Smithills Hall

About the museum

Smithills Hall stands on the edge of Bolton on land that was recorded in the Domesday Book. The Great Hall was built in 1335 by William de Radcliffe, and later owners added a bower and solar, rebuilt the chapel and enlarged the house. Andrew Barton, who inherited in 1516, rebuilt the chapel, and much of the east window glass dates from his time. In 1554 the reformer George Marsh was questioned in the hall on suspicion of heresy; he was burnt at the stake at Chester in 1555.

In 1801 the Ainsworth family bought the hall. Peter Ainsworth demolished the south side of the original quadrangle, and from 1870 Richard Henry Ainsworth had the house extended to designs by George Devey. In 1896 a dispute over the closure of Coalpit Road by Colonel Ainsworth led to mass trespass protests on the moors above the hall, which drew thousands of people.

Bolton Corporation bought the hall in 1938 and restored it. Later the west wing housed elderly residents and then a workshop. The hall was run by a trust from 2000 to 2009, when control returned to Bolton Council, and the west wing was refurbished and reopened in 2017. The hall closed during the Covid-19 lockdown and reopened in 2022. Today a timeline exhibition in the old kitchen area, guided tours and a tea room are offered, supported by the Friends of Smithills Hall.

Highlights

• Great Hall of 1335
• Chapel with sixteenth-century glass
• Victorian extension designed by George Devey
• Timeline exhibition in the old kitchen area
• Tea room in the former dining room

Permanent exhibition

• Timeline Exhibition – A timeline of the hall and its owners in the old kitchen area.

Operated by

Bolton Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the exhibition and other areas of the hall is free. Guided tours are charged by Bolton Council; for tour dates and block bookings telephone (01204) 332812.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

Blue Badge holders can turn right at the fork after the entrance drive and park near the entrance door.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Look for the brown signs marked “Smithills Hall & Country Park”.

Amenities & dining

• Café

The tea room (run by a separate operator) serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and cake, Wednesday to Sunday 10:00–16:00.

Events & venue rental

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

Up to 65 guests.

Hire rooms include the Great Hall (capacity 65), the Devey Room (capacity 50, with Wi-Fi access) and the Dome Room (capacity 30); the grounds can be hired for outdoor events and marquees. Weddings and civil partnerships are arranged through Bolton Council.

Plan your visit