Baysgarth House Museum

About the museum

Baysgarth House is a Grade II* listed Georgian house in Baysgarth Park on the edge of Barton-upon-Humber. It is thought to date from around 1731. The Nelthorpe family owned it for most of the eighteenth century, and Robert Wright Taylor bought it in 1889. After the death of the Taylors’ son in the First World War, their daughter gave the house to the town, and it was opened to the public in 1930 with a memorial to the family.

North Lincolnshire Council used the house for its own purposes from 1960 to 1997, and it opened as a local museum in 1981. The museum was staffed largely by volunteers and showed local collections, including material about the history of Barton.

The museum has been closed to the public since 2019. The council has made the house a community asset and leased it to the arts organisation The Ropewalk, which is leading a phased restoration with council and government funding. The first phase, which includes a café in the former stable block and an ice cream kiosk, has been completed, and work on the house itself is the next phase. When it reopens, the museum is intended to tell the story of the Nelthorpe family and Barton’s part in the development of the bicycle. Guided tours have been offered on Heritage Open Days while the work continues.

Highlights

• Georgian house, Grade II* listed
• Reopening planned to cover the Nelthorpe family and Barton’s bicycle history
• Café in the former stable block
• Heritage Open Days tours during the restoration

Founded

1981

Operated by

The Ropewalk (lessee); North Lincolnshire Council (owner)

Admission & discounts

The museum is closed during the restoration of the house, and no reopening date has been announced.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the 2026 Heritage Open Days listing, the upper floors are not wheelchair accessible and there are steep steps to the cellar and attic. The site has disabled parking and accessible toilets and welcomes assistance dogs.

Kids & families

The museum is closed during the restoration of the house, and no reopening date has been announced.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café

A café in the former stable block and an ice cream kiosk have been created in the first phase of the restoration.

Events & venue rental

The museum is closed during the restoration of the house, and no reopening date has been announced.

Plan your visit