tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66387782759155114832024-03-18T16:39:14.148+00:00Wakefield Museums and CastlesWelcome to the Wakefield Museums and Castles blog.
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Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.comBlogger445125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-34306111581668061702024-03-01T11:55:00.006+00:002024-03-06T10:22:45.488+00:00Pontefract's Victorian businesswomen<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Women are often overlooked in economic history. We tend to think of women in the 19th century as working in factories or domestic service, but women ran all kinds of businesses in Victorian Britain. In fact, female entrepreneurs were more common then than they are now. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Pontefract was no exception. <br /><br />As today, setting up her own business gave a Victorian woman more control over where and when she worked. This made it easier to fit with their other 'traditional' responsibilities like childcare. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In our immersive and interactive exhibition <a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/ladies-who-launch-celebrating.html"><b>Ladies who Launch: Celebrating Pontefract's Women in Business</b></a>, we shine a spotlight on local women running businesses in sometimes surprising industries. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I3eFeWuyBlONIaddQgefkypfr29BFdmBRtxCXan_gdnab3h7fp2Ue6-jWe5MyE0IGIMnaZUoL0TIXCgrrgT_3OlBhwQ04hyphenhyphenr_Rr4E-0qvDSeK33ZADzAsGpKHvsm5W7ZQScoihVj7QvikntcEeqvZROUw7N3rvgfAdc2ndogr4Aj51tBH5V9TLXbsLHE/s2048/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%2017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two children and an adult looking at recreated displays of a Victorian ironmonger and a drapers. There are lots of original objects on display." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I3eFeWuyBlONIaddQgefkypfr29BFdmBRtxCXan_gdnab3h7fp2Ue6-jWe5MyE0IGIMnaZUoL0TIXCgrrgT_3OlBhwQ04hyphenhyphenr_Rr4E-0qvDSeK33ZADzAsGpKHvsm5W7ZQScoihVj7QvikntcEeqvZROUw7N3rvgfAdc2ndogr4Aj51tBH5V9TLXbsLHE/w640-h426/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Step back in time to Victorian Pontefract in Ladies who Launch</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Probably the most famous historic local businesswoman is Ann Dunhill. She ran the iconic Pontefract business Dunhill's for nearly 20 years. Dunhill's are credited as the inventors of the liquorice Pontefract Cake.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">But what other businesses were enterprising women running in 19th century Pontefract? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A brilliant team of volunteers, supported by our curator, chose five Victorian businesswomen to research and write about. Read on to find out more about them!</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maria Taylor - watchmaker</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Researched and written by Samuel Lou</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUGRaEXUzsrAET1ECh5xWiZSgcpAftoOqUeoh2GOm9lBKhW6DT-1EIhcZMiYiylBgWIoBmUiULZ7vsitESB82yQmqyc6vKdllKplIHPfA0QCj2m-TxzL_RkzNPIjJyhMsBUFSaxP3TxjwCTzs4MKUJMc_IXd23Kw0HHiZ4T8hqOrcZUW0or1GPBgYoA4H/s1365/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%20112%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A child pointing up at a large clock made by Taylor's of Pontefract and smiling back at the camera" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1180" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUGRaEXUzsrAET1ECh5xWiZSgcpAftoOqUeoh2GOm9lBKhW6DT-1EIhcZMiYiylBgWIoBmUiULZ7vsitESB82yQmqyc6vKdllKplIHPfA0QCj2m-TxzL_RkzNPIjJyhMsBUFSaxP3TxjwCTzs4MKUJMc_IXd23Kw0HHiZ4T8hqOrcZUW0or1GPBgYoA4H/w554-h640/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%20112%20crop.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"Look at this!" A clock made by Taylor's of Pontefract is one of the first things you see in the Ladies who Launch exhibition.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Maria
Knight was born in Essex and moved to Pontefract in 1827 when she married
Thomas Taylor. Country-wide networks were common for Quaker families. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thomas
was a renowned watchmaker. When he died in 1844, Maria stepped up and continued
the family business. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Maria
ran a successful firm employing three skilled watchmakers and a shop assistant.
She advertised using her son Joseph's name. However, Maria was really the head of the
business and Joseph was her employee. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQyQ-CyuNoeLqVbGtRdUmATqG5EQ3VlZl_vMpsP21cSVXzaUNU0PQlAdZ3LSKQT9hNKmbyY8BK_mnikCMdyR0E07osXBYA8cPvJ2iu_QfbXPdN2Rit3X3L4kUulrkY9FUMxcK4vu7bDmrQzgMiL1bsKBk0JCCeRSGU3I8e0NQCnTur1G52JAOkb7FBrMU/s3968/SH15413C.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Golden coloured back of a pocketwatch. The regulator is engraved with a swirling pattern, and the words 'Pontefract', 'Joseph Taylor', and the words 'slow' and 'fast' by the curved regulator scale.'" border="0" data-original-height="3968" data-original-width="2974" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQyQ-CyuNoeLqVbGtRdUmATqG5EQ3VlZl_vMpsP21cSVXzaUNU0PQlAdZ3LSKQT9hNKmbyY8BK_mnikCMdyR0E07osXBYA8cPvJ2iu_QfbXPdN2Rit3X3L4kUulrkY9FUMxcK4vu7bDmrQzgMiL1bsKBk0JCCeRSGU3I8e0NQCnTur1G52JAOkb7FBrMU/w300-h400/SH15413C.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Back of a watch made by Taylor's of Pontefract, with 'Pontefract' and 'Joseph Taylor' engraved on it. This watch is on display in the Ladies who Launch exhibition.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Maria retired in 1861 but continued to live
in Pontefract, wealthy enough to have a housekeeper. She died in 1893.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
mid 19th century was a peak for British clock and watchmaking.
Industrialisation brought railways and fixed factory shifts so accurate
timekeeping was important. Watches became fashionable items of jewellery. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
it was not a common profession for Victorian women. Fewer than 4% of watchmakers at the time were women, so Maria's story is unusual. </span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sarah Winterburn - upholsteress</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Researched and written by Julia Webb</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Sarah Winterburn was born in Tanshelf on 11 May 1808 into a typical working-class household. Her father Richard was a currier, working with leather hides. Her mother raised eight children. <br /><br />Sarah remained single throughout her life. She started her upholstery business from her parents’ home. She likely picked up her craft from an early age as her elder sisters Ann and Matilda were dressmakers. <br /><br />Sarah made home visits to her clients, repairing the upholstery on furniture along with other bits of sewing work. By running her business this way, she was able to make a decent living whilst supporting her elderly parents. She may also have financially supported her nephews to keep them out of the workhouse.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOuZ4PwOCJwJ7GnaJsj_TR5CANjE2EI-WjdxDeVF2azeM_T4Jiebk4SnBKKOA2fmfHp7D4pOZYX4wJTETgzezePSbaaRVYfoIBrgEYaFv0zyUfDrmsKgTWqAafOdgfpibV77qchexUbMuOuEGZIe1dNtiUmiJR5w24fVCwZf1kkaUE8HpCcO9q6CaM23w/s2048/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%2083.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A display featuring a partially upholstered chair, tools, and a teapot with faux paper money in it, against a Victorian home inspired backdrop" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOuZ4PwOCJwJ7GnaJsj_TR5CANjE2EI-WjdxDeVF2azeM_T4Jiebk4SnBKKOA2fmfHp7D4pOZYX4wJTETgzezePSbaaRVYfoIBrgEYaFv0zyUfDrmsKgTWqAafOdgfpibV77qchexUbMuOuEGZIe1dNtiUmiJR5w24fVCwZf1kkaUE8HpCcO9q6CaM23w/w640-h426/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%2083.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A display representing Sarah Winterburn's home upholstery business - and her teapot full of money!</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sarah operated a successful business throughout her life. After her death on 25 June 1881, a teapot stashed with £150 was found in her house. She also had a personal estate of £247 and 17 shillings, worth more than £16,000 today. <br /><br />This suggests Sarah had made a lot of money for a single, self-employed woman of the Victorian period.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm3jcOSJoT1FwbGjEuJ3RJInKnGtOjcWhGieQvmz5Y-OondQI81F84TXbarVleKp68OmU5hPw-1zFQns7-MZU8-lqBPolFl8ECLjNjDSw3snwhcVdF_hDMaRVMfc9Wf1bWWDEEgCdUL0Oxv3M8LzKjRbVbssQ9EvxdYEm_QtW_lsU15gAXj3Q0LMgCKfc/s2048/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%20110.