the opening of the house to the public, just to keep the roof on."

The hall was first opened to the public two years ago. It can now cater for small, intimate weddings, with a civil marriage in the vaulted drawing room and a blessing in the chapel. Receptions will be held in the Great Hall and a sit-down lunch for 34 can be arranged.

"It is not a place for enormous weddings, but intimate, small celebrations," said Lady Deirdre.

Guided tours and open afternoons are also staged.

This year, the house will open every day from May 2-15 and then from June 13-26 from 2-5pm. For details, ring 01765 603411.

Guided tours with volunteers from the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts can be arranged by ringing 01765 692303

Outside, the scene is a romantic one, even in winter, the moat and manor guarded by two black swans serenely gliding across the water watching every visitor.

"Swans have lived on the moat for many years, our first coming from London Zoo and at one point there have been cygnets, but sadly not in the last decade.

"But we are keeping our fingers crossed. A new male has arrived just this morning and appears to be getting on well with the female.

"The swans, one in particular, have all been characters. One old lady didn't like her companion and he had to swim with the ducks. Another lived to be 20, five years older than most swans. The new male is her great-great grandson."

Mr Curteis said: "One swan became very, very tame and used to walk into the house. On this particular day, we were hosting a lunch party and the swan waddled up to the table, and, appearing to look for her name place, saw that there was none and promptly messed on the chair."

On a tour of the manor, Lady Deirdre said: "The views from each window are wonderful. It is a peaceful view and the house itself has a great tranquillity. Canon John's chapel is once again a place of prayer, both for Catholics and Anglicans.

"The turbulence and the sadness of the past are done with. The hope is that they will not return."

Simon Jenkins, writing in his book England's Thousand Best Houses, quite rightly observed that Markenfield Hall was "in the hands of dedicated custodians".