Bishops' House facts for kids
Bishops' House is a very old house in the Norton Lees area of Sheffield, England. It was built around the year 1500. This special house is made with a style called half-timbered, meaning its wooden frame is visible on the outside. It sits at the edge of Meersbrook Park. Bishops' House is one of only three timber-framed houses still standing in Sheffield today.
The house got its name because people believed it was built for two brothers, John and Geoffrey Blythe. Both of them became important church leaders called Bishops. However, there is no proof that they ever lived in this house. The first person we know for sure lived there was William Blythe. He was a farmer and made tools called scythes. He lived in the house in 1627.
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History of Bishops' House
The Blyth Family's Time
The Blyth family lived in Bishops' House for many years. Samuel Blyth was the last family member to live there. He passed away in 1753. After his death, his sons sold the house to a person named William Shore. The Blyth family then moved away to Birmingham.
Later, the house was rented out to a farmer and his helper. At this time, the large house was split into two separate homes. This allowed two different families to live there.
Becoming a City Property
In 1886, the Sheffield City Council took ownership of Bishops' House. For many years, people who worked for the city's recreation department lived in the house. This continued until 1974.
Bishops' House as a Museum
Opening to the Public
Bishops' House is a very important building. It is listed as a Grade II* listed building, which means it has special historical value. In 1976, after some repairs, the house opened as a museum. These repairs were paid for by English Heritage and Sheffield City Council.
Managed by Volunteers
For some years, the Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust looked after the museum. But in April 2011, a group called the Friends of Bishops' House took over. This group is made up entirely of volunteers. They manage the house and open it to the public.
The house is usually open on Saturdays and Sundays. You can visit between 10 AM and 4 PM. The Friends of Bishops' House also started offering visits for schools in 2012. This helps students learn about life in the past.
What You Can See Inside
Inside Bishops' House, you can explore exhibitions about life in the 16th and 17th centuries. Two of the rooms are decorated in the Jacobean style. This shows how homes looked during that time period.
Images for kids
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A robot illustration.
