Nidderdale Museum
📍 The Old Workhouse King Street Pateley Bridge HG3 5LE
About Nidderdale Museum
Nidderdale Museum, located in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, offers a comprehensive look into the local and social history of this scenic region. Situated within a historical building that originally served as a workhouse, the museum provides a unique perspective on the past life of Nidderdale, one of the Yorkshire Dales.
Visiting Information
The museum operates seasonally, welcoming visitors daily from April 1st to October 31st between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and during the winter months on Saturdays and Sundays at the same hours. There is a modest entry fee for adults, while children accompanied by an adult can visit free of charge.
Management and Operation
Operated entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers, Nidderdale Museum is overseen by the Nidderdale Museum Society, which consists of 200 members, an elected committee, and a board of trustees.
Exhibits and Collections
The museum's exhibits cover a broad array of themes related to rural life, with a focus on agriculture, local industries, religion, transport, and clothing. The museum houses eleven rooms, each meticulously arranged to showcase different aspects of historical life. Notable displays include a Victorian schoolroom, a cobbler's workshop, a lead mining tunnel, a Victorian parlour, a 1930s hairdresser's shop, a 1940s general store, and a traditional kitchen. The museum also features a variety of historic costumes, agricultural tools, and transport vehicles, providing a detailed narrative of the region's past.
Additional Resources
For those interested in delving deeper into the history of Nidderdale, the museum offers a reference library filled with books on local history and materials for family history research.
Awards and Recognition
Nidderdale Museum has been recognized for its contributions to heritage preservation, receiving the National Heritage Museum of the Year Award in 1990 and the Queen's Award in 2017, highlighting its effective use of resources and the significant role of its volunteers in its operation.
This comprehensive repository of Nidderdale's past not only educates but also connects visitors with the enduring legacy of the Yorkshire Dales.
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📍 The Old Workhouse King Street Pateley Bridge HG3 5LE
from 264 reviews
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Showing 5 of 264 reviews from Google Maps.Last updated 6 February 2026.
Whilst having a weekend break in North Yorkshire i discovered what I feel is a hidden gem of local history. Value for money at £5 per adult gets you an insight into how the locals lived during Victorian times, war times and life in general in the black n white days so to speak. The museum is split into sections each unique in its own right. Lots of local photos help you paint a picture. There is the first TV that was purchased in the area at a cost of £85 which in today's money is circa £3000. They have set sections up to look like it did in the day, a shop, a solicitors, a living room, etc etc Staff are very enthusiastic local volunteers who can't wait to tell you some of the history. Definitely worth a visit if you're staying in the area or just passing through
One of the best little museums I’ve been to. I learned a lot about the area and really appreciated how they are keeping local legends of the past alive eg Mrs Mudd the award winning butter churner! Great way to spend an hour :)
I don't usually write reviews but wanted to thank the lovely volunteers for making us so welcome today. They were great and even gave my two young daughters some knitted dolls to take away - so kind. Fantastic staff aside, this is an excellent museum - well curated exhibits and displays. Entertaining enough for a casual visit but also a lot of detailed local history if you have the time to delve deeper. £5 for adults and kids free is great value too. Will definitely return.
A really outstanding experience. So much to see and learn. We loved the Scar videos particularly. The volunteer staff were very friendly and helpful.
Excellent visit! We thought it might only be one or two rooms but were very happy to discover 12 rooms filled with local artefacts and stories of the Nidderdale area. Each room is sectioned/themed well, enjoyed looking at all the old photographs of Pateley Bridge and the film about Scar House Reservoir. Definitely worth the £5 entrance fee as it's volunteer run and well worth it to preserve the history of this area.