Horsforth Village Museum

About the museum

Horsforth Village Museum opened in 1988 and is run entirely by volunteers of the Horsforth Village Historical Society. It stands on The Green, in the heart of the old village, in a building that once served as council chambers. Horsforth was once described as the largest village in England, and the museum aims to reflect that heritage with exhibits drawn from all aspects of life in and around the village.

The ground-floor rooms include a Victorian school room and a display room with media displays and picture folders, and the museum holds copies of the Horsforth newspapers from 1963 to 1978 for visitors to read. Upstairs rooms hold further displays, although they are not yet accessible to wheelchair users.

The society also runs a monthly programme of talks, outings, coffee and cake mornings on the last Saturday of the month, and family history courses on Tuesday mornings. A museum shop sells books and booklets on Horsforth history, local walk leaflets, maps and souvenirs. Plans are in place for a major refurbishment, with a lift, further accessible toilets and baby changing.

Highlights

• Victorian school room
• Displays on village life in Horsforth
• Horsforth newspapers from 1963 to 1978 to read
• Museum shop with local history books and walk leaflets

Permanent exhibition

• Victorian school room – A ground-floor room furnished as a Victorian classroom, alongside displays on everyday life in Horsforth.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Horsforth Village Historical Society

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free and donations are welcome; all methods of payment are accepted.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• 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

A ramp leads to the wide front doors. The two ground-floor rooms, including the Victorian school room, are accessible, but the upstairs displays are not. The accessible toilet is on the ground floor beyond a single step; a ramp is being investigated. Parking is limited to three on-street spaces in front of the museum, none reserved for disabled drivers, and the Fink Hill car park has one disabled bay. The museum plans refurbishment with a lift and further accessible toilets.

Kids & families

The museum plans baby changing facilities as part of its refurbishment.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at 5 The Green in the old village centre of Horsforth.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells local history books, walk leaflets, maps, souvenirs and stationery. Coffee and cake mornings are held on the last Saturday of each month except December, 10am to 12.30pm.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit