Heritage Open Day – 110 years of Bolling Hall

Bolling Hall opened as a museum in September 1915.

Join us to celebrate 110 years of being open to the public!Full details coming soon.

We will have costumed characters, family friendly-craft activities, and lots more!

And with a site that was lived in (and modernised) since the medieval period, but updated during the Stewart and Georgian era you’ll definitely have fun with the architecture of the place…

Join us 11 – 3pm on Sunday 14th September for national Heritage Open Days, as we celebrate 110 years of Bolling Hall Museum!

We will be offering a range of activities, displays and exhibits at Bolling Hall, that reflect the history of a site that has been occupied since the medieval period and, to celebrate over a century of the museum!

On the day their will be something for everyone, with Early years activities for the youngest visitors, a recreation of the opening ceremony featuring the former Lord Mayor of Bradford, Arthur Godwin

The Leeds Waits musicians will be performing music that spans from the medieval period through to the 1800s, with a range of classical instruments.

Visitors will be able to hear the tale of the Bradford Boar, and learn of the contributions to maths and astronomy made by Abraham Sharp, whose portrait can be seen at the hall.

There will be a new exhibit of items from the halls history – a sword found under the floorboards of an attic room, the ceremony key used in the 1915 opening ceremony, and a 17th century book found in the garderobe – and photographic displays. Don’t forget to ask the Museum assistants about their favourite objects!

Meet the Bolling Hall volunteer gardeners, learn about their role keeping the Hall gardens and growing vegetables and plants for dying. While you are here paint yourself a miniature harvest garden flower or vegetable with their prepared plant colours for you to take and enjoy at home. Our library volunteers will be in Bolling Hall Library reading fun family stories.

Hot and cold drinks and cake refreshments will be available from the Joyful Bean Collective, who will be serving from their coffee trailer on site all day.

Activities and timings on the day:

11.30am – Leeds Waits will begin to perform music spanning medieval to 1800’s. They’ll be playing continuing every hour through the day.

12pm -Recreation of the Opening ceremonies recreation with Stuart Kaplan as former Lord mayor Arthur Godwin. You’ll spot ‘Arthur’ roving around the site through the day

There will also be Bradford Boar storytelling activities: (timings TBC)

Throughout the day, Volunteer gardeners will be running a dye making and painting activity using dye made from naturally grown materials and there will also be Early Years/Family play activities