House & Family History: Bowling Park was the home in the 19th century of the Bradford art collector Abraham Mitchell (1828-96). Mithcell and his brother Joseph ran the family firm that specialized in worsted spinning (mohair in particular) for the luxury trade. The two brothers built adjoining houses in 1864; Abraham added the Picture Gallery in 1870 (in which he is pictured sitting in Henry Herbert La Thangue's "The Connoisseur"). Bowling Park today serves as a museum and school.

Collections: A painting of 1887 by Henry Herbert La Thangue entitled "The Connoisseur," shows Abraham Mitchell sitting in the Picture Gallery of Bowling Park, together with his wife, Elizabeth, their son, Herbert, and one of their daughters. The painting is today in the collection of Bradford Art Galleries and Museums, Cartwright Hall. Mitchell owned a large collection of art by Faed, Goodall, Henry Dawson, and Edwin Hayes, all housed in his purpose-built Picture Gallery, added to Bowling Park in 1870.

Garden & Outbuildings: In the late 1870s Bradford Council purchased the former grounds of Bowling Hall, which had been mined for coal and ironstone during the early 19th century. Bowling Park remains today in public use and is in the ownership of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. V, 1822.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Abraham Mitchell, 19th century.

Current Ownership Type: Government

Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use

Ownership Details: Owned by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. The the park is open to public; Bolling Hall serves as a museum operated by Bradford Museums & Galleries.

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: s as a museum and school.

Website: https://www.bradfordmuseums.org

Historic Houses Member: No