Oakwell Hall

Almost equidistant between the urban centres of Leeds, Wakefield  and Huddersfield  in the UK is an attractive  rural area called the Spen Valley and The Oakwell Hall museum and the adjacent country park is a surprising hidden gem with important military, literary, industrial and cultural aspects to its story. It is not a typical offering of an English stately home visitor experience since the operators (Kirklees District Council) include far more in the way of interpretation and blend  several  replica items with the original structural features and imported furniture of the period.

Built around 1583 by Sir John Batt the hall was still held by  Sir John's son (also called John. at the time of the English Civil War and it was a stronghold of the Royalist cause. Troops from the hall played an important  role in the 1643 battle  of Adwalton Moor about a mile from the house.

It is believed that in the mid 19th century the house was visited by Charlotte  Bronte (whilst the house was in use as girls boarding school). The house was featured  as one of the properties in her book Shirley. The Bronte connection was re-established in 2009 when the house was used as a set for the  Wuthering Heights  TV series. The museum contains  the headboard of the bed  used by Tom Hardy in his portrayal of Heathcliffe. The house was also used to portray the home of, chief conspirator Robert Catesby in the 2017 series , Gunpowder.

The country park which surrounds it is based on a combination of the formal gardens of the old house and a restored industrial landscape (including old rail track beds and artefacts such as ponds created by the mining activities (Gomersal Colliery).  The mining history is reflected in the design of one of the modern metal gates into the courtyard area. in 2026 there was an extensive exhibition of paintings reproduced from the UK national collection mounted  within the external area. Of particular note in the garden is a tree called "Isaac Newton's Apple Tree" said to have been grown from a cutting taken from Newton's garden in Grantham. 

Overall a great place to visit but be aware that it is not a fine country house like Chatsworth but a museum which captures the English Civil War period and the Bronte connection admirably. To top it all off there is a fascinating ghost story which is presented as a video production.