Red House Museum & Oakwell Hall Country Park

Museums & Galleries

Beautifully displayed with original and reproduction 1830s furnishings

RED HOUSE MUSEUM This delightful house was once home to the Taylor family, merchant clothiers. Not only is the house beautifully displayed with original and reproduction 1830s furnishings, it also has an important literary connection with Charlotte Bront‰, who was a close friend of the Taylors; she featured the house as Briarmains in Shirley. Charlotte's links with the area and her friendships with Mary Taylor and Ellen Nussey are explored in The Secret's Out exhibition in the renovated barn. The museum shop sells period toys and gifts and the garden has been recreated from 19th century maps of the site. OAKWELL HALL COUNTRY PARK Set in period gardens and in over 100 acres of country park, this Elizabethan Manor House was the real setting for Fieldhead in Charlotte Bront‰'s Shirley. The house is now set out as the home of the Batt family in the 1690s, giving visitors valuable insight into 17th century gentry life. The exciting and interactive Discover Oakwell exhibition introduces children (and adults!) to the ecology of a country park. The site has excellent visitor facilities, a delightful period garden, a caf‚ and a well-stocked shop. The country park boasts nature trails, picnic areas, an equestrian arena and an adventure playground. OPENING TIMES: Both properties All year: Mon - Fri: 11am - 5pm. Sat & Sun: 12 noon - 5pm