Haden Hill House Museum

Haden Hill House Museum is a Victorian historic house museum in Sandwell, West Midlands, where Cradley Heath meets Old Hill. It sits inside Haden Hill Park and is one of the museums run by Sandwell Council. Its rooms are furnished to show how a well-off gentleman's home looked in the late 1800s.

What is Haden Hill House?

The Haden family lived in this corner of the Black Country from the 1600s, earning their money from rented land and local mills. George Alfred Haden-Best inherited the estate in 1877. He had no wish to live in the old hall, so he had a new house built, finished around 1878. According to accounts, he meant to pull the old building down and enlarge the new one, but that never happened, which is why Haden Old Hall still stands next door.

What will you see?

• Period rooms. Furniture and fittings give a picture of everyday upper-class life under Queen Victoria.
• Haden Old Hall. The older house is usually dated to the late 1600s, though some sources place it in the 16th and 17th centuries. It opens only on limited days.
• Exhibitions and events. The museum runs changing displays and themed weekends, such as 1940s wartime days.
• Haden Hill Park. About 55 acres (roughly 22 hectares) of award-winning parkland. Rowley Regis Urban District Council bought it in 1922 after a public fundraising drive, and a restoration between 2000 and 2007 was largely paid for by National Lottery money.

How do you get there?

The address is Halesowen Road, Cradley Heath, B64 7JU. By car, the park is reached from Lee Road or Barrs Road depending on the entrance. The house lies in the western part of the Black Country conurbation, close to Birmingham.

When should you visit?

Opening is seasonal, mostly Thursday to Sunday, and hours differ between summer and autumn. Check the current calendar on Visit Sandwell or call 01384 569 444 before you set off. The park itself is open at all times.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry free? Entry to the house is free. Some special events may charge.

Is it open every day? No. Days and hours are seasonal, and the Old Hall has an even shorter schedule.

How long should I allow? About an hour for the house and exhibitions, longer if you walk through the park.

Is it a listed building? It is a historic 19th-century residence beside an older hall. We do not state a listing grade because we could not confirm one in our sources.