Hall i' th' Wood Museum
Half-timbered 16th-century hall in Bolton where Samuel Crompton invented the spinning mule, with 17th-century furniture; closed for essential maintenance.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Hall i' th' Wood is a half-timbered hall in Bolton built in the early 16th century and owned in turn by wealthy yeomen and merchants. From 1697 it was let to a series of tenants, and Samuel Crompton lived there with his parents. In 1779 he invented the spinning mule, a machine that changed the cotton industry.
The industrialist William Hesketh Lever bought the hall in 1899, restored it and gave it to Bolton Corporation in 1902. It became a museum showing furniture, objects and household items from the 17th and early 18th centuries, with information about Crompton's life and work.
The museum is on two floors. Floors are often uneven, some ground-floor rooms have steps, and the first floor is reached by two staircases, one of them spiral. Bolton Council runs it with its other historic halls and, at the time of research, lists it as closed for essential maintenance until further notice.
Highlights
- Half-timbered hall from the early 16th century
- Furniture and objects from the 17th and early 18th centuries
- Home of Samuel Crompton, inventor of the spinning mule
- Restored by William Hesketh Lever in 1899
Permanent exhibition
- Life in Hall i' th' Wood – Furniture, objects and household items from the 17th and early 18th centuries, with information on the life and work of Samuel Crompton. Currently closed with the hall.
- Founded
- 1901
- Operated by
- Bolton Council (Bolton Library and Museum Services)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission was free before the closure.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is on two floors. Floors are often uneven, some ground-floor rooms have steps, and the first floor is reached by two staircases, one of them spiral; photographs of the first floor are shown at the foot of the stairs. The public toilets are outside the main hall, reached by two sets of steps and cobbled paths. Trained assistance dogs are welcome and a water bowl is available on request. A magnifying glass, pen and paper can be borrowed, and evacuation assistance including evacuation chairs is available. Gallery lighting is generally bright, with some dimmer areas to protect the collections.
Kids & families
- Baby changing facilities
Baby changing is available in both toilets, and children's ear defenders can be borrowed.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Hall i' th' Wood station · 6-min walk
Hall i' th' Wood railway station is about a 6-minute walk (0.31 miles). Bolton Interchange, the main transport hub, is 2.4 miles away, and bus services 525, 527, 541 and 986 pass near the museum.
By car
Parking available
Car park directly outside the hall; charges are not stated.
Amenities & dining
Public toilets are outside the main hall.
Events & venue rental
The hall is closed for essential maintenance until further notice, and no reopening date has been published.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Staff receive disability awareness training. An access policy is available on the museum website. |
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