Oak House

Oak House in West Bromwich is a delightful half-timbered yeoman farmer's house built about 1620 with brick additions at the rear built in the 1650s as the family wealth and status grew and they became lower gentry.

The Turton family who are associated with the house at this time were yeoman (posh farmers) nail makers, ironmongers and brick and tile makers; later expanding to be money lender, making loans to impoverished royalist gentry after the English Civil War.

This connected the family to gentry families and meant that John Turton was making far more money than ever before and even managed to find his daughter a husband amongst the gentry, propelling the family up the social scale.

You can find out more about the Turtons in the Old Barn with our talking barrels! We don't know how Oak House got its name - it certainly isn't due to the oak trees which grew around it as we know the timbers to build the Oak House came from at least 20 miles away. By the 1600s there were virtually no trees at all on Bromwich Heath and the area was probably pretty bleak. 

 

The Oak House Museum boasts some fine panelling and is furnished with 17th century furniture. The house is set in its own grounds with a children's playground on site which is available to visitors during the opening hours of the museum.

It is free to visit the Oak House in West Bromwich - however unfortunately there is currently no disabled access to the first floor of the house itself although there is access to the upstairs of the visitor centre.

The museum has a lively programme of activities to enjoy for all ages throughout the year as well creative learning sessions for schools and other educational groups.

Opening Times

January - closed to all users

February and March -open for pre-booked groups and schools

April until the end of September - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 11-3pm (Grounds open until 4pm) and every Sunday 11-2pm. Please note that Thursdays are reserved for school visits and as such access to the house may be restricted until 2pm if a school are visiting. Due to some current staffing issues we will post any updates to opening hours or closures due to unforeseen circumstances on our Facebook and Twitter pages @sandwellmuseums

October and November - Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11am-3pm and the first Sunday of the month

December - open for our festive events, activities and open days to view our decorations. See our events page for details nearer the time.

Events and activities:

Oak House has a full and varied programme of events and activities throughout the year for all ages to enjoy Find out what's on at Oak House

Entry is free

Entrance is free and booking is not required unless a special event is advertised which needing pre-booking. events and activities may attract a charge. Please also note that during term times there may be school groups visiting which will restrict access to the house between 11am and 12pm on Thursdays. If you are looking for a quiet visit then for your information during school holidays there will be lots of family activities on site

 Further visitor information

• The grounds are open during museum opening hours unless other times are advertised at specific times of year like school holidays. 
• Entrance to the museum is FREE unless a specific charge for certain events and activities is stated.
• No stiletto heels inside the main house please - we advice flat or low heeled shoes only due to the uneven surfaces and nature of the historic flooring.
• NB: during school holidays, family activities take precedence so some rooms may be closed or have restricted access and the site will be busy with families during the week. Check out our what's on page to make the most of your visit.

Location details

The Oak House Museum,
Oak Road, West Bromwich B70 8HJ.

Phone: 0121 553 0759 (Staff are available to answer telephone calls on advertised opening days during office hours, however they may be available at other times but please don't call on Mondays)

Entrance: The Oak House is on the corner of Oak Road and Cambridge Street just a short distance from West Bromwich High Street and Lodge Road Metro station. Entrance is via the Barns Visitor Centre on Oak Road.

Parking: - Parking is available on Cambridge Street, further down Oak Road beyond the barns or at the pay and display car park on Lodge Road which is a 5-10 minute walk away. Disabled drop off area only outside the site.  Disabled parking may be possible on site behind the house with prior arrangement only if it is convenient and not on event days. Parking directly outside the museum is limited to one hour.

For more information on getting to our sites using public transport please visit Network West Midlands. You can also see a map of where the house is situated. Find Oak House on google maps

Learning and schools activities

We have a lively programme of activities for schools. Find out more about our activities you can also email us at museum_learning@sandwell.gov.uk. Please have possible dates and which sessions or topics you are interested in before you email.

Sandwell Museums go live!

Visit our YouTube channel for videos about our museums and services.

Well I never knew that! Museum musings.

A peep behind the scenes, information, some great history stories and more with our museum blog

In the picture

Enjoy pictures of Oak House with our Flickr album

Enjoy pictures of activities on site at Oak House

 

Museums for Schools

Find out about our exciting programmes for schools across the curriculum and topic areas.

The grounds- a safe place

Our visitors have told us that they enjoy the grounds to the Oak House Museum being a safe and secure place for families and older visitors as access is through the visitor centre only and we do not allow dogs on site. Therefore the grounds are open during the museum opening times and at other times for special events and activities.

Please note that dogs are allowed onsite but only in specific areas.

 

Access

Find out more about Oak House accessibility with our access statement.

Find out more

• Find out what is on at Oak House Museum - Find out what's on at Sandwell Museums with our up and coming activities listings.
• The Sandwell Museums Facebook page for daily information.
• You can also follow us on twitter @sandwellmuseums or on instagram @sandwellmuseums #sandwellmuseums
• You can follow the new Discover Sandwell website for Sandwell activities, events and what's on to see and do. This new site is being developed all the time!  
• You can find out more about our activities for schools.
• There is 'More to Museums' - Find out what groups or activities are available for adults to enjoy or get involved with.  You can paint, garden, make cakes, serve in our tearoom, research, fund raise, join classes or talks and much more.

Contact us

• Call: 0121 553 0759 - for general enquiries and bookings. The house is not staffed every day, therefore the best times to guarantee a member of staff will pick up the phone is to call on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. 
• Museum Service Email: museumarts_tourism@sandwell.gov.uk - please notethat this is an email address for the whole museum service so please state the building you are interested in. Information about opening times, parking, access etc is above. Follow the link to our events and activities page Please call the house for bookings as we are not able to take bookings via email. If you are interested in finding out about school visits please go to our Museums for Schools page and find out more about our sessions for schools before contacting us. 

   

  In the picture

  • Check out our photostream on Flickr to see more photos of the Oak House

  Become a friend

  We relaunched our Friends Group at the Oak House in 2013. If you are interested in joining in, volunteering on site and helping to raise money for events and activities, help to run our tearoom or help to garden the grounds etc please call 0121 553 0759.

  Other information for visitors

  • Entrance to Oak House is usually free, but there is sometimes a small charge for some activities.
  • Opening times may vary for special activities, please ring site for details.
  • There is currently no disabled access to the first floor of the house.
  • We are unable to accommodate pushchairs inside the museum building but we can in the visitor centre.
  • Suitable footwear must be worn inside Oak House- due to the age of the flooring we cannot allow stiletto heels to be worn inside the building.
  • Please mind your step when walking on the Oak House drive.
  • The playground area is open when the museum is open and not at other times unless advertised.
  • Children MUST be accompanied by an adult on site. 
  • There is no smoking anywhere on the Oak House site or grounds
  • No dogs except guide dogs.
  • Souvenirs are available from our small museum shop.
  • More information about access to the building. Sandwell Museums Access Statement.

  The playground

  • Please note that the playground is part of the Oak House museum grounds
  • Shoes must be worn on the playground and on site at all times
  • No dogs in the playground area
  • There is no smoking anywhere in the Oak House grounds
  • Please use the bins provided or take your litter home
  • No ball games in the playground area, please use the old bowling green at the back of the house or the grass area in front of the house
  • Bikes should be left in the bike parking in front of the barns.