Opening Times
January - closed to all users
February and March - Open to pre-booked groups and schools and for February half term activities
From April -September - Thursdays & Fridays 10am-5pm with a relaxed quiet time from 10am-11am. Saturdays & Sundays 2pm-6pm. Any emergency changes to opening hours will be posted on our Facebook page @sandwellmuseums
October and November - Thursdays and Fridays 11am-4pm, Sundays 11am-3pm
December - Open for festive events and activities and open days to view our beautiful decorations. Click the events page nearer the time to find out more.
Last Admission to the Museum is 30mins before all of our closing times.
Entrance is free apart from some events and activities. Some events may need pre-booking
Events and activities
We have a lively programme of events and activities throughout the year for all ages
There may sometimes be school visits during term time which will restrict access to some rooms - you may wish to call the house on 01384 569 444 to check.
Scroll down the page for further visitor information
Contact us - If you cannot find the information you need on this page or you have a further query or wish to make a booking then contact HadenHill_House@sandwell.gov.uk or call the house on 01384 569 444.
Learning and schools - Find out about our lively creative learning programme for schools and learning groups. Find out more. You can also contact us about schools activities at museum_learning@sandwell.gov.uk but please have possible dates and what sessions or activities/ topics you may be interested in, in mind when you contact us.
Haden Hill House. George Alfred Haden Haden Best inherited the estate in 1878 and work began on his new house soon after, although it was probably 1879 by the time he moved in. George Alfred did not wish to live in the Old Hall next door (pictured above) where he grew up with his sisters, aunt and uncle and decided to build a modern house on the site of an old farmhouse behind the Old Hall. Haden Hill House is furnished in period style and boasts some fantastic original features. There is also plenty to entertain younger visitors too and the museum has a lively programme of events and activities for all ages as well as a popular selection of activities for schools.
Haden Old Hall is almost semi-detached to the Victorian house. It is often known as the 'Tudor Hall' but it is neither Tudor or a Hall! The name Hall would suggest a medieval origin as medieval manor houses were called halls, even if the buildings were rebuilt later and simply retained the name. However we know that Haden Hall or any earlier building on site was not a manor house or home of a lord of the manor. The Hall was probably originally built around the late 1600s as the home of a moderately wealthy farming family. We know they were buying up pockets of land locally to rent out. The Haden family were part of the 'middling sort', wealthy but not rich. In the late 1600s they began to call themselves gentlemen as the family wealth and status grew. Architectural evidence suggests that the hall was later split into two farm dwellings. By the time Mr Haden-Best inherited in the 1870s he wished to build a new house to live in. The Old Hall has been rebuilt and restored many times over its lifetime and what you see today is largely a copy of the building which once stood there. We don't know how much of the historic fabric remains.
We believe Mr Haden-Best intended to eventually demolish the old hall and build an extension to the Victorian house in its place, but this never happened.
Although the Victorian house is furnished as a museum with Victorian objects, Haden Old Hall is now largely a shell with some furniture and interpretation after it was damaged by fire and partly restored.
Getting around - Accessibility
Accessing Haden Hill House. Read our access statement to find out all you need to know regarding getting around. If you need more information call us on 01384 569 444
Find out more.
You can find out more about Haden Hill House, Haden Old Hall and Haden Hill Park in one of our 15-20 minutes videos; put together by museum service staff and the Friends of Haden Hill Estate.
Haden Old Hall video - When is a Tudor Hall not a Tudor Hall? Find out more about the history of Haden Old Hall with our mini-documentary video. 18 mins
Haden Hill House video - Discover our fabulous Victorian building. 9 minutes
Haden Hill Park - Find out more about the history of Haden Hill Park and discover hundreds of years of landscape history. 18 mins
Check out our YouTube channel - with videos about our sites, our objects, activities to enjoy and more
Well I never knew that! - Museum musings
Find out behind the scenes information, history stories and information with our museum blog.
Haden Old Hall opening times.
Haden Old Hall is open for special events, activities and open days throughout the year. Call the house for more information on next open days or go to our what's on page.
In the picture
Enjoy pictures of Haden Hill House and Old Hall on our Flickr album.
Enjoy pictures of events and activities on site at Haden Hill
Meet the family - Enjoy photos from around 1900 of Haden Hill House and the family
Finding us:
The best way to get to the house is from Barrs Road. From Halesowen Road turn onto Barrs Rd and pass the leisure centre on your left, and turn into Lee Road on the brow of the hill.
Parking - The car park is straight ahead, but disabled visitors can turn left into the drive to the rear of the house where disabled parking is situated near the rear disabled entrance. There is some parking for general visitors here too. Parking is free
There is a platform lift to the first floor, and disabled toilets are available. Guide dogs are welcome.
- Find Haden Hill House at Google Maps
- For more information on getting to our sites using public transport please visit Network West Midlands
Weddings - Your special day at Haden Hill House
Why not get married at Haden Hill House and enjoy your special day in our beautiful Oak Room. Find out more about holding your small wedding ceremony at Haden Hill House. Contact us at HadenHill_House@sandwell.gov.uk or call 01384 569 444
Find out more.
- We have a wide variety of events, exhibitions and activities throughout the year so Find out what's on with our activities listings.
- check out the new Visit Sandwell website which gives information about what to do and see and what's on in Sandwell. This site is being developed all the time.
- Keep up to date with us by liking our Facebook page
- Or follow us on Twitter @sandwellmuseums
- 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.
Become a friend
Why not join our lively friends group, who get involved with running events, raising money, volunteering and supporting the work of Sandwell Museums. Find out more at their website.
Other information for visitors
- The tearoom offers freshly made hot drinks and snacks for special events and advertised weekends during the summer high season only. At other times a vending machine is available during normal opening hours.
- Please note that we can't allow pushchairs into the building particularly on event days and at busy times due to the volume of visitors.
- The house has a programme of temporary exhibitions.
- A lift is available for disabled visitors to allow access to the first floor.
- Disabled access is at the rear of the house.
- Opening times may vary for special events.
- Last admission to the museum is half an hour before the museum closes.
- Entrance to the house is usually free, but there is sometimes a small charge for special events and activities.
Access information
Water safety
There is open water close to this site. For water safety advice please read the Water Safety Information from the ROSPA website.