The
Unofficial Website
Bretton Hall
Country Park & the Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Bretton Hall is in Bretton Country Park near the village of West Bretton about halfway between Barnsley and Huddersfield. The Country Park is also home to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
The history of the Bretton Estate goes back over 700 years. The estate originated in the 13th Century when the Dronsfield family gradually built up land and property in the southern part of the West Riding. From 1407 the resident family were the Wentworths.
From 1792 the Beaumonts lived at Bretton Hall remaining until the sale of the estate to the West Riding County Council in 1948. It is now a college of Further Education and from August 1st 2001, Bretton Hall has merged with the University of Leeds and some courses will be taught at the Leeds City Centre campus.
Bretton Hall specialises in courses for students interested in Music, Cultural Industries, Fine Art, Performance, Design and Education. From August 1st 2001, Bretton Hall has merged with the University of Leeds and some courses will be taught at the Leeds City Centre campus.
In 2006 the University of Leeds has announced that it will no longer use the Bretton Hall site. I understand that the local council and the university are in discussion. The intention is that the council will buy the building and the estate to preserve the site and it's significance in the art world. More later when I find out what is happening. In November 2007 it has been announced that the Yorkshire Sculpture Park has been let on a long lease to the trust that runs it. The hall itself is to be redeveloped as a luxury hotel and spa.
Bretton Hall is home to a number of nationally significant initiatives including the National Arts Education Archive, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Educational Resources Service and Bretton Lakes Nature Reserve.
Contact:-
Bretton Hall, West Bretton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4LG.Yorkshire Sculpture Park
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park can also be found within the Bretton Country Park. The Sculpture Park is home to a large collection of sculptures by Henry Moore which are scattered about in the surrounding fields. Be prepared for mud, sheep and not to mention sheep droppings - the sheep were actually quite friendly as long as we did not mention Damian Hirst.
There is a cafe, shop, and two indoor galleries together with a visitors' centre and additional facilities. Somehow we managed to miss all these. Free entry, car parking charge.
Potted Biography of Henry Moore 1898 - 1986
The British sculptor and draughtsman began carving in stone and wood in 1922. During the 1920s his work was based on the human figure but retained the shape of the original block. In the 1930s he was influenced by the Surrealists. During the Second World War he became an official war artist. The quality of humanity which appeared in his sketches also appeared in his later sculpture.
I misplaced my list of titles so we had a competition to name them. I'm sorry but the results were largely unprintable. The cleanest we got for this one was 'Woman with Big Bum' so you can guess the nature of the rest.