Collection: Ordsall Hall

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Text shared by museum)

  Ordsall Hall is a Grade I listed timber and brick manor house with the oldest surviving parts dating back to the mid-14th century. For more than 300 years it was the family seat of the Radclyffe family. After a series of tenants it became working men’s club and a clergy training school.

  In 1959 Salford Council purchased Ordsall Hall from the Estate of the Egerton’s of Tatton. After many year of restoration work the Hall was opened as a period house and a museum in April 1972. Inheriting an unfurnished property allowed Salford Museum & Art Gallery to display much of its period furniture it had acquired over the years. It also inspired the collecting of furniture, artefacts, architectural features, works of art, archaeological material and other items relating to the history of the Hall and its inhabitants.

  Between 2009-11 the hall underwent a massive £6.5 million restoration which not only secured the long term stability of the building but also made more rooms accessible to the public and the surrounding grounds to be re-landscaped. Today it features period rooms, local and social history and a changing temporary exhibitions gallery.

  There is a range of collections on display especially furniture from the 17th to 19th century. Items include coffers, court cupboards, chairs, tables, a bible chest and pew ends. There is also stained glass form the 16th century and oil paintings including two by Frederic Shields a former resident of the hall and a 11th century logboat.

  As Ordsall hall objects form part of the Salford Museum collection, a more comprehensive listing can be found under Salford Museum & Art Gallery.

  Source: Text shared by museum

  Date: 2025

  Licence: CC BY-NC