Oak House, West Bromwich facts for kids
The Oak House is a very old building located in West Bromwich, England. It's a special kind of house called a timber framed building, which means its main structure is made from strong wooden beams. This amazing house was built way back in the early 16th century! Today, it's a museum where visitors can step back in time and see what life was like long ago.
Contents
A Look at the Oak House History
The Oak House was built around c. 1620. We don't know who the very first owners were, but a family called the Turtons became very important to its story. They lived there by 1634 and even added new brick sections to the back of the house in the 1650s.
The house stayed with the Turton family until 1768. After that, it passed to William Whyley, who was a son of John Turton. There was a disagreement over the land, but the Turton family managed to keep the property.
How the Oak House Got Its Name
Many people believe the house got its name from a huge oak tree that stood right in front of it. This tree was sadly burned down around the year 1800. Another idea is that the house was named after the many oak trees that once grew all around it.
In 1768, many of these oak trees were cut down. Their wood was used to build important lock-gates for the Birmingham Canal, which was being built through West Bromwich at the time. By 1836, very few oak trees were left in the area.
Famous Visitors and New Owners
A famous preacher named John Wesley visited the Oak House twice in the late 1700s when William Whyley owned it. The Whyley family continued to live there until 1837.
After a few different owners, a very important person named Reuben Farley bought the house. Reuben Farley was the Mayor of West Bromwich three times! He bought the Oak House with the idea of living there himself. However, he later decided to give it to the town as a museum.
The Oak House Becomes a Museum
Reuben Farley was known for being very generous to his town. He wanted the Oak House to be a gift for everyone to enjoy. Leading architects from West Bromwich, Messrs. Wood and Kendrick, were hired to carefully restore the house. They did an amazing job, making sure everything looked just right.
The museum officially opened its doors on 25 July 1898. Beautiful gardens and even a bowling green were also created around the house for visitors.
In 1949, the Oak House was given special protection as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be preserved. To celebrate 50 years since Reuben Farley gave the house to the town, it was decided to make the Oak House look exactly like it would have in the past, with old furniture and decorations. This "period house" was officially reopened in 1951.
