Oakwell Hall improvements: Much-loved Grade I listed Birstall hall to close for over a year for £1.6m repair works
Oakwell Hall in Birstall is set to close for over a year to allow for a major programme of improvement works.
The much-loved Grade I listed Elizabethan building, situated within the 110 acre Oakwell Hall and Country Park site, will close to visitors from Monday, November 30, with preparations for the work beginning ahead of teams starting work on the site in the New Year.
The scheme is being backed by more than £1.6 million from Arts Council England, with the investment helping protect one of Kirklees’ most treasured historic buildings.
Work includes repairs to the historic roof timbers, repairs to the hall’s historic stonework, improvements to rainwater drainage systems, the conservation of historic windows and internal features, and a new accessible toilet being inserted on the ground floor.
The hall is expected to remain closed throughout 2027, with a planned reopening in Spring 2028, when it will celebrate 100 years in public ownership.
Although the hall itself will be closed, the wider grounds, including the upper sections of the Walled Garden, the visitor centre and car park will remain open to visitors.
Coun Pip Harvey, Cabinet Member for Place, Culture and Volunteering, said: “Oakwell Hall is such an important part of who we are in Kirklees. It’s part of our heritage, our history and our identity, and I’m incredibly proud that we’re investing in it.
“It’s about looking after these special places, making sure they’re here for future generations and giving the opportunity to enjoy and be part of the history that makes Kirklees so special.
“Importantly, there will still be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the wider site while the hall is closed. The visitor centre, car park and parts of the gardens and grounds will remain open, so people can continue to visit and enjoy this beautiful place as the work progresses.
“We would also like to thank the Arts Council for providing funding and support for this milestone project.”
The investment is coming from Arts Council England’s Museum Estate and Development (MEND) Fund, alongside significant investment from Kirklees Council.
Rebecca Ball, Area Director, North, Arts Council England said: “Our museums, libraries and arts organisations have the power to change lives, they give us access to new worlds, teach us about our heritage and give us new perspectives on life.
“I’m so pleased that we’ll be supporting so many of our cultural organisations in the North with this capital investment, which will ensure that they can continue to deliver incredible arts and culture to their communities.”