About

Part of Bradford District Museums and Galleries, Cliffe Castle was originally built in the 1880s as the home of Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, Henry Isaac Butterfield.

The completed house was a showpiece of international art and French decoration. It was the scene of many glittering social events, and Butterfield family connections included the Roosevelts of America and members of the court of Napoleon III  - as reflected in some of the displays.

In the 1950s the Castle was bought by Sir Bracewell Smith, a local man who became Lord Mayor of London. Sir Bracewell commissioned architect Sir Albert Richardson to turn Cliffe Castle’s gardens into a grand public park and remodelled the Castle to be a free museum for the people of the district – which continues to this day, winning (and retaining) a coveted Heritage Green Flag award – the first in the district!

In recent years Cliffe Castle has undergone a series of restorations, inside and out with Victorian features in the park reinstated, and the breathtaking stained glass Butterfield Window on the Grand Staircase restored.

Visitors can see sparkling Victorian rooms, furniture paintings, and decorative art.  There’s also galleries specialising in natural history, archaeology and social history, alongside the internationally important display of stained glass by Morris and Co.   

The Castle also hosts changing exhibitions drawn from our collections and the wider community.   We like to say there really is ‘something for everyone’ on a visit to Cliffe Castle!

Bradford District Museums & Galleries are a family friendly organisation.  We regularly organise free events, activities and workshops across all four sites particularly during the school holiday periods – check www.bradfordmuseums.org for the latest events and activities on offer.
 

Supported using public funding from Arts Council England.

View AccessAble’s Access Guide to find out about this venue’s accessibility. The guide contains detailed, accurate information which has been put together following a visit to the venue by one of AccessAble’s trained surveyors (link opens in a new window).