Ordsall Hall Museum

I read about this place but genuinely didn’t believe such a property could have survived so close to the centre of Manchester and the Media City /​Quays development. But as we rounded the corner and saw it, we were dumbstruck — it looks so completely out of place!
Admission to the hall is free and you can explore the building to your heart’s content. They have a small café on site too. The downstairs is dominated by the great hall and the kitchen area, whereas upstairs there are exhibits on the history of the building and how children were dressed in Tudor times. In the attic space you can see some of the original wattle and daub construction, which is incredible to think it’s survived so long.
All the staff on site were incredibly helpful and friendly. The only reason why I’ve given this ³⁄₅ is that much of the exhibits and the way the place is presented are aimed at children — we attended as two adults and enjoyed it, but there’s much more to do if you’re with children.
Given it’s less than 5 minutes’ walk from the Exchange Quay Metrolink stop, plus the fact that admission is free, there’s really no excuse for not popping by and taking a look.

Driving past Ordsall Hall most days (as I live very close to it), I have always enjoyed it as a place of beauty and the fascination of its random location. The location is of course the modern development surrounding the site so it looks out of place to have a beautiful old manor right next to modern apartment buildings and industrial units. Perhaps this is what makes it more unique to other similar historic houses?
Needless to say, over the last couple of years I have been intrigued as to what on earth they were doing when the whole building was covered in scaffolding and sheeting — like something from a sci fi film but of course logic suggested it was restoration of some sort.
Once it re opened recently I was amazed at the job they had done. They had added/​rebuilt parts of it, however it has been done with integrity and fits the building perfectly. The grounds and gardens have all been spruced up with beautiful wood bridges and other work. Even the pavement from the car park to the site is beautiful and is the strangest material which I just had to get on my knees to run my hand across its glossy surface.
All around the building the stone work and gardens look great so I headed on in for my first look around. It has a great many rooms and seems to be bigger inside than it appears outside. They had members of staff in each room to offer information on what you are looking at, and we got some great photos of my mum in an old style bath (clothed I am glad to say!) and myself sat in the banqueting hall at the head of the table. Once I had sat some staff came over and brought me a velvet robe and crown to look the part to which my old man got his camera out and started snapping. This made a great Facebook profile picture for all my many peasants to admire!
They told me that they also have a free hog roast in a couple of week’s time when I visited, with entertainments and beverages etc. I would have loved to have gone but sadly I could not make it, however I will definitely go to any other events they hold.
Car parking was £2 which of course goes towards the upkeep of the house so I have no qualms about paying to keep a place of history alive in such a modern location. All in all it was a nice visit to have after a large lunch with my parents — and looking around a place like this with the folks made a 34 year old guy feel like a kid again, which is never a bad thing for a sum of £2

I am so glad that Ordsall Hall has been saved. It is set in its original grounds in good original condition. The staff at the hall take part in recreating life as it was in Elizabethan times.
The hall is set out in the orginal way with a big fireplace in the main hall. In the afternoons there are various events for children and adults alike, playing games of the day.
For bonfire night, the hall organises a light procession to the hall followed by fireworks and a bonfire.
The hall is defintely worth a vist for all the family to get a real taste of history and what life would have been like.

Ordsall Hall has many activities and things to see and do whilst you’re there. Ordsall Hall doe a lot for their visitors, including the award winning activities for children on school trips. In the morning they does a tour of the building, and in the afternoon they do activities including brass rubbing, archery, costume wearing and much more. They have fun days and exhibitions and events all through the year. They also do a great firework display on bonfire night. Ordsall Hall also has a cheap souvenir store, where the price is respectable so children can buy things with their pocket money. Refreshments are available and an eating area. The opening times are: Monday-​Friday 10am-​4pm. rebuild a replica of the original moat that once guarded the Hall;