Ilkley Manor House

About the museum

Ilkley Manor House stands inside the footprint of the Roman fort of Olicana, and a Grade I listed building on a scheduled ancient monument is a rare combination. The oldest parts date from the late fourteenth century. The stone great hall of about 1390 is one of the oldest domestic buildings in West Yorkshire, and its stone was probably taken from Roman material on the site. Around 1550 to 1560 the hall was rebuilt as a ground-floor room with a bedroom above, and the wing nearest the church was built with a two-storey oriel window and a built-in latrine. A rebuilding of the west wing in the seventeenth century gave the house much its present form.

Ilkley's museum began in 1892 under a local committee, as building work in the growing spa town disturbed Roman remains. It later moved through several buildings and was re-established as Ilkley Museum in 1949. It later moved into the manor house itself.

After Bradford Council ran the house for many years, the Ilkley Manor House Trust took it over in 2018 and reopened it as a heritage, arts and learning centre. The trust holds Arts Council England museum accreditation. The ground-floor Heritage Room shows local finds from the Neolithic to the twentieth century, including Roman tombstones and altars, and the upstairs galleries host art exhibitions.

Highlights

• Grade I listed manor house of about 1390 within a Roman fort
• Heritage Room with Neolithic, Roman and medieval finds from Ilkley
• Roman altar to Verbeia, goddess of the River Wharfe, and its 1608 replica
• Interpretation panel on the Roman fort
• Changing art exhibitions in the upstairs galleries

Permanent exhibition

• Heritage Room – Local finds from the Neolithic to the twentieth century, including Roman tombstones and the altar to the goddess Verbeia, with an interpretation panel on the Roman fort.

Founded

1892

Operated by

Ilkley Manor House Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the house is free; the trust welcomes donations.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• 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 ground floor and the Heritage Room are accessible by wheelchair, with a manually operated heavy front door (a doorbell summons help; the door stands open when the house is open) and ramped access to the courtyard. The first floor is reached by 18 steps with handrails, so it is not accessible for people who cannot use stairs, and pushchairs cannot be taken upstairs. A film describing the upstairs exhibitions is shown downstairs. The toilets are reached by a single step down and there is no fully accessible toilet; the nearest is in South Hawksworth Street car park (RADAR/NKS key). The surrounding road is cobbled, and the approach from Riverside Gardens is a steep slope. Registered assistance dogs are welcome throughout; other well-behaved dogs are welcome downstairs when it is not busy. Large-print guides are available, and no ambient music is normally played.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby changing is available in the lobby of the toilets. Pushchairs are welcome on the ground floor but cannot be taken upstairs.

Getting there & parking

The house is beside All Saints Church, set back from the A65, about 100 yards west of the traffic lights at Brook Street and Church Street. Bike racks are in the courtyard. Roof works with scaffolding are planned from September to about November 2026; the house stays open, but the pedestrian route between Riverside Gardens and Castle Yard is blocked during the works.

Amenities & dining

There is no café in the house; cafés in the town centre are nearby. Baby changing is available in the toilet lobby.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 60 guests.

The Western Gallery upstairs (about 9 m by 6 m, up to 60 people) can be hired for concerts, performances and exhibitions, and the whole house can be used for private functions with up to 60 people per floor; the lower floor cannot be hired alone. The house is also available as a period location for film and television.

Plan your visit