ONE of Bolton’s most famous buildings, which for a century has been a museum for the town’s residents, is to be closed to the public for most of the year.

Hall i’th’ Wood Museum, the home of Samuel Crompton when he invented the Spinning Mule, will only be opened for special events and for four days a week in the school summer holidays.

Bolton Council says previous opening times at the Grade-1 listed 16th century hall — five days a week from April to October and weekends throughout the year — were not the most cost-effective use of the building.

Cllr Ismail Ibrahim, the council’s executive member for culture, young people and sport, said: “This was not a decision that was taken lightly and was agreed by all three political parties.

“Last year we had 6,000 visitors, but on certain days there wasn’t anybody turning up.

“We are now working on a planned programme of events to ensure we can maximise the museum.

“We have to be as cost-effective as possible. We have to be fair to the Bolton tax payers.

“If demand was to increase and we saw that there was an opportunity to increase the hours, we will start looking at revising what we have decided.”

The hall first opened as a museum in 1902 and costs the council £96,000 a year to run.

The council has planned a series of events for the coming months, including a mediaeval weekend later this month, a family fun day in August, a heritage open day in September and Halloween events in October.

The hall will also be open for pre-planned group visits.

But the move has been heavily criticised by the town’s civic trust and the local branch of the Historical Association.

Brian Tetlow, chairman of Bolton and District Civic Trust, said: “It should be open to the public as one of the gems of the borough.

“But it seems there is a rather philistinian approach to gems like this in Bolton. It is par for the course these days.

“It is another example of something of considerable value and historical interest in the borough which has been sidelined on a budgetary basis.”

The museum displays 17th and early 18th century furniture, objects and artefacts. Visitors can discover what it was like to live as a Stuart or a Tudor and learn about the work of its most famous resident, Samuel Crompton.

Jenni Hyde, secretary of the Bolton branch of the Historical Association, said: “Crompton was a major figure in the Industrial Revolution. It is important people have the opportunity to learn about Crompton and what he did.

“It is very sad on a local level but it also has a national significance.”

Cllr John Walsh, leader of the Conservative group on Bolton Council, also criticised the changes.

He said: “I think it is regrettable we are losing public access to the museum.

“I accept heritage is a costly part of the council’s budget, but surely we have a duty to ensure we protect our heritage and give an opportunity for the public to visit and share in these important buildings.

“I’ve had complaints about this already and I have requested a meeting with the assistant director of adult services.”

A Bolton Council spokesman defended the decision.

She said: “Hall i’th’ Wood museum is still open to the public, but on special event days only.

“The previous opening times were not proving to be the most cost-effective use of the building, so the aim is to develop it into a more specialist facility.

“Hall i’th’ Wood is an important part of our group of museums and we are working hard to enhance the activities on offer throughout the year.

“There is also work currently being carried out to upgrade facilities, such as refurbishment of the toilet block.”