Oakwell Hall will close to visitors until spring 2028 to make way for a £1.6 million programme of conservation and improvement works.
The Grade I listed Elizabethan Hall, which sits within a 110-acre country park to the northwest of Birstall, will close from Monday, 30 November 2026, to prepare for the major works. Work will begin on site in the New Year, with the hall remaining closed throughout 2027 and a planned reopening in spring 2028.
The funding for the scheme comes from Arts Council England’s Museum Estate and Development (MEND) Fund, alongside investment from Kirklees Council. It will support essential repairs to the building and improve accessibility, helping to secure the hall’s long-term future, the council explained.
Works will include roof repairs and replacement, improvements to rainwater drainage systems, and conservation of historic windows and internal features. A new accessible toilet will also be created on the ground floor.
These improvements represent the most significant programme of investment in Oakwell Hall for many years.
Although the hall itself will be closed, the visitor centre and car park will remain open. Visitors can still enjoy the wider grounds, including the upper sections of the walled garden.
The hall’s history will also remain accessible through its virtual tour on the Bloomberg Connects app, where visitors can explore its historic rooms, collections and stories.
The council says the works mark an important step towards 2028, when Oakwell Hall will celebrate 100 years in public ownership, helping to safeguard its future for generations to come.
Cabinet Member for Place, Culture and Volunteering, Cllr Pip Harvey, 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 Arts Council for providing funding and support for this milestone project.”
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.”
