Goodbye, 2025!

What a wonderful year this has been! From railway exhibitions to international art shows, folk music to outdoor Shakespeare, we’ve loved welcoming so many people through the doors of Ilkley Manor House.

A huge thank you to everyone who works and volunteers with us, from programming and stewarding to hosting events. This includes our dedicated gardening team, who keep the gardens looking beautiful and recently planted a wildflower meadow to help protect the Roman wall.

We’re also grateful to the many organisations and partners who have collaborated with us to create such memorable experiences.

And finally, to our visitors: thank you for joining us at concerts, coffee morning talks, exhibitions, and displays. Your support makes everything we do worthwhile, and we can’t wait to welcome you back in the new year.

Here are just a few highlights from 2025…

Next steps

Roof Update from Trustee Roger Tilbrook:
“Arranging replacement of the roof covering is taking longer than anticipated due to procurement procedures within Bradford Council. Our Project Manager was appointed in April, budgets approved in August and Listed Building Consent received in November. The final programme is still under review as the scaffold needs to be erected so that intrusive investigations can proceed allowing designs to be finalised. Tenders can then be received before work on site can commence in 2026.”

In the meantime, remember to follow us on social media, keep an eye on our website, and encourage friends to sign up for the newsletter. We aim to reopen in spring 2026 – exact dates to follow – and we’re excited to welcome you back!