News | Game-changing new concept for Leeds museum revealed
An ambitious vision for the future of much-loved Abbey House Museum has been revealed today.
Innovative proposals for the Kirkstall attraction would see the Grade II listed museum transformed into an immersive family-friendly visitor experience, playfully exploring the story of Leeds and celebrating the city’s past, present and future.
The plans for the site have been drawn up as part of a Reimagining Project supported by Leeds City Council and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)’s Museum Renewal Fund, with the aim of taking the first step towards a brighter and more sustainable future for the attraction as it approaches its centenary year.
The concept designs include a series of dynamic proposals to create a more interactive visitor experience, with a focus on intergenerational play for people of all ages to enjoy together.
The proposals include uplifting the museum’s traditional streets to enhance their immersive nature and include magical reveals that will let the public experience history through hands on activities.
Leeds’s rich collections will be at the heart of the museum, drawing inspiration from the popular toys and games, archaeology and social history collections, with ambitions to create flexible display spaces which are able to change regularly.
The plans root the museum in its place, exploring the building’s centuries-old roots, including past residents and their links to Leeds, as well as its original role of being the gatehouse of Kirkstall Abbey.
The proposals mark a bold new direction for Abbey House Museum, which was put forward for potential closure in 2024 as part of measures to help Leeds City Council address unprecedented budget pressures.
A passionate public appeal subsequently saw the council listen to the local community, agreeing to keep the museum open and pledging to take steps to make the attraction more viable and sustainable for the future.
The proposals for the museum’s future have been drawn up after extensive consultation and research including sessions with staff, local history groups and families. Yorkshire based architect firm Bauman Lyons (Leeds) and exhibition design consultancy Creative Core (Halifax) were appointed to work on this exploratory phase after a competitive open tender.
Further communication will now take place with staff, key stakeholders and the community before a development application for external funding will be submitted for further development work.
An exhibition is also currently being planned for 2027 which will celebrate the museum’s centenary.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, said: “This is an exciting moment for the future of Abbey House Museum and one which we hope will be the beginning of a bold new direction for a special place which has been part of the Kirkstall community for centuries.
“During the public consultation on the museum’s future, what really came across was the passion and determination people have to see the site succeed, and we want to channel that enthusiasm into creating an attraction which can continue to welcome visitors for many years to come.”
Opened to the public in 1927, the building now occupied as Abbey House Museum originally served as Kirkstall Abbey’s gatehouse until the dissolution of the monasteries. It became a farmhouse and then a home for the owners of the Kirkstall Forge before opening as a museum.
A community information session will take place on Sunday, November 8 at Abbey House Museum for anyone interested in hearing more. Capacity is limited so please book in the link below.
NOTES TO EDITORS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Stuart Robinson
Senior communications officer
Leeds City Council
Tel: 0113 378 9182
Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk
www.leeds.gov.uk
Abbey House Museum opened in 1927 as a museum and boasts three 19th century Victorian streets with authentically recreated shops, pub and houses. Exhibits range from the 19th century equivalent of a modern high street with a chemist, ironmongers, haberdashers, mourning warehouse and traditional Victorian drinking house, to the residential districts housing the poor. On the first floor there are childhood galleries exploring toys through the ages plus temporary exhibition galleries. Also contained within the museum is the original gatehouse of Kirkstall Abbey with vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. The museum is set within formal gardens with a good car park opposite and is located just three miles from Leeds city centre.
https://abbeyhousemuseum.leeds.gov.uk
Museum Renewal Fund, DCMS and administered and delivered in partnership with Arts Council England
The Museum Renewal Fund was targeted at museums owned and directly maintained by local authority funding, or with a governance link to a local authority. The Fund is an urgent intervention to enable rapid delivery in 2025/26, to safeguard the vital community engagement and impact which public access to museums enables.
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/our-open-funds/museum-renewal-fund-2025-26
The Creative Core is an award-winning interpretation design company creating visitor experiences for museums, heritage and culture. Based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Core delivers projects nationwide through a collaborative and audience-led design ethos, building connection, meaning and pride in shared heritage stories. https://thecreativecore.co.uk/
Bauman Lyons are architects based in Yorkshire. They have spent the past 30 years helping to drive social, cultural and economic regeneration across the north. Their work is rooted in partnerships with the public sector and charitable organisations, with a strong track record in collaboratively sharping the transformation of historic buildings and projects.
Contact Information
For media enquiries please contact:
Leeds City Council communications and marketing,
Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk
Tel: 0113 378 6007