Bolling Hall Museum

About the museum

Bolling Hall stands about a mile south of Bradford city centre, next to Bowling Park. Parts of the building date back to the Middle Ages, and over the centuries it grew into a mixture of styles. For more than five hundred years it was the home of two families in turn, the Bollings and the Tempests, who took part in some of the most important and violent moments of English and local history. During the Civil War the household supported the Royalist cause, and the hall served as a stronghold during the siege of Bradford.

The hall was given to Bradford council in 1912 and became a museum in 1915, so that people could see how earlier generations lived. Its rooms have been furnished and decorated to show different periods in the history of the house, from the warm and cold kitchens to the Georgian drawing room. Among the furniture is a fine bed made by Thomas Chippendale for Harewood House.

Bolling Hall is one of the sites of Bradford District Museums and Galleries. A small community library is based in the building, there are gardens around the hall, and a virtual tour of the museum is available online.

Highlights

• Rooms furnished and decorated to show different periods of the house
• Bed made by Thomas Chippendale for Harewood House
• Warm and cold kitchens
• Georgian drawing room
• Role of the hall in the siege of Bradford during the Civil War
• Virtual tour of the whole building

Permanent exhibitions

• Historic rooms of Bolling Hall – Rooms furnished and decorated to show life in different periods of the house, including the warm and cold kitchens and the Georgian drawing room.
• Chippendale bed – A bed made by Thomas Chippendale for Harewood House is among the notable furniture in the hall.

Founded

1915

Operated by

Bradford District Museums and Galleries (City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free. A donation of 3 pounds per person is suggested (pay what you decide). Talks and guided tours for groups are charged at 61 pounds per hour on site.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• 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

Because of internal steps and the historic layout, only the entrance, the warm and cold kitchens and a short film area on the ground floor are wheelchair accessible, and there is no access to the first floor. The main entrance is up four flights of steps from the park side; wheelchair users use a separate door at the car park, which visitors should ask staff to open (ring reception on 01274 431826). Two Blue Badge bays are in the car park. An accessible toilet with baby changing is on the ground floor. An induction loop is at the reception desk. Assistance dogs are welcome. The cold kitchen is a quiet space, and some rooms are dimly lit. The nearest Changing Places toilet is at St Luke's Hospital, just under a mile away.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities

Museums for Play and Growth are free drop-in sessions for children aged 0 to 5 on the third Wednesday of the month, and there are seasonal family events such as Halloween activities. Because of the many stairs, prams and pushchairs must be left in the storage spaces at the entrance.

Getting there & parking

The hall is on Bowling Hall Road, about one mile south of Bradford city centre, next to Bowling Park.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available
• Lockers: not available

There is no café; the Lodge Café in Bowling Park, run by the Friends of Bowling Park, is a few minutes' walk away. Reception has a small gift shop. There is no storage, so large bags cannot be looked after.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit