Easter opening events at Gawthorpe Hall

Gawthorpe Hall is opening its doors on Wednesday 1 April for a limited time until Sunday 19 April.

The hall will be closed completely to visitors from Monday 20 April, for the rest of the year, to enable major building conservation work to take place.

The hall, at Padiham, near Burnley, will be hosting activities and open to visitors over the Easter holiday before the conservation work starts.

On Wednesday 1 April, at either 12pm to 1.30pm or 2pm to 3.30pm, the museum will hold an egg decorating workshop. Visitors are also invited to have a go at 'pace egging', or rolling their egg down a slope to see which egg goes the fastest.

The cost is £2 per child, booking is required and participants will need to bring two boiled eggs along with them.

On Sunday 5 April and Monday 6 April, from 1pm to 4pm, the museum will host its popular Easter Bunny Trail.

Children will be invited to find Easter bunnies hiding around the grounds.

The cost is £2 per child and there will be a chocolate prize for everyone at the end.

A 'Meet the Butler and Housekeeper' event will take place on Sunday 19 April, from 12pm to 4pm.

Visitors will be able to find out what life was like, both upstairs and downstairs, and have the opportunity to take a look at the Victorian basement kitchen. This event is included in the normal admission charge.

Rachel Pollitt, Lancashire County Council's museum manager at Gawthorpe Hall, said: "The activities have all been chosen for families to come along and have fun. Decorating eggs and then rolling them, known as pace egging, are both Lancashire Easter traditions.

"The Easter Bunny Trail will be held outside, so anyone wanting to take part will need to come dressed for the weather.

"It is unfortunate that we aren't able to open to the public for long this season, but it is important that we carry out the conservation work that is needed to the building. We need to both preserve it for the future and also repair some of the plaster ceilings, especially the original ceiling in the Huntroyde bedroom which dates from 1602, and suffered water damage over 10 years ago.

"We'll keep people updated on how the work is progressing and when we can open up again in 2016.

"For now though, we'll do our best so visitors can have a great time enjoying our exciting events over Easter, knowing that we're doing all we can to preserve Gawthorpe Hall for the future."

For more information and to book tickets telephone 01282 771004 or email [email protected]

Gawthorpe Hall is run by Lancashire County Council's museum service on behalf of the National Trust.

Normal opening times are 12pm to 5pm Wednesdays to Sundays, with last entry to the hall at 4.30pm. The museum is open on Bank Holidays.

Admission is £4 for adults and £3 for concessions. National Trust members and children go free.

To find out more about Gawthorpe Hall and other Lancashire County Council museums visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums

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