About

Oak House in West Bromwich is a delightful half-timbered yeoman farmer's house built about 1620 with brick additions at the rear built in the 1650s as the family wealth and status grew.

The Turton family who are associated with the house at this time were yeoman (posh farmers) and nail makers; later expanding to be money lender, making loans to impoverished royalist gentry after the English Civil War.

This connected the family to gentry families and meant that John Turton was making far more money than ever before and even managed to find his daughter a husband amongst the gentry, propelling the family up the social scale.

You can find out more about the Turtons in the Old Barn with our talking barrels! We don't know how Oak House got its name - it certainly isn't due to the oak trees which grew around it as we know the timbers to build the Oak House came from at least 20 miles away. By the 1600s there were virtually no trees at all on Bromwich Heath and the area was probably pretty bleak. 

The Oak House Museum boasts some fine panelling and is furnished with 17th century furniture. The house is set in its own grounds with a children's playground on site which is available to visitors during the opening hours of the museum.

It is free to visit the Oak House in West Bromwich - however unfortunately there is currently no disabled access to the first floor of the house itself although there is access to the upstairs of the visitor centre.

The museum has a lively programme of activities to enjoy for all ages throughout the year as well creative learning sessions for schools and other educational groups.