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A young visitor flicking through a book containing fabric samples related to the upholstery business" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm3jcOSJoT1FwbGjEuJ3RJInKnGtOjcWhGieQvmz5Y-OondQI81F84TXbarVleKp68OmU5hPw-1zFQns7-MZU8-lqBPolFl8ECLjNjDSw3snwhcVdF_hDMaRVMfc9Wf1bWWDEEgCdUL0Oxv3M8LzKjRbVbssQ9EvxdYEm_QtW_lsU15gAXj3Q0LMgCKfc/w640-h426/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%20110.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Get hands-on with trades from the past in Ladies who Launch</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ann England - ironmonger</span></span></h2><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Researched and written by Alice Sze</b></span></span></div><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ann Lilley was born in Pontefract in 1782 and married Joseph England, a tinner, in 1806. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After Joseph's passing, Ann took over his ironmongery business and became a skilled brass and tin plate worker. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 1834 National Commercial Directory lists Ann’s business at Ropergate, Pontefract. By 1851, she lived in Baxtergate and was a retired tinner.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJb-PTY5Qpodg50iD_-qJ9C7lvsbwT6y9pAFEZBYXinWIOq5kfF2YkoZ2vzhyphenhyphenrCbXwqmfDRJh6Ym6fgLTf6ykRzr1oc32-glAwdruRT68vQ9HyGImRAebLACVH1PvblfmtkdAYJLZNwo3T-TcGCzOc38yufE1re-2T8pY0krZLmQ9fYOK6eSVQ2FPgB1iW/s2048/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A display containing original objects made and sold by an ironmongers, and shelves full of iron objects" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJb-PTY5Qpodg50iD_-qJ9C7lvsbwT6y9pAFEZBYXinWIOq5kfF2YkoZ2vzhyphenhyphenrCbXwqmfDRJh6Ym6fgLTf6ykRzr1oc32-glAwdruRT68vQ9HyGImRAebLACVH1PvblfmtkdAYJLZNwo3T-TcGCzOc38yufE1re-2T8pY0krZLmQ9fYOK6eSVQ2FPgB1iW/w640-h426/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A display recreating Ann England's ironmongers in Ladies who Launch</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />During the Victorian age, it was unusual for women to work as tinners and braziers, which were traditionally male-dominated trades. Ann defied convention and became a skilled artisan. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Ann used specialised tools like hammers and soldering irons to craft metal goods to sell. England’s Ironmongery sold household utensils, cookware, containers, decorative ornaments, and more.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Ann’s legacy continued through the generations. Her son William and his descendants became well-known ironmongers in Pontefract. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">England’s legendary shop at Market Place was fondly remembered in the community until its closure in 1979.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1pTLB4zi6wIXxMAedcEIQEnXs96NW9nrog2Z-J4_h6W4NUSLRKR2jyitxRamH_LmpSk-N3cS1BMAFZiCWwVRn4Hx_dpCWENzxVXk2Zi7k1JLKiPeZsQsJhK_td7SF1srm2Y8a9Nownuvy00B0l4Nv7oVG98NrREuEYbCkId_clkDnejVOgpkYUiL3vYY/s2769/P04651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A large shop window full of ironmonger-related objects for sale, including a poster advertising rawplugs" border="0" data-original-height="2769" data-original-width="1981" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1pTLB4zi6wIXxMAedcEIQEnXs96NW9nrog2Z-J4_h6W4NUSLRKR2jyitxRamH_LmpSk-N3cS1BMAFZiCWwVRn4Hx_dpCWENzxVXk2Zi7k1JLKiPeZsQsJhK_td7SF1srm2Y8a9Nownuvy00B0l4Nv7oVG98NrREuEYbCkId_clkDnejVOgpkYUiL3vYY/w458-h640/P04651.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ui-provider hy nd hw bmy bmz bna bnb bnc bnd bne bnf bng bnh bni bnj bnk bnl bnm bnn bno bnp bnq bnr bns bnt bnu bnv bnw bnx bny bnz boa bob boc bod" dir="ltr"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Shop window of England's Ironmongers, dating to between 1930 and 1950</span></strong></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kprF3ZGjyy2Tl5NYOcGfqWr4FKfsEIVlHdrEy-ULNAQSQXEKVLbs_yNlZ_q7GdSXBmUccsr0a8_5jNBqGB-wEqLzkvoEhzIOQFii9ibBpM9q9uGGh76O9iconJ3Ll1IUS3dnpdR5C-GHDXNhgHYn69U4I0tmALi3kADx3t30osBPzhJpJuWBREcLr41k/s2677/P04683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Shop counter with an old-fashioned till, and floor-to-ceiling shelves full of supplies and items sold at the ironmongers" border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="2677" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kprF3ZGjyy2Tl5NYOcGfqWr4FKfsEIVlHdrEy-ULNAQSQXEKVLbs_yNlZ_q7GdSXBmUccsr0a8_5jNBqGB-wEqLzkvoEhzIOQFii9ibBpM9q9uGGh76O9iconJ3Ll1IUS3dnpdR5C-GHDXNhgHYn69U4I0tmALi3kADx3t30osBPzhJpJuWBREcLr41k/w640-h488/P04683.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ui-provider hy nd hw bmy bmz bna bnb bnc bnd bne bnf bng bnh bni bnj bnk bnl bnm bnn bno bnp bnq bnr bns bnt bnu bnv bnw bnx bny bnz boa bob boc bod" dir="ltr"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Inside of England's Ironmongers in the 1970s, providing inspiration for the recreated display in Ladies who Launch</span></strong></span></td></tr></tbody></table></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Gelder Sisters - grocers and drapers</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Researched and written by Jennifer Machin</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sisters Mary, Ann and Sarah Gelder were born in Pontefract between 1843 and 1847. Their father, Joseph, was a successful local farmer and Alderman for Pontefract. </span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kelly’s Directory of West Riding of Yorkshire 1881 lists the
3 sisters under the commercial section as grocers and drapers in North
Baileygate. They were listed as ‘misses’ and so were unmarried.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sarah Gelder was a draper and Mary Gelder was a grocer. They were wealthy enough to have a servant and younger relatives living with them. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sarah Gelder and Ann Gelder died in the 1890s. Mary Gelder then took over her sister's draper’s business.</span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAeUbC17qjpB24yijZLYxnc9LE45dkqgSFqL0vO5J0vMu2FkhTcqGi8LYTEfgpNU1IDd76kpnNUc06bz4uabCGwlswDFKQETay5CnTpNgt_EWDQXZ0z17RN3WGsG9PqAhkNMr8ao1niLEdNmUi73_kRF30mitUx_jPhA2oD1usOqvzG_Kqa96MQe8M6SF/s1593/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%2095%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img alt="A display in the style of a Victorian drapers shop, with fabric, weights, scissors and pots" border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1245" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAeUbC17qjpB24yijZLYxnc9LE45dkqgSFqL0vO5J0vMu2FkhTcqGi8LYTEfgpNU1IDd76kpnNUc06bz4uabCGwlswDFKQETay5CnTpNgt_EWDQXZ0z17RN3WGsG9PqAhkNMr8ao1niLEdNmUi73_kRF30mitUx_jPhA2oD1usOqvzG_Kqa96MQe8M6SF/w500-h640/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%2095%20crop.jpg" width="500" /></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A recreation of the Gelder sisters' drapers shop in Ladies who Launch</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Drapers sold cloth. They were common in the Victorian period when many people made their own clothes. Sewing and making clothes were generally seen as women’s work, but being a draper was not typically a woman’s job. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sarah and Mary were clearly successful though, extending the business into selling costumes alongside the usual drapery. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Being a grocer was also not typical for Victorian women. However, it was a good trade and a successful business decision for the sisters. Like many businesses at the time, they were probably helped by family support. Their father’s farm would have been a useful supplier. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mary Gelder continued to live in Pontefract until at least 1901. She is listed on the 1901 census as living in North Baileygate. She was head of the household, and had two servants and her niece (Mary Wood) living with her.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hannah Lindley - laundress</span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Researched and written by Dave Evans, Curator</b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Hannah was born in Thorpe Audlin in 1831. Her father, Richard Brewster, was a farmworker, moving between Ackworth, Badsworth and Darrington. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Hannah was a domestic servant in Hemsworth by the age of 18. In 1856 she married garden labourer John Lindley and they began a family in a small yard in Pontefract.<br /><br />John did well at work and by 1871 the family of five lived in a larger house on Ropergate along with a lodger. