Horsforth Village Museum
Horsforth Village Museum was opened in 1988, in premises built in 1789 which have had many uses over the years, including housing Horsforth Urban District Council.
The Museum is run and funded entirely by volunteers who are members of the Horsforth Historical Society. The Society's aim is "to archive, document, preserve and have available to the public all aspects of Horsforth’s history". The Museum is accredited by the UK Museum Accreditation Scheme. These nationally agreed standards ensure all museums are sustainable, focused and trusted, inspiring the confidence of the public and funding and governing bodies.
There is a large archive and exhibitions at Horsforth Village Museum include a Victorian School Room, WW2 and WW1 information and memorabilia; a group of model Back to Backs architecturally dated around 1850, with interior furnishings and accessories; historical facts and history of some of the local Inns, Taverns and Public Houses, and also maps and geological information of the area.
Twice a month talks are presented in the Museum Meeting Room on the ground floor, covering many topics, and help is at hand for genealogy research for families from all areas.
A video has been produced by a local Architectural Illustrator Iain Denby, inspired by the site situated directly opposite Horsforth Village Museum and bringing it back to life as a visual reconstruction of The Bell Chapel. The Chapel was located on The Green in Horsforth, since the 16th century it took on several forms, being demolished and reconstructed in 1757. Its current build lasted over 120 years and was finally demolished in 1885/6. The site is now a Garden Of Rest.
See the video on YouTube here.
Over two thousand burials took place in the graveyard of the Chapel until it was full, a new graveyard was opened on Church Road, which was used for one hundred years. The earliest worship gatherings recorded in Horsforth was in 1594, we can only imagine the structure of the church in that time, which may have been wooden.
The Bell Chapel was a Chapel of Ease in Horsforth for the parish of Guiseley. It was situated across the street from the museum and allowed worshippers the ease of the walk to Guiseley for worship.
A new church, St Margaret's was built to accommodate the growing population’s although not complete, it was opened for services in 1883. The old chapel was demolished in 1885, leaving the floor plan, which now houses some of the headstones removed from the chapel graveyard surrounding the building. This video brings it to life.
Opening hours for the Horsforth Village Museum are Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm April to October and November Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 2pm-4pm. Closed December until April for display changes.
Contact horsforthmuseum@hotmail.co.uk / tel 0113 2819877
Facebook https://facebook.com/HorsforthMuseum
Find Horsforth Village Museum at 5 The Green, Horsforth Town Street, Leeds LS18 5JB.