The Old School Museum

The Old School Museum showcases the heritage and traditions of Swaledale.

In early 2022 a major restoration project was completed on the derelict former village school so it could continue to be a place of education.

Many local people kindly donated artefacts related to farming and local history, for which we are very grateful. In October 2022 the exhibition grew further when Alan and Helen Bainbridge (curators of the Swaledale Museum in Reeth) kindly donated and transferred their collection up to Keld.

The Swaledale Museum collection was started in the 1960’s by Erica and Donald Law with the aim of preserving the heritage and traditions of the Dale and included many lead mining artefacts that had been recovered from the surrounding mines – a rich legacy of Swaledale’s past industry.

Visitors to the Old School Museum are genuinely amazed and delighted to find such a unique and diverse exhibition at the top of Swaledale!

The Old School is open daily from 9am-5pm.

Admission is free but donations are welcome for the upkeep of the building and ongoing running of the Museum.