Abbey House Museum facts for kids
Abbey House Museum is a fascinating place located in Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It's housed in the old gatehouse of the amazing 12th-century Kirkstall Abbey, which is now a ruin. This historic building is considered a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's very important! The museum is about 3 miles northwest of Leeds city centre and is part of the Leeds Museums & Galleries group.
Contents
History of the Museum
From Gatehouse to Museum
The main part of the museum building was once the inner gatehouse for Kirkstall Abbey. This was a very busy entrance back in the 1100s. Later, when King Henry VIII closed down the monasteries in England, the gatehouse became a farmhouse. After that, it was a home for the people who owned the Kirkstall Forge, a big ironworks.
Leeds City Council bought the building in 1926. They thought about using it for judges to stay in, but then decided it would be perfect for a museum instead! The museum officially opened its doors in July 1927. For a while, it even had a cafe inside, but that moved after the recent pandemic.
Exploring Victorian Streets
When you visit the ground floor of Abbey House Museum, you step back in time! It's set up like real Victorian streets. You can see all sorts of shops and services from that period. Many of the shop fittings are even original! The first street, Abbey Fold, opened in July 1954. Then came Harewood Square in 1955, and Stephen Harding Gate in 1958.
The museum got a big makeover between 1998 and 2001. This project was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and cost about £1.5 million. The refurbishment added 12 new shops and houses, making the Victorian streets even more exciting to explore.
Upstairs Galleries and Exhibitions
Upstairs, the museum has more galleries to discover. These areas often show off collections about childhood, with old toys and games. There are also displays created by local communities, sharing their own stories. Plus, the museum often hosts special temporary exhibitions, so there's always something new to see!
Spooky Stories and Staying Open
The TV show Most Haunted even visited Abbey House Museum for an episode. The crew reported some strange things happening, like knocking sounds and a piano playing by itself!
In December 2024, Leeds City Council announced they were thinking about closing the museum. However, many local people were very upset about this idea. Because of the strong support from the community, the council announced in February 2025 that the museum would stay open!
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Leeds
- Listed buildings in Leeds (Kirkstall Ward)
- Violet Crowther
- Emily Wardman
