By Kelvin Wakefield
Following an announcement last week that the council would no longer be closing Abbey House Museum, there was standing room only at meeting held on Sunday morning to discuss its future.
The meeting, held at at St Stephen’s Church Hall, Kirkstall, was chaired by Alderman Liz Minkin who stated that the museum had not just been saved for now, but for good.
This decision followed a well-supported campaign, where more than 10,000 people responded to the official consultation and more than 6,000 signed the petition to save it from closure.
The meeting gave locals a chance to offer suggestions as to how the Museum could be run in future. It was explained by the councillors that the budget for Kirkstall Abbey itself and the Abbey House Museum fell under different directorates.
In response, several attendees stated that this was a situation that needed to be changed, so that money raised by hosting events at Kirkstall Abbey could also go towards partly funding AHM. Currently, the Abbey falls under Parks and Countryside.
Jane Walne said that linking the administration of the two sites was something being considered by the council, though it posed significant difficulties.
However, Francesca Chalmers-Brown pointed out: “The same staff actually work at both sites, both Abbey House Museum and the Abbey itself.”
She suggested “The two sites could be better linked, and that more events could be held there in the evening.”
Ms Chalmers-Brown is part of a paranormal group who would love to host events there more often, but they were currently limited to three per year.
Steve Holt, owner and founder of Kirkstall Brewery, owns a significant collection of Victorian artefacts from the brewing industry.
Currently, the items are displayed at the Tetley museum. He stated that he would like to place the items at AHM instead.
He also suggested that his company could run some form of café or bar in the Norman Hall at the former museum café, but which is now mostly used for visiting school groups to eat their packed lunches.
He made clear connections between Kirkstall Abbey, brewing, and the museum and suggested that a “Brewseum” could help to support the museum staying open.
Several people stated that the museum was expensive to visit, and called on it to have improved marketing and advertising. It was highlighted that other local attractions, such as the theatres in Leeds, need to do more to promote the museum, many do not even have a leaflet about it.
Attendee Vic Smith added: “There are no brown street signs, advertising the museum, like there are for similar attractions.”
And Simon Davis said: “Better toilet provision is needed and there could be room for a new café space.”
It was mentioned by a few people that the museum could not rely on the same locals visiting repeatedly. But it was also pointed out that visitors who signed up as Friends of Leeds Museums could pay just £25 a year, £15 for those age three to 18, and then gain free admission to Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Gallery, Abbey House Museum, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds Industrial Museum, Thwaite Mills, Temple Newsam House, Lotherton Hall, Leeds Museum Discovery Centre, and Burton Constable Hall near Hull.
WLD caught up with Leeds Central and Headingley MP Alex Sobel after the meeting. Mr Sobel said: “I’m delighted that the museum has been saved. I hope this will be the start of regular meetings to secure its long-term future.”
He added that work needs to be done to host more events there.
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Well done to all the people involved with this campaign, lets hope that momentumis maintained to realise many of the good points raised. I didn’t know about the ‘Friends of Leeds Museums’ scheme, which looks good value.