IT is a Huddersfield landmark.

But now Tolson Museum and Ravensknowle Park need a helping hand.

It has become the latest Huddersfield park to issue a “friends” appeal.

The newly-established Friends of Tolson Museum and Ravensknowle Park aims to help preserve one of the town’s most treasured sites.

And they are appealing to anyone who may be interested in getting involved.

Clr Ann Denham, who has been appointed chairman of the Friends, said: “There are five museums in Kirklees and most of those have been through a refurbishment programme of some kind in the last 10 years – either through external funding or Kirklees Council’s capital programme.

“Tolson Museum in Ravensknowle Park was being considered but due to the economic picture funding is less available as more and more organisations apply for the same Lottery funding.

“Tolson is a listed building and requires an investment of very specialist repair and care to secure it for the long term future.

“The new group is full of community spirit and they can support the museum and park in ways which are beyond the scope of the council and act as real stakeholders in their development.

“Anybody else who wants to get involved with the friends would be more than welcome.

“It is important to recognise that the group are not just trying to help with the museum but with the surrounding Ravensknowle Park as well.”

A new committee was established for the group on Sunday and they urged anybody else who may be interested to come along.

Similar groups have been very successful in Greenhead Park and Beaumont Park.

Clr Denham said “I think it is important to uphold this wonderful facility and to help develop it.

“We want it to be a project that really involves all our local communities and helps us retain the history of the building.

“As it stands it is a good community facility and a monument of the town, it deserves our community support and help.”

Ideas put forward included finding a suitable site for a park cafe and restoring original features including the park’s railings.

They hope to encourage local organisations and businesses to get involved with restoration projects.

As the Tolson Museum is a grade II listed building, the group recognised that they would need to apply for planning permission in relation to some of the bigger projects.

A new exhibition will open on January 28, which will display old photographs of Ravensknowle Park and the Tolson Museum. Anyone who is interested in submitting their photos is asked to go along to the museum on Wakefield Road, Dalton.

Anyone interested in becoming part of the Friends group should email Clr Denham on:

ann.denham@kirklees.gov.uk or go to the next Friends meeting on Sunday, March 4 at 2.30pm at the Tolson Museum.

Historic park

Tolson Museum, together with the formal gardens, were given to the Corporation of Huddersfield in 1919 as a memorial to Leigh Tolson’s nephews, who were lost in the First World War.

The park is less than five hectares in size, but is very popular with visitors.

On opening the park had a paddling pool, bowling greens, tennis courts together with areas of ornamental flower beds

It is home to the old clock tower from Huddersfield’s famous Cloth Hall

For more than 80 years it has provided a home for Ravensknowle Gala.