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d2kv5FdERv0zSUc1Lq864h237FMrBY52N6O5eMcpI_kFwLe1zYqCwPiCu-X0ZLpjxZf3COEAmgpc-GkntUwFFc1mp_WOzQzZnuKhRCzcmQgLLKzF2xxT7ZDaE06Ij1ny2c1pdakIvIymX5nWhYOihYDoX-wQ40EMy1ZHZcLNOkotaqHFEXQsDwYJb8No/s2048/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%2079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="A display including a large Victorian mangle, barrel and washboard" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d2kv5FdERv0zSUc1Lq864h237FMrBY52N6O5eMcpI_kFwLe1zYqCwPiCu-X0ZLpjxZf3COEAmgpc-GkntUwFFc1mp_WOzQzZnuKhRCzcmQgLLKzF2xxT7ZDaE06Ij1ny2c1pdakIvIymX5nWhYOihYDoX-wQ40EMy1ZHZcLNOkotaqHFEXQsDwYJb8No/w640-h426/Ladies%20Who%20Launch%20Exhibition%2079.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A display inspired by Hannah Lindley's home laundress business in Ladies who Launch</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">John died in 1873, leaving Hannah to support her growing family on her own. Hannah moved to Sessions House Yard, then Crab Hill, and set up as a laundress. <br /><br />Being a Victorian laundress was hard work, especially wringing out wet linens. It wasn’t just washing but also drying and ironing, the whole process taking days. However, it could be done at home alongside caring for children. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Poorer widows like Hannah often became laundresses. As women running their own lives and businesses, laundresses were known for their independence.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Visiting Ladies who Launch: Celebrating Pontefract's Women in Business</span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The exhibition is at <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-museum/">Pontefract Museum</a> </b>until 19 October 2024. Entry is free. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It's not just Victorian businesswomen we explore! We bring it into the 21st century with displays co-created with four businesses being run by local women today. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/ladies-who-launch-celebrating.html"><br /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/ladies-who-launch-celebrating.html">Find out more about Ladies who Launch: Celebrating Pontefract's Women in Business</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Photos of the exhibition in this blog are by Nick Singleton.</span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-59096780834335220462024-02-21T11:35:00.001+00:002024-02-21T11:41:12.157+00:00Pontefract: The town of two saints<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you know about Pontefract's saintly past? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Discover Pontefract's claim to not just one saint, but two, in this blog!</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why were local saints important?</span></h2><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Possession of a saint was considered to be of great importance in medieval England. Bequests and pilgrimages brought in
a lot of money to the local priories. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This fascination with saintly bones was the subject of 'A Morbid Taste for Bones', the first
Cadfael Chronicles book by Ellis Peters. Peters' medieval mystery novel gives an insight
into the importance of the possession of such saintly relics. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To have a saint buried in Pontefract was a
great claim to fame for the medieval powerhouse of Pontefract, known by the 12th century as
the Key to the North.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">New research shows that Pontefract had not just one saintly burial, but two! These were Saint Thomas of Pontefract, and the lesser-known Saint Thurstan.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJYkvxpRl2n9MPJzpMZ0-H_fjoydOhGbb5W0SlA6-bQwWdbJyuUr1FAqhgL7YD7b0NTXQ0m-DAQmunVZOlBwnHkgDOo39q4dT8w_eud24TAmIWwLL9iqdmt96G_G7eRhvwj74JamMj9gEN3x-eRmaMDhyphenhyphenn35kfJ5EaZ2htKlArBGR_LUmQ8-huaEJk8oA/s1890/BodleianDouce231Fol1rEdCrouchbackAndStGeorge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Drawings of two men, one believed to be either Edmund Crouchback or Thomas of Lancaster and the other Saint George. The Earl of Lancaster is wearing armour with a red tunic with three lions on. The two men are facing each other." border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="1155" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJYkvxpRl2n9MPJzpMZ0-H_fjoydOhGbb5W0SlA6-bQwWdbJyuUr1FAqhgL7YD7b0NTXQ0m-DAQmunVZOlBwnHkgDOo39q4dT8w_eud24TAmIWwLL9iqdmt96G_G7eRhvwj74JamMj9gEN3x-eRmaMDhyphenhyphenn35kfJ5EaZ2htKlArBGR_LUmQ8-huaEJk8oA/w392-h640/BodleianDouce231Fol1rEdCrouchbackAndStGeorge.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A miniature of an earl of Lancaster (possibly Edmund Crouchback or his son Thomas of Lancaster) with St. George from a medieval manuscript (Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Douce 231) - Wikimedia Commons</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Who was Saint Thomas of Pontefract?</span></span></h2></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Saint Thomas of Pontefract (1278 - 1322) is a well-known figure in Pontefract's fascinating history. Known as Thomas of Lancaster during his lifetime, Saint Thomas of Pontefract was venerated as a local saint soon after his beheading. He became so important to Pontefract that a chapel was erected in his name on the edge of the town.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thomas was a controversial character in life. He was one of the wealthiest men in the country and was also the cousin of Edward II. Thomas was estranged from his wife Alice de Lacy, whom he married for her money. He frequently fell out with the king and his associates. These disputes would eventually lead to his death. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Captured at the Battle of Boroughbridge in March 1322, Thomas was brought to Pontefract Castle. Until this point <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/">Pontefract Castle</a> had belonged to Thomas by right of his marriage to Alice de Lacy. Thomas was held in a tower he had ironically constructed for the purpose of holding his cousin Edward II - had he managed to capture him instead! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Thomas was tried by a jury of the king and his close associates, without the right to a defence. Inevitably he was found guilty and sentenced to death by beheading. Thomas was beheaded on the 22 March 1322.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr7mSMHqQnjm0e1Jl64khZd0N_Ob0fibkNUg_b1MMy1amO4RdLbyfiGuFYXJxRndXwWrAE74Jrkyso-3uAxt0jC-T0rUPXZYqOeYTq2VOpppBiTsC_9WSM3I2lVgBVtoClCY6_nhLIBNSYzGCjUV0R8mLFAzV0I700ygwg6fc-m7xjdW42l1jnAJr0xTP/s3500/Pontefract%20Castle-228.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Part of the remains of Pontefract Castle, showing the entrance to the sally port, the curtain wall, and the keep looming in the distande" border="0" data-original-height="2333" data-original-width="3500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr7mSMHqQnjm0e1Jl64khZd0N_Ob0fibkNUg_b1MMy1amO4RdLbyfiGuFYXJxRndXwWrAE74Jrkyso-3uAxt0jC-T0rUPXZYqOeYTq2VOpppBiTsC_9WSM3I2lVgBVtoClCY6_nhLIBNSYzGCjUV0R8mLFAzV0I700ygwg6fc-m7xjdW42l1jnAJr0xTP/w640-h426/Pontefract%20Castle-228.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Part of the remains of Pontefract Castle today</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why was Saint Thomas of Pontefract considered a saint?</span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After Thomas' death, miracles were soon reported at the hill where he was beheaded. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The most notable was a blind priest who rubbed sand stained with Thomas' blood into his eyes, curing his blindness. There were also reports of a child coming back to life after lying on Thomas' tomb for three days.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As news of these miracles spread, combined with respect for his rebellion against the king, Thomas became a popular figure. Thousands of people at a time would travel to the site of his miracles in Pontefract. A chapel was erected on the hill, as well as a mill. These were duly named St Thomas' Chapel and St Thomas' Mill, on St Thomas' Hill. These were still being recorded on the earliest Ordnance Survey maps in the 19th century.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">But new research confirms that Saint Thomas wasn't Pontefract's only claim to saintly fame...</span></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who was Saint Thurstan, Archbishop of York?</span></h2><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">It has long been known that Thurstan, archbishop of York
from 1114 to 1140, retired to the Cluniac priory at Pontefract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thurstan died just two weeks after he retired. He
was buried in front of the high altar at Pontefract Priory.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/03/unambiguous-proof-medieval-archbishop-revealed-as-lost-english-saint">Recent research by </a></span><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/03/unambiguous-proof-medieval-archbishop-revealed-as-lost-english-saint">Dr Michael
Carter from English Heritage revealed that Thurstan was recognised as a saint</a><span style="color: #141414;">, </span>through analysing early church documents.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In a record of Saints Feast days celebrated
at Pontefract Priory, 6 February is recorded as the feast of the
anniversary of the death of Saint Thurstan. Dr Carter states this is "unambiguous proof that Thurstan was indeed a saint".</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-n_uaSeOpjQ6EhbL8i0lxNZbOKmRsQftCzoE72Ia125ktP_8IlGlGzBAN6XDYxqm-kFI4BMziSfpxAZTQ2EBRpSKPwWN6_0HXWkRm5AdVoLep8obebkXma3QOF0hYQ6s9WCGdAIh-FuIvm5ITMgwOKsOnUtYr0ffBu3IJcejnQhqBXyiB8AQMAbCBR1X/s4608/The_Site_of_the_Former_St_Johns_Priory_(geograph_3533942).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A field with trees and houses in the background, and a blue information plaque about St John's Priory" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-n_uaSeOpjQ6EhbL8i0lxNZbOKmRsQftCzoE72Ia125ktP_8IlGlGzBAN6XDYxqm-kFI4BMziSfpxAZTQ2EBRpSKPwWN6_0HXWkRm5AdVoLep8obebkXma3QOF0hYQ6s9WCGdAIh-FuIvm5ITMgwOKsOnUtYr0ffBu3IJcejnQhqBXyiB8AQMAbCBR1X/w640-h480/The_Site_of_the_Former_St_Johns_Priory_(geograph_3533942).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The site of the former St John's Priory, Pontefract - Bill Henderson, Wikimedia Commons</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why aren't Saint Thomas of Pontefract and Saint Thurstan more widely known?</span></span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">In medieval England there were many classes of saint that were done away with after the Reformation. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="ui-provider ee bkz bhn brn bro brp brq brr brs brt bru brv brw brx bry brz bsa bsb bsc bsd bse bsf bsg bsh bsi bsj bsk bsl bsm bsn bso bsp bsq bsr bss" dir="ltr">Both of these saints are only mentioned on local records, suggesting that they fall into the category of local uncanonised saints.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These uncanonised saints were not recognised by the Church officially. However, they were often of equal or even greater importance to their local people. </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So Pontefract can now claim the fame of two saints - one you maybe knew about, and one you probably didn't!</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Visit Pontefract Castle</span></span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">This is just a snippet of the incredible history of Pontefract Castle! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Want to learn more? Come and visit us! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Pontefract Castle is open every day and is free entry. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We also run Dungeon Tours and Castle Explorer Tours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/"><span style="font-size: large;">Visitor information for Pontefract Castle</span></a></b></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-14243857052692646662024-02-01T16:11:00.008+00:002024-02-15T15:30:38.506+00:00How Wakefield’s Black Horse learned to gallop<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p></p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Members of the Wakefield Word with Black Horse
Poets writers' groups have kindly written this guest blog about their history. </span></b><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Read on to discover 'how Wakefield's Black Horse learned to gallop'!</span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrR0MIVGc-CHaO06Hy5LqLGwjILgKzMTETE8VnB4REjjkgzHBeS6G8a-Eg-_4Enq9ZMPHe3I1KqnabOFyPCMEApsRMvhopgILlvARF6evBeakDS2_a4WIB2f_PtnF2-pGTIB2K9U6CFkSNiLhvpITPlPoa5DCzYZdQer6FFcDEUruzfdnkc4_rElq17iv/s4032/Wakefield%20Word%20new%20patron%20Jack%20Hemingway%20.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="6 members of the Wakefield Word Group, and Councillor Jack Hemmingway in the middle, smiling at the camera. Councillor Hemmingway is holding a trophy of a horse." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrR0MIVGc-CHaO06Hy5LqLGwjILgKzMTETE8VnB4REjjkgzHBeS6G8a-Eg-_4Enq9ZMPHe3I1KqnabOFyPCMEApsRMvhopgILlvARF6evBeakDS2_a4WIB2f_PtnF2-pGTIB2K9U6CFkSNiLhvpITPlPoa5DCzYZdQer6FFcDEUruzfdnkc4_rElq17iv/w640-h480/Wakefield%20Word%20new%20patron%20Jack%20Hemingway%20.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Members of the Black Horse Poets and Wakefield Word Group with their new patron, Councillor Jack Hemingway, in January 2024.<br />Left to right: Susan McCartney, William Thirsk-Gaskill, Jasmine King, Cllr Jack Hemingway, Angie de Courcy Bower, Lindsey Marie, Stefan Grieve</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />Michael Yates had been a newspaper journalist for a number of years, starting with the Wakefield Express series. After which he worked for the Sheffield-based evening paper The Star, commuting by bus every day from his Sandal home. <br /><br />In 1996, he started teaching a Creative Writing class at Wakefield College and also became a part-time subeditor on the Huddersfield Examiner. One lunchtime he walked into Huddersfield’s Albert pub to see they had a poetry anthology on sale. He discovered it was produced by The Albert Poets, who met there regularly. <br /><br />Roger Manns, a retired teacher of Modern Languages who taught at Wakefield’s St Thomas à Becket and Outwood Grange, had joined the Creative Writing class; and he shared Michael's interest in establishing a Wakefield poetry group. Roger’s cousin was then manager of Wakefield’s Black Horse pub in Westgate, so Roger and Michael went along to see him and secured a free meeting space in exchange for the promise of extravagant sums of money being spent at the bar. And in 1998 they wrote to all their Wakefield poetry pals begging them to join the newly created Black Horse Poets. <br /><br />Over the years, there have been changes of venue and changes of officers, but the Black Horse Poets have always managed to hold regular monthly meetings of readings laced with thoughtful and friendly critique. They have also published three full-blown anthologies: 'Full Gallop' (2000), 'Front Runner' (2008) and 'Full Rein' (2013); issued pamphlets of poems every year between 2011 and 2019; produced a magazine called 'The Horse’s Mouth', and even made CDs and videos. <br /><br />Members have held meetings or given public readings at such Wakefield locations as Drury Lane Library, Henry Boons pub, the Mocca Moocho coffee bar, the Orangery, the Black Rock pub, Wakefield Cathedral’s Treacy Hall, the Destiny Church, the Monkey Bar, Newmillerdam Country Park and Westgate Studios; also at Unity Hall as part of Wakefield ArtWalk. <br /><br />In 2008, Wakefield MP Mary Creagh became the Poets’ patron and remained so until her election defeat in 2019. And she regularly judged their annual poetry competition. <br /><br />In 2009, the 20-strong group was honoured with a civic reception. By 2016, the Poets had merged with prose group Wakefield Word, who hold separate meetings for writers of stories and plays. <br /><br />Over the years, individual members have succeeded in publishing volumes of poetry, short story collections and even novels; and have had plays performed on stage and radio. <br /><br />The Covid lockdown meant members had to meet by Zoom for two years and numbers fell. But now, in the year of their Silver Anniversary, Black Horse Poets and Wakefield Word meet at the Red Shed in Wakefield’s Vicarage Street with William Thirsk-Gaskill as president and Stefan Grieve as Chairperson, and their numbers have grown again.<br /><br />Stefan Grieve has been chairperson of Wakefield Word since 2018, where he has led and organised meetings for the groups and been an active member in showcasing popular events and award ceremonies over the years. <br /><br />Lindsey Marie is the newest member of the committee who covers all things publicity, so if you would like the group to be involved in any future events, performances or workshops, she would be delighted to hear from you, simply direct message the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080144240877">group’s Facebook page</a>. </span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Even so, the group are always looking for new people. For further
details contact group secretary Colin Hollis, </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:cvhollis98@gmail.com"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">cvhollis98@gmail.com</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080144240877">find them on Facebook</a>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><b>Members of the Black Horse Poets and Wakefield Word Group have written a series of responses to objects in our <a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/100-years-of-collecting-online.html">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a>:</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/miss-gosticks-tea-set.html">'Miss Gostick's Tea Set' by Susan McCartney</a>, </b>in response to the Alice Gostick pottery set </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/east-end-town-west-side-face.html">'East End Town, West Side Face'</a> and <a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/a-miners-life-for-me.html">'A Miner's Life for Me'</a> by Jasmine King </b>in response to our mining objects</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/tulip-vase-poem.html"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>A poem by </b><span style="font-weight: 700;">Angie de Courcy Bower in response to the tulip vase</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/the-snap-tins.html">'The Snap Tins' by Angie de Courcy Bower</a> </b>in response to our mining objects</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/tale-of-celtic-stone-man.html">'Tale of the Celtic Stone Man' by Stefan Grieve</a> (Chairperson), </b>in response to the Celtic stone head</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/the-asylum-whistle.html">'The Asylum Whistle', also by Susan McCartney</a>, </b>in response to the West Riding Asylum nurse's whistle</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/liquorice-fields-poem.html" style="font-weight: bold;">'Liquorice Fields' by L. Marie</a>, in response to the liquorice stamp.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/08/ken-hanson-deputy-miners-story.html">Ken Hanson: A Mining Deputy's Story, also by L.Marie</a></b></span></p></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-83690838271469335632024-01-23T09:06:00.004+00:002024-01-25T15:01:34.503+00:00100 Years of Collecting - new display with Wakefield Historical Society and Wakefield Civic Society (part 2)<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;">2023 marks both 100 years since Wakefield Museum first opened, and the start of a century of collecting objects! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">To celebrate, our team have picked <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">100 objects that tell the rich heritage of our district</a></b>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most of them are already on display, so we asked our friends at <b><a href="https://wakefieldcivicsociety.org.uk/">Wakefield Civic Society</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk/">Wakefield Historical Society</a></b> to pick a selection from our storeroom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Their members have picked an interesting mix of objects. These cover work and industry, sports and leisure, entertainment and creativity, politics and protest, and law and order.<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">The objects are now on display in the 100 Years of Collecting case at Wakefield One. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5V-jUTHR5FmIlIgZalE2yGLPg8Hvt0h1V8D5CCmY1MY3I2mIsSjyb27gJkCwwb6z6X1YkYnXtFDK262DwP5NVG1BKvQTdQkU_y5JANeh8e5LMxI42FbmBZDruuOKYK0BWwUjA2mjk3s4Qtpn8t8-ng-AogW2JSy7YGUaWRYPBtr5bCV0dQSR3twsTLK8I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="The 100 years of collecting atrium case at Wakefield One, containing a variety of objects chosen by society members." data-original-height="2786" data-original-width="3076" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5V-jUTHR5FmIlIgZalE2yGLPg8Hvt0h1V8D5CCmY1MY3I2mIsSjyb27gJkCwwb6z6X1YkYnXtFDK262DwP5NVG1BKvQTdQkU_y5JANeh8e5LMxI42FbmBZDruuOKYK0BWwUjA2mjk3s4Qtpn8t8-ng-AogW2JSy7YGUaWRYPBtr5bCV0dQSR3twsTLK8I=w640-h580" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This blog features the objects chosen by Wakefield Civic Society. It includes captions written by </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Kevin Trickett, society President.</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2024/01/100-years-of-collecting-new-display.html">Wakefield Historical Society captions are in this previous blog</a></b>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">All of the full captions are available in the <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a> </b>(choose 'Objects on Display' and then 'Wakefield One'). </span></p><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Plaque from Sun Lane Baths, 1938</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Kevin Trickett, President of Wakefield Civic Society.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlJ6FCLgXVnZKsTwP8fYvHVzE04qBHD_-A0cLM9-w2INxF_6yXKTNDgggWq0NfNmHIUVzykQVzLH_Su2BtU0MiHY7UdlVMWcGszz2WkigpLOGMgLQOjEvXhpp8I4-GH_cN40_e130eNZDxHdP-1eBPv0fypsHC1kzAQdXsmQ8E03xI9RrU-9EkGDtTr0a/s4262/SH009719%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A rectangular plaque, with a lion's head and water pouring out into a body of water, and a fish swimming past" border="0" data-original-height="4262" data-original-width="2446" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlJ6FCLgXVnZKsTwP8fYvHVzE04qBHD_-A0cLM9-w2INxF_6yXKTNDgggWq0NfNmHIUVzykQVzLH_Su2BtU0MiHY7UdlVMWcGszz2WkigpLOGMgLQOjEvXhpp8I4-GH_cN40_e130eNZDxHdP-1eBPv0fypsHC1kzAQdXsmQ8E03xI9RrU-9EkGDtTr0a/w368-h640/SH009719%20crop.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />This plaque was rescued from the former Sun Lane Baths. Another decorative feature was the sculptured frieze on the exterior of the building which is now incorporated into the counter of the café in the new Baths built on the site.<br /><br />Both the frieze, and the plaque exhibited here, are very typical of the Art Deco period when health and fitness were strongly promoted as key to a good life with an emphasis on exercise and access to sunshine. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Buildings often had large windows to let light in and flat roofs or sun terraces where people could sunbathe.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">They show stylised, geometric representations of people and animals such as the fish and lion’s head on the plaque. The lion’s head as well as giving forth water, can also be interpreted as representing the sun.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOKSZc7jwNvsS4-2G4U3kyxnSa3KUS9KV25ck6jt_yr95HBzsS-fPG78gJqaCjo-MgMDs3HyklRSuw87GinyYtbzrPKIvYX67qBt9q1SkoQ9r4RX7wEXkwZaL_3Oki_8BmTshfIpEJEyOX0KSsPjrv1vAwCzW8omR1SzWY_m5CVD2D_YJ6SVKE3z1ueGt/s772/lead%20panel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A lead panel of the same design as the plaque, with lion's head spouting water and fish swimming past" border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="617" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOKSZc7jwNvsS4-2G4U3kyxnSa3KUS9KV25ck6jt_yr95HBzsS-fPG78gJqaCjo-MgMDs3HyklRSuw87GinyYtbzrPKIvYX67qBt9q1SkoQ9r4RX7wEXkwZaL_3Oki_8BmTshfIpEJEyOX0KSsPjrv1vAwCzW8omR1SzWY_m5CVD2D_YJ6SVKE3z1ueGt/w320-h400/lead%20panel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the painted lead panels in situ at Sun Lane Baths before demolition in 2006. <br />Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Express.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Wakefield city centre isn’t exactly known for its Art Deco buildings – and two buildings from the period (1920s - 30s) that stood in Sun Lane have been demolished. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">One was the ABC cinema buidling on the corner of Sun Lane and Kirkgate demolished in 2023 – the other was the former Sun Lane Baths demolished in 2006.<br /><br />The Sun Lane swimming pool was designed in 1936-7 by Percy Morris, the then City architect. The Art Deco / Modern building provided slipper baths, a café and a terrace for sun-bathing as well as the competition-size swimming pool. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A sculptured frieze on the exterior of the building was designed by Arnold Sharp, principal of Wakefield College of Art from 1927-1956. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The facility was owned by and under the management of Wakefield Council.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG703OOU12xlhgbOpB8QEfdpzHoGrmCKHK2XQ9w7Lwc9DHeImcXvbl-B1o177jlagxhR9gmimc_0lwmbJguhVbJNtPYBazoZBlFcQD72EeuNebXfVD-6Yyb_SaT2rCas6z5YMARl97J1V6eWgw2wfXyA5goNb7ZpDw7dZJ6vDnnVMuaGApis_eWgkvrwro/s1069/sun%20lane%20baths%201963.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sun Lane Baths main swimming pool, with arched art deco roof." border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1069" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG703OOU12xlhgbOpB8QEfdpzHoGrmCKHK2XQ9w7Lwc9DHeImcXvbl-B1o177jlagxhR9gmimc_0lwmbJguhVbJNtPYBazoZBlFcQD72EeuNebXfVD-6Yyb_SaT2rCas6z5YMARl97J1V6eWgw2wfXyA5goNb7ZpDw7dZJ6vDnnVMuaGApis_eWgkvrwro/w640-h498/sun%20lane%20baths%201963.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sun Lane Baths in 1963. Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Express.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2006, the Council made the decision to close the baths over fears about the structural integrity of the roof. The Society called for a new pool to be built on the same site and that the Arnold Sharp frieze be incorporated into the new building. Today, the frieze is situated along the counter front in the café area in the new Sun Lane Baths.<br /><br /></span><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Flyer for a production of 'Bouncers' by John Godber, at Wakefield Theatre, 1994</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Kevin Trickett, President of Wakefield Civic Society.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV0pURsRpWV3lYqNDWIaDhlNBNW6kPCVxuT923_uiFKTXgaUaYp35EjqCN4R5cofK8Fs8GhSWuhZobs1IH1n3NyjhJ5syOydl180_InkBrWEMFB9GdS4Kh_bIKyxnyz4CYaBR0aYHQ97m0E-NKUHGPXOwkHxVaJZNNDAWNx7AisWhnm8Nu02oouxMkwhZ/s1806/E004053A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A poster for Bouncers, with four men in black tie and arms folded but with women's legs wearing skirts and heels" border="0" data-original-height="1806" data-original-width="1240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV0pURsRpWV3lYqNDWIaDhlNBNW6kPCVxuT923_uiFKTXgaUaYp35EjqCN4R5cofK8Fs8GhSWuhZobs1IH1n3NyjhJ5syOydl180_InkBrWEMFB9GdS4Kh_bIKyxnyz4CYaBR0aYHQ97m0E-NKUHGPXOwkHxVaJZNNDAWNx7AisWhnm8Nu02oouxMkwhZ/w275-h400/E004053A.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Today’s Theatre Royal was designed by Frank Matcham (1854-1920) and opened in 1894. It stands on the site of an earlier theatre dating from 1776. <br /><br />The original Theatre was declared unsafe by the West Riding County Council in 1892 and had to be demolished down to the foundations. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOIprb2PqoUISeJigiqcFwlLPUT_-mc20SRBN85Tkk08sYpiLxNxMVtote8BNfvdPIVtrMKCXCr6_uQoccbw_e3lvesEbMdy1C0aPGy96adxXnuyY5RUunj56ANjzt2cigvs9SuzA5IHHz5jD1vuIIi7kd2843Kbanor3G4SdJOrIaGXRIyv3VQ5TraHP/s1036/Wakefield%20theatre%20royal%201890s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Front of the old Wakefield Theatre, a brick building with awning and painted signs that read 'royal theatre' and 'opera house'" border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="718" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOIprb2PqoUISeJigiqcFwlLPUT_-mc20SRBN85Tkk08sYpiLxNxMVtote8BNfvdPIVtrMKCXCr6_uQoccbw_e3lvesEbMdy1C0aPGy96adxXnuyY5RUunj56ANjzt2cigvs9SuzA5IHHz5jD1vuIIi7kd2843Kbanor3G4SdJOrIaGXRIyv3VQ5TraHP/w278-h400/Wakefield%20theatre%20royal%201890s.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The original Wakefield Theatre Royal on Westgate before demolition, around 1890</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Other theatres are known to have existed in Wakefield, some pre-dating the 1776 one. For example, the Mayor of Beverley is known to have visited a theatre in the yard behind the Black Bull Hotel further up Westgate in 1774 and, behind today’s NatWest Bank at 56 Westgate is known to have stood the Corn Market Theatre, possibly dating back to to around 1755 but with a stage only 12 feet across (3.65 metres).<br /><br />Unlike today’s theatre, which opens almost all year round, the original Wakefield Theatre opened just for for a few weeks in late summer – when people would come to Wakefield for the horse racing season (there was a course at Outwood close to today’s Grandstand Road).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWzijiZCCmZWttFHcRUgzbChy0oLo23tAvgWdKz-4ge6AzBSXUI9BojSnK-BndMtakTuoswkYA1AZ-SLXmOPPBH_UxIx_OhEgV5lKPNmHq8nyWgSUSjfKDkFoJQ00cuccO51UH1ec1ZGtmMZfFRE-F4yqd76LWW88g6Be7MiVYfQeTnoGWkIp3Ms-lW8M/s1039/Wakefield%20theatre%201990.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black and white photo of the current Wakefield Theatre Royal, a grand brick building taking inspiration from the old theatre" border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1039" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWzijiZCCmZWttFHcRUgzbChy0oLo23tAvgWdKz-4ge6AzBSXUI9BojSnK-BndMtakTuoswkYA1AZ-SLXmOPPBH_UxIx_OhEgV5lKPNmHq8nyWgSUSjfKDkFoJQ00cuccO51UH1ec1ZGtmMZfFRE-F4yqd76LWW88g6Be7MiVYfQeTnoGWkIp3Ms-lW8M/w400-h301/Wakefield%20theatre%201990.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Frank Matcham-designed Wakefield Theatre Royal in 1990</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Whistle from West Riding Asylum, mid-1900s</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Kevin Trickett, President of Wakefield Civic Society.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjecAD7L04RCgT14NV4Tw3H7YI7bn6uU5fodg4XgT8PNN2dlhWy6uyzTyJoQNpOzSU1GY3Bjb8cpBehU4vFTx0tryLEsEm6sDRsYg57ri9-YYyMoqEusyMQ8U7Bjs-O-44N7UmZwB-LgTRUg0vQmFV_4Egeg0f0nYRjFhrjtwnnTIfEapviktKOeXelfb/s1080/whistle%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Small metal whistle engraved with 'West Riding Asylum - Wakefield'. Has a metal loop to attach it to a chain." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjecAD7L04RCgT14NV4Tw3H7YI7bn6uU5fodg4XgT8PNN2dlhWy6uyzTyJoQNpOzSU1GY3Bjb8cpBehU4vFTx0tryLEsEm6sDRsYg57ri9-YYyMoqEusyMQ8U7Bjs-O-44N7UmZwB-LgTRUg0vQmFV_4Egeg0f0nYRjFhrjtwnnTIfEapviktKOeXelfb/w320-h320/whistle%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">As a result of campaigning by the likes of Samuel Tuke (1784 - 1857), legislation was introduced which made councils responsible for providing humane care of the mentally ill. <br /><br />Stanley Royd Hospital, originally known as the West Riding Pauper and Lunatic Asylum, opened in 1818. It was one of a number of regional asylums being built around the country in the early part of the 19th century and which were intended to provide both care and, importantly, treatment for the mentally ill patients.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wf7SeQTN5xiQeIK4ftP-f0vBL36JLfqrPfZOhVqoH7i0nJaadOT0MwBab1tYOPH2JwEXi7ZwmuAMTJAVLDrGsPLaYVx12lVnSQYJ34THBmDWjR_XeephvOcWPPWp5UNoPJLZO2APHdZ7od_psOo_A2K_290Gd7D36CmJfdSXcNMozdzQvGJe-SvwMr5K/s1052/West%20Riding%20Asylum%201800s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Negative still of West Riding Asylum in the background, a large building. There is a field with sheep in in the foreground" border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1052" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wf7SeQTN5xiQeIK4ftP-f0vBL36JLfqrPfZOhVqoH7i0nJaadOT0MwBab1tYOPH2JwEXi7ZwmuAMTJAVLDrGsPLaYVx12lVnSQYJ34THBmDWjR_XeephvOcWPPWp5UNoPJLZO2APHdZ7od_psOo_A2K_290Gd7D36CmJfdSXcNMozdzQvGJe-SvwMr5K/w400-h398/West%20Riding%20Asylum%201800s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">View of the West Riding Asylum in the late 1800s</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The asylum was built to a design by architects Charles Watson (1771 - 1836) and his associate James Piggott Pritchett (1789 - 1868). Watson also designed the Court House in Wood Street, St John’s Square and, with Pritchett again, the Public Rooms (later the Mechanics’ Institute) in Wood Street.<br /><br />Stanley Royd closed in 1995 and the site was redeveloped as housing. Watson and Pritchett’s building was preserved but converted into apartments.<br /><br />Whistles such as the one exhibited would have been carried by hospital staff to summon help when needed.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Photo of boy jumping, taken by Jack Hulme in Fryston, 1940s</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Kevin Trickett, President of Wakefield Civic Society.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkQpx9732dSkmPZpOQISYp7ZeDRc-XqsK3nstiRXpuILqnh75TFHuFBd5UA4UlSDZ5gK39X0Ogqa-vNcywtoaAtQmMlSJc-iqWQ4arHN-yGPEyLwXtKHeO2gbZJMHQfNilK2X0rIGEDiw3OzPeKmWQ5h3NWsUnk0Qt_ClDNP48OR4AuKkF13lRIV_kY1J/s1626/Hulme%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A black and white photograph of a young child jumping over a makeshift hurdle made out of some bricks and a stick in a street" border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="1021" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkQpx9732dSkmPZpOQISYp7ZeDRc-XqsK3nstiRXpuILqnh75TFHuFBd5UA4UlSDZ5gK39X0Ogqa-vNcywtoaAtQmMlSJc-iqWQ4arHN-yGPEyLwXtKHeO2gbZJMHQfNilK2X0rIGEDiw3OzPeKmWQ5h3NWsUnk0Qt_ClDNP48OR4AuKkF13lRIV_kY1J/w251-h400/Hulme%20photo.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Are our streets for parking – or for play?<br /><br />Not too long ago, it was uncommon for most working class people to own a motor car. Industrial towns and cities in particular how rows and rows of terraced housing, sometimes with small back yards but seldom with what we would today recognise as a garden.<br /><br />As well as providing access to people’s homes, streets were, therefore, spaces where children played and people met to chat, sometimes bringing chairs out onto the street and, at times of local and national celebration, holding street parties.<br /><br />With the growth of car ownership, particularly since the 1950s onwards, many families now own cars and our streets are often busy with traffic – or jammed with parked cars.<br /><br />But which would you prefer? Do modern housing developments being built today get the balance between motorists and pedestrians right? Are children provided with safe places in which to play?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Pens made from the mulberry bush at Wakefield Prison, 2010s</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Kevin Trickett, President of Wakefield Civic Society.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFT3K9ge2rZqf5tcgtf3DQ-7xn91fO-vKmZ6gSCAyFflNGR3TnX8LLi8cPjMggFvbB5kusQzrLJ4mC-84nce9pzaLw1oE-pS1hnAXmI7d-rcwdD68i81qlHwsSeGBkitb3SeL7r-ubGYH5_l9E6JrA8T01pOXQu8EUzI40bY1cl1hf-46Ax2UUSKdnBLN/s1997/SH13372A.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A set of wooden carved fountain pens and matching carry case, lined with blue felt" border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1997" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFT3K9ge2rZqf5tcgtf3DQ-7xn91fO-vKmZ6gSCAyFflNGR3TnX8LLi8cPjMggFvbB5kusQzrLJ4mC-84nce9pzaLw1oE-pS1hnAXmI7d-rcwdD68i81qlHwsSeGBkitb3SeL7r-ubGYH5_l9E6JrA8T01pOXQu8EUzI40bY1cl1hf-46Ax2UUSKdnBLN/w400-h295/SH13372A.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The children’s rhyme 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush' is often said to have originated at Wakefield Prison where prisoners excercised by walking around a mulberry bush in the prison yard.<br /><br />The prison, originally known as the Wakefield House of Correction, dates back to 1595 when a prison was built just off Westgate. This building was replaced by a newer building, a little further to the north and set further back from Westgate in 1770. This version was then replaced by another building in 1884.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2X9YHaXNdLy-1NsVadmsxvVzM844C2FbBMiQPpgQttedHKN_DiWeBR_l7NzEsj-Uz4RN1Uov78f58TB7aBaRyeYZTIUKJ4RRAHnQKUt8daK2rVBBZ7Dy6L2ztSrPytqNH4Dgjx-TQpRrJmY3nZj1D9l_LcOI-rv0Iz00rMMvnKYVsBl85bG2Dsdn5hCQ/s1064/Wakefield%20Prison%201800s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Inside Wakefield Prison - shows a view down on of the wings with an arched ceiling and rooflights, cell doors, railings and walkways." border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1062" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2X9YHaXNdLy-1NsVadmsxvVzM844C2FbBMiQPpgQttedHKN_DiWeBR_l7NzEsj-Uz4RN1Uov78f58TB7aBaRyeYZTIUKJ4RRAHnQKUt8daK2rVBBZ7Dy6L2ztSrPytqNH4Dgjx-TQpRrJmY3nZj1D9l_LcOI-rv0Iz00rMMvnKYVsBl85bG2Dsdn5hCQ/w399-h400/Wakefield%20Prison%201800s.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Inside Wakefield Prison in the late 1800s</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #414141; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-block: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; user-select: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; user-select: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">At the beginning of the 17th century, King James I of England (formerly King James VI of Scotland) aspired to creating a British silk industry to rival those of France and Italy and started planting mulberry trees in large numbers, encouraging landowners across the country to do so. The mulberry tree is the sole food of the silkworm.<br /><br />Unfortunately, it seems that the wrong sort of mulberry trees were planted – black mulberries instead of white mulberries and the silkworms failed to thrive in sufficient numbers.<br /><br />A sprig of a mulberry tree from Normanton is said to have been planted in the prison yard where it grew into a full-sized tree. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNuVTf7tkTOCd4S0MauWkiLnlh4P6FRBLymjZs3CeXmiZH-CacLhsUY7a28SQCYVMAjjNffHj8jPuFR5b3yzvnURLFc6ICdEum5zxUUGGmMtsnZPYQn-Sasj9Ei1se_OIGUv-2CGg68NmaU09ZuA8mp7-RHF9xkOEGypyRE6FoVWgVBkaZRPDsvRisywo/s828/Mulberry%20bush%202010s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Large mulberry bush in the grounds at Wakefield Prison" border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="828" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNuVTf7tkTOCd4S0MauWkiLnlh4P6FRBLymjZs3CeXmiZH-CacLhsUY7a28SQCYVMAjjNffHj8jPuFR5b3yzvnURLFc6ICdEum5zxUUGGmMtsnZPYQn-Sasj9Ei1se_OIGUv-2CGg68NmaU09ZuA8mp7-RHF9xkOEGypyRE6FoVWgVBkaZRPDsvRisywo/w400-h358/Mulberry%20bush%202010s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The mulberry bush at Wakefield Prison, 2011</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Sadly, the tree died in 2017 although the intention was to replant a mulberry tree from one of the cuttings taken from the tree.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">The display is at Wakefield One until end of May 2024. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2024/01/100-years-of-collecting-new-display.html"><br /></a></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2024/01/100-years-of-collecting-new-display.html">Click here for the Wakefield Historical Society objects and captions.</a></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/">Click here for visitor information for Wakefield Museum (which is inside the Wakefield One building)</a></span></b></div></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-49313293315203211602024-01-22T15:14:00.003+00:002024-01-23T14:42:11.802+00:00100 Years of Collecting - new display with Wakefield Historical Society and Wakefield Civic Society (part 1)<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">2023 marked both 100 years since Wakefield Museum first
opened, and the start of a century of collecting objects! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">To celebrate, our
team picked <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">100 objects that tell the rich heritage of our district</a></b>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most of them are already on display, so we
asked our friends at <b><a href="https://wakefieldcivicsociety.org.uk/">Wakefield Civic Society</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk/">Wakefield Historical Society</a></b>
to pick a selection from our storeroom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Their members have picked an interesting mix of objects. These cover work and industry, sports and leisure, entertainment and creativity, politics
and protest, and law and order. <o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">The objects are now on display in the 100 Years of Collecting case at Wakefield One. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxMzqw6CmKql0CHiSTIAdqpbyS62iJ1lljJmW2YEouV180L94TLVK0tQHod4BR8JMGmw7iphJdQ2THw5xndbvusorqSM8XgInUv2dmri8f_KPK06Kqy1u9oWFJaKiEOn8bvCTyHECMbNItmeq1kKgvUkhQvd9tohjeXVwvaUQEm063EGj0lELDSAhJlXw/s5425/IMG_1002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Members of Wakefield Historical Society and Wakefield Civic Society, and curator John Whitaker, looking into the display case and discussing its contents" border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="5425" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxMzqw6CmKql0CHiSTIAdqpbyS62iJ1lljJmW2YEouV180L94TLVK0tQHod4BR8JMGmw7iphJdQ2THw5xndbvusorqSM8XgInUv2dmri8f_KPK06Kqy1u9oWFJaKiEOn8bvCTyHECMbNItmeq1kKgvUkhQvd9tohjeXVwvaUQEm063EGj0lELDSAhJlXw/w640-h390/IMG_1002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Members of Wakefield Historical Society and Wakefield Civic Society at the display's unveiling, with curator John Whitaker<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This blog features the objects chosen by the Wakefield Historical Society, along with the captions they wrote. <b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2024/01/100-years-of-collecting-new-display_23.html">The Wakefield Civic Society captions are in this blog</a></b>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">All of the full captions are available in the <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a> </b>(choose 'Objects on Display' and then 'Wakefield One'). </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dress from the Wakefield Pageant, 1933</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Deborah Scriven, member of the Wakefield Historical Society</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCMTvNzrvBC5Z-ii0iJA-8boBWZCLKYLwfKZYyUk1roZ-j7t8zcfFUKUWK4kiL-zxgsrod29qQwYWgp05PSUmJp8f1oCUcpr5XF2erfogVNZg1hbJYvJKTaI-g_nvaglbn9hgja687g7sBTA97y5ExQ_Imc6I20fHsTc1-13ExjXltfpkwv2p5WvP5Vklj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="An ornate green and gold pageant dress in an Elizabethan style, with a wide boned frame and cap" data-original-height="3488" data-original-width="2616" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCMTvNzrvBC5Z-ii0iJA-8boBWZCLKYLwfKZYyUk1roZ-j7t8zcfFUKUWK4kiL-zxgsrod29qQwYWgp05PSUmJp8f1oCUcpr5XF2erfogVNZg1hbJYvJKTaI-g_nvaglbn9hgja687g7sBTA97y5ExQ_Imc6I20fHsTc1-13ExjXltfpkwv2p5WvP5Vklj=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Historical pageants were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Not to be outdone, Wakefield staged its own in 1933. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mrs Mabel Crook wore this costume as one of Queen Elizabeth I’s ladies-in-waiting during the scene in which the Queen granted a charter to Wakefield for a free grammar school.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After more than four centuries, the school continues to flourish. The dress is a fascinating link between two very different periods in the city’s history.