Clayton Hall Living History Museum

About the museum

Clayton Hall is a 15th-century manor house on a medieval moated site in Clayton Park, East Manchester. It is a Grade II* listed building, and the mound it stands on is a scheduled monument. The surviving west wing has Georgian and Tudor sections and is reached over a listed stone bridge across the moat. The Byron family owned the hall for more than 400 years until it was sold in 1620 to the London merchants George and Humphrey Chetham. Humphrey Chetham later died there in 1653, and part of his legacy founded Chetham's School and Library in Manchester.

In 1897 the hall was sold to Manchester City Corporation and it was restored in 1900. Manchester City Council still owns the hall and grounds. In 2009 volunteers from the Friends of Clayton Park turned the left-hand section into a hands-on living history museum, which grew to six rooms furnished in late Victorian style. The Clayton Hall Living History Museum became a registered charity in 2014 and is run entirely by volunteers.

Visitors can explore Victorian rooms with hands-on activities, a textiles room, a memories room and a Tudor section with a tearoom and gift shop. History presentations about the hall and its owners are given on open days.

Highlights

• Manchester's only moated hall, reached over a listed stone bridge
• Hands-on Victorian rooms including kitchen, dining room and wash house
• History presentations about the hall and the Chetham family
• Tearoom and gift shop in the Tudor section
• Free open days run by volunteers

Permanent exhibition

• Victorian rooms – Hands-on rooms furnished in late Victorian style, including a kitchen, dining room and wash house.

Founded

2009

Operated by

Clayton Hall Living History Museum (volunteer-run charity)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission on open days is free and there is no need to book. Children must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult.

Accessibility

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

The hall is Grade II* listed and has limits on access. There are cobblestones over the listed bridge into the grounds, and the paths in the grounds are tarmac but uneven in places and slippery when wet. On the ground floor the main entrance, Victorian Kitchen, Victorian Dining Room, Wash House, Tearoom and Gift Shop and Tearoom Dining Room are accessible. The Cold Store, Bedroom, Drawing Room, Costume Room, Memories Room, Clayton Hall Room, Humphrey Chetham Room and Tudor Landing and Gallery are not accessible by wheelchair, and there are steps down into the Cold Store. An accessible toilet is in the Tudor section near the tearoom. Disabled parking is in the hall compound. Visitors who need help can email before a visit.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The Victorian rooms have hands-on activities, and the hall is set in Clayton Park. Children must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult.

Getting there & parking

The hall is in Clayton Park, beside St Cross church, close to the Etihad Stadium. By car, take the A662 towards Droylsden, or leave the M60 at junction 23.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

A tearoom and gift shop are in the Tudor section of the hall. Toilets and baby changing facilities are in the Georgian section.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit