Blakesley Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blakesley Hall |
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Blakesley Hall front façade
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| Location | Yardley |
| OS grid reference | SP 13042 86185 |
| Area | Birmingham |
| Built | 1590 |
| Architectural style(s) | Tudor |
| Governing body | Birmingham Museums Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Blakesley Hall | |
| Designated | 29 April 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1075711 |
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Blakesley Hall is a special historic building located in Yardley, Birmingham, England. It's a fantastic example of a Tudor house, built way back in 1590! This makes it one of the oldest buildings in Birmingham.
The hall shows off classic Tudor architecture. You can see its dark timber beams and the white wattle-and-daub infill (a mix of woven sticks and clay). The outside is covered in a white lime render, which is a type of plaster. The way the timbers are arranged, with lots of vertical beams close together (called close studding) and cool zigzag herringbone patterns, shows that the original owner was quite wealthy and important. The house also has jetties, meaning the upper floors stick out over the lower ones on all sides. At the back, there's a brick kitchen block added around 1650.
Contents
The Story of Blakesley Hall
Blakesley Hall started its life as a timber-framed farmhouse. It was built in 1590 by a man named Richard Smalbroke, who was important in the local area of Yardley. Back then, Yardley was part of Worcestershire.
From Family Home to Farm
The Smalbroke family lived and farmed at the hall for many years. They owned other buildings nearby, but those have been lost over time. After 1685, the hall was taken over by the Greswolde family. For the next 200 years, it wasn't a family home anymore. Instead, it became a tenant farm, meaning farmers rented the land and house.
A New Chapter and Renovations
In 1899, a man named Henry Donne bought the hall. It was in poor condition, so he fixed it up. Later, he sold it to the Merry family, who made paint and varnish. They were the last family to live in Blakesley Hall as a private home.
Blakesley Hall as a Museum
In 1935, Blakesley Hall opened its doors as a museum. Its main goal was to show the history of the local medieval areas that make up Birmingham. The hall's parlour (a fancy living room) was specially renovated for this.
Wartime Damage and Reopening
During a wartime event in November 1941, the hall was damaged. This caused a lot of destruction, and the museum had to close. It didn't open again until 1957.
Restoring History
In the 1970s, researchers studied the hall to learn more about its past. Based on their findings, Blakesley Hall was carefully restored to look like it would have in 1684. They even used furniture and items that matched an old list of what was inside the house back then.
Modern Updates
The hall had its most recent big renovation in 2002. A new visitor centre was added, along with a car park. Some parts of the hall itself were also repaired. Things like the old toilet block and boiler room were moved out of the historic building and into the new visitor centre. This allowed another smaller living area, called the second parlour, to be put back on the ground floor next to the main Great Parlour.
Discoveries and Features
Many of the original parts of Blakesley Hall are still there today. For example, you can see the unique herringbone pattern on the floor.
Hidden Treasures
During archaeological digs at the hall, interesting items have been found, such as old candlesticks and pewter goblets.
The Painted Chamber
One of the most exciting discoveries happened in the Bedchamber. Paintings on the wall from 1590 were found! They had been hidden for centuries under plaster. The wartime damage actually helped uncover them by loosening some of the plaster. When the room was cleaned up after the war, fragments of painted plaster and leather were seen. The walls and timbers were decorated in a beautiful Moorish design. You can see a recreation of how this "painted chamber" would have looked in the back bedroom at Blakesley Hall.
Visiting Blakesley Hall
Blakesley Hall is a Community Museum, meaning it's a local branch of the Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery. It is managed by the Birmingham Museums Trust.
The Barn and Gilbertstone
Next to the hall, there's an old barn that has also been renovated. This barn is now used for exhibitions and special events. In the museum grounds, you can also see a famous stone called the Gilbertstone. Local stories say that a giant named Gilbert moved this stone, and it gave its name to the nearby area of Gilbertstone.
Images for kids
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Blakesley Hall front façade
