A major revamp of historic Oakwell Hall is to go ahead.
Improvements to visitor facilities will be going ahead at the popular hall and country park in Kirklees thanks to an Arts Council England award.
The award of £257,289 has been made from the Renaissance Strategic Support Fund from Arts Council England for the ‘Growing Oakwell: Beyond the Business Plan’ project.
It means the Grade I Listed Elizabethan hall itself will see an exciting new interpretation programme which will tell Oakwell’s amazing story from the English Civil War, though its Bronte connections and to its more recent career as a Kirklees’ premiere visitor attraction and a popular TV and film location.
The project includes refurbishment of the public toilets in the Visitor Information Centre, a complete shop refit, and improvements to facilities in the Barn, which is used for weddings and events.
Oakwell will also lead a regional forum in partnership with other historic houses to explore the challenges of sustainability in the current economic climate.
Michelle Dickson, Director North, Arts Council England said: ‘‘I’m pleased that we are supporting Oakwell Hall through our Renaissance Strategic Support Fund. The development of its activity will attract new audiences and their sustainability plans are a good example of working in partnership with other organisations to ensure the future of the wider museum service.’’
Clr Jean Calvert, Joint Cabinet member for Health, Well Being and Communities, said: “The grant is a great tribute to Oakwell Hall’s long tradition of innovation and creative thinking.
“Oakwell is at the heart of the community and it’s wonderful to see the continued support of local people, volunteers and businesses enabling this project to happen.
“Oakwell is such a well-loved site and this Arts Council grant will improve facilities for visitors, enabling it to meet the needs of a wider range of audiences both locally and regionally, and contributing to the wider sustainability of the museums service.’
Oakwell is the most popular visitor attraction in Kirklees and welcomes more than 200,000 visitors each year.
It was one of just four projects in Yorkshire awarded funding for 2014-15.
Tolson Museum in Huddersfield, also part of Kirklees Museums and Galleries, was awarded £97,000 from the same fund in 2012-13.
The grant is supported by match funding from Kirklees Council’s Green Energy Fund, the Friends of Oakwell Hall and local paint manufacturers Johnstone’s, part of the PPG group, who have already funded Oakwell’s public programme and structural repairs to one of its chimneys.
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