The FRIENDS
A new era for the Friends of the Manor House
For many years, Friends of the Manor House helped with the running of the House whilst it was part of Bradford Council. In 2013, soon after the Friends celebrated its 50th Anniversary, Bradford Metropolitan District Council took the decision to close Ilkley Manor House as a museum and art gallery.
The Friends campaigned tirelessly to save Ilkley Manor House and were effective in first helping to postpone that closure and then taking steps to keep Ilkley Manor House alive, supporting efforts to secure its future.
The popular coffee mornings run by the Friends were kept going during the closure period along with concerts and activities for families in the House and in the Courtyard.
The Ilkley Manor House Trust emerged during 2017, initially managing the House with Bradford’s agreement, and formally took over in April 2018. The Friends continued to provide support for the Trust’s initial activities, including the makeover of the sensory heritage gardens in the courtyard, funded by Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme. Alan Titchmarsh, Patron to the Manor House, officially opened the new courtyard garden in June 2019.
In November 2021, the Friends of the Manor House committee recognised that it could safely pass the baton to the Ilkley Manor House Trust and decided to wind up the Friends as a charity. The Trust launched a new Supporters’ scheme in March 2022.
“We are delighted to have been able to work so positively with the Friends since the Trust was formed in 2017 and without their invaluable knowledge of the House we wouldn’t be where we are today. The closing of the Friends as a separate charity is an endorsement of the approach the Trust is taking in running Ilkley Manor House. The new Supporters’ scheme will be an important mechanism for Ilkley Manor House to thrive for years to come and we hope that as well as existing Friends we will be able to attract many new members,” says Sarah Thomas, Chair of the Ilkley Manor House Trust.