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><img alt="Queen Elizabeth I and her ladies-in-waiting at the 1933 Wakefield Pageant. They are all in elaborate Elizabethan costumes, including the one in our collection." class="fr-fic fr-dib" id="ae5e6356-7ba3-46ec-b431-b857fc11a7d6" src="https://img.genial.ly/6021549fd7c02a0f44a5a4c8/1705919680072-1705919680072.png" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #414141; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: none; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px 1px; position: relative; user-select: none; vertical-align: top; width: 517px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">Photograph courtesy of the Wakefield Express.</span></div><span><div style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mabel Crook (seated at the bottom left) as one of Queen Elizabeth I’s ladies in waiting wearing the dress. This photograph is from a series taken by the Wakefield Express showing the 1933 Wakefield Pageant.</span><br /><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">'Snooker for Women' campaign t-shirt, 1970s-80s</span></h3><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Olivia Rowley, council member of the Wakefield Historical Society</span></div></span><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EIuQ6UqMchjSKB7m5jW0828ebLDbY4Eb4c_UzqKAoPVkA5A4_ZsTQ2EMIbr3gA_IwMEHJ8GrsBHpj_aPN3pBahabdg-VevXwaRp6liW1ZQP1RmvDMteFmDYMt-pqZTjY4-gTQYW8ir_bW0HHOLIyaWnyS-XfLEgVMLeUWQwnkRaKkbJGoNpSj3MR8bHn/s1080/Capstick%20tshirt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="White women's fit t-shirt with 'Snooker for Women' and illustration of two snooker balls headed for the pocket on it" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EIuQ6UqMchjSKB7m5jW0828ebLDbY4Eb4c_UzqKAoPVkA5A4_ZsTQ2EMIbr3gA_IwMEHJ8GrsBHpj_aPN3pBahabdg-VevXwaRp6liW1ZQP1RmvDMteFmDYMt-pqZTjY4-gTQYW8ir_bW0HHOLIyaWnyS-XfLEgVMLeUWQwnkRaKkbJGoNpSj3MR8bHn/w640-h640/Capstick%20tshirt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I have to choose the snooker campaign t-shirt, being involved in the campaign. It was an exciting time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Sheila Capstick innocently joined her Dad to play snooker one afternoon at the City Working Men’s Club in Kirkgate.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The local committee, the Club and Institute Union determined that women couldn’t play snooker.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The t-shirt symbolizes the power that certain males own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Although so many women now participate in all sorts of sports, the sexism hasn’t ended! <br /><br />The struggles of so many women throughout history must not be forgotten.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_Q3BibYl7dVaQ81-VY6_LYRH3bhKDA6YRoMBmMyzbtdx01-p0zAXjQUFgEFAKkH3JyXbcfWiRWmlilb9I5oI8fLeWJhEPto43XakgPmSNsYhyphenhyphenFTEi_zxc3WdPjgv4o-IYHWnq3MR5LSb7SMx7ir-7fXnBiPnp3vG_J7pxpMnIyOcijGTqQPTp8LJwLGS/s1735/Olivia%20Rowley%20photo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Olivia at a Snooker for Women demonstration, with her baby daughter in a pram. Other people around her are wearing the iconic t-shirts and have placards" border="0" data-original-height="1735" data-original-width="966" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_Q3BibYl7dVaQ81-VY6_LYRH3bhKDA6YRoMBmMyzbtdx01-p0zAXjQUFgEFAKkH3JyXbcfWiRWmlilb9I5oI8fLeWJhEPto43XakgPmSNsYhyphenhyphenFTEi_zxc3WdPjgv4o-IYHWnq3MR5LSb7SMx7ir-7fXnBiPnp3vG_J7pxpMnIyOcijGTqQPTp8LJwLGS/w356-h640/Olivia%20Rowley%20photo.png" width="356" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">'Me with our pram containing our now 44-year-old daughter on her first demonstration, but not her last'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo courtesy of Olivia Rowley</span></div><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Lead weight, 1300s - 1400s</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Richard Knowles, Vice-President of the Wakefield Historical Society</span></div></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-yat0lmKaQ4L3Mpvd10mR5S0KK_5PzUq65I-1BnURRqXEmJmDG2MBslNI0cNLVvhIdvvUzndyLAF20OzG8Z_P57xr3ghj-dySSpTHIMVFjhXZ8mQ7TtNeIq52hljQ26Tm_sUNFfcOaREmoigjXuobOsDjNtvO2ukxd4P7IVzzJ477eL_xFGQ3CIiejh2/s3463/AR00304A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A small shield-shaped lead weight featuring a fleur de lys motif" border="0" data-original-height="3463" data-original-width="2901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-yat0lmKaQ4L3Mpvd10mR5S0KK_5PzUq65I-1BnURRqXEmJmDG2MBslNI0cNLVvhIdvvUzndyLAF20OzG8Z_P57xr3ghj-dySSpTHIMVFjhXZ8mQ7TtNeIq52hljQ26Tm_sUNFfcOaREmoigjXuobOsDjNtvO2ukxd4P7IVzzJ477eL_xFGQ3CIiejh2/w268-h320/AR00304A.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />A lead merchant weight, known as a Lys and Crown type, weighing 1lb and believed to date from the 14th / 15th century. <br /><br />Their specific use remains uncertain, but they may be wool weights. <br /><br />This example is illustrated in J.W. Walker’s ‘Wakefield Its History and People’ 2nd edition (1939). Walker states it was ‘dug up in a garden on the Eastmoor housing estate’.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Walker was also the founding President of the Wakefield Historical Society, established in 1924.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The suggested location of the find site and presence of a fleur-de-lys, may lead one to speculate on a Wakefield connection. This is perhaps understandable as there was, at this time (1930s) a lack of other archaeological examples. However, a number of very similar examples have now been found in North and East Yorkshire.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYtClgTtA_srs2d_EhMtAfES-yVCnG6lxe6o5J3_nDZmWO6UncZiPJPRRPkVNXgcZDL4GFSyH8fy8X61z3l0LxdLNBfsV8WQhh0oR4qH1qHdjAEz7OHeQu69WCDoOZzkSnPJdh6CCTlO1IDttnAGeZQyIdcgeQSv1apreZjlcd6AT2oiWqOk9xX7jcJDw/s1231/Weight%20drawing%20JW%20Walker.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Drawing of a lead weight very similar to the one in our collection, shield-shaped featuring a fleur de lys design" border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="934" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYtClgTtA_srs2d_EhMtAfES-yVCnG6lxe6o5J3_nDZmWO6UncZiPJPRRPkVNXgcZDL4GFSyH8fy8X61z3l0LxdLNBfsV8WQhh0oR4qH1qHdjAEz7OHeQu69WCDoOZzkSnPJdh6CCTlO1IDttnAGeZQyIdcgeQSv1apreZjlcd6AT2oiWqOk9xX7jcJDw/w243-h320/Weight%20drawing%20JW%20Walker.png" width="243" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustration of the weight in J.W. Walker's 'Wakefield: Its History and People' (1939 edition)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Weight and height scale from Wakefield's Hornsea Seaside School, 1930s</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Pete Taylor, member of the Wakefield Historical Society</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuY7dUMdVzkhDYeCv2bHARSHqgkRPei2qZzP-rWRdIHiMF2S2FCZmJlxW-rRCPC10oe_WotAgJguzdqfNZULfH5Aiqlz0nCLec8D6c9l7IveG606cmgNi-Y-KWLwFbL7EoUTWIxa26QvTTY3OHGJxoaIzvc97u2kAn5MXREUzEBNFUOPU9Xj7tYxfXvnR/s5332/SH12965A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tall, thin weighing scales designed for children. There is a hook sticking out of the scales that weights can be added on to" border="0" data-original-height="5332" data-original-width="3239" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuY7dUMdVzkhDYeCv2bHARSHqgkRPei2qZzP-rWRdIHiMF2S2FCZmJlxW-rRCPC10oe_WotAgJguzdqfNZULfH5Aiqlz0nCLec8D6c9l7IveG606cmgNi-Y-KWLwFbL7EoUTWIxa26QvTTY3OHGJxoaIzvc97u2kAn5MXREUzEBNFUOPU9Xj7tYxfXvnR/w388-h640/SH12965A.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />These were used to monitor children’s health and physical development, a growing concern in the early 20th century. <br /><br />From 1906 local authorities took steps to record the height, weight and chest measurements of children attending elementary school. <br /><br />From 1921 they were empowered to provide children with vacation schools. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Wakefield’s Hornsea Seaside School opened in 1938, operating as a residential elementary school for 24 weeks a year and a holiday camp during the summer break.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiApp1r2JZpxuwEaYx12wYZKk6-t6rvuEL4k7s5JHbWAkUN96K4bBfaCRGqqyKC-CGPSJIqEl9WrJT7T1JaPNvLSUUMbkZTa0vO_r5nFaeC3_x_GuC0LNF3zDfrmrmuyeaI31DjMNqJra5Tikk0nDSY4390HLNCoZFIbWnPv162mVR1BqZU3Vs5QLGwpi/s1849/Matron%20weighing%20student%20Getty%20images.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mrs Paterson the matron weighing a young child on the weighing scales. She has a very stern expression as she reads the child's weight." border="0" data-original-height="1849" data-original-width="1306" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiApp1r2JZpxuwEaYx12wYZKk6-t6rvuEL4k7s5JHbWAkUN96K4bBfaCRGqqyKC-CGPSJIqEl9WrJT7T1JaPNvLSUUMbkZTa0vO_r5nFaeC3_x_GuC0LNF3zDfrmrmuyeaI31DjMNqJra5Tikk0nDSY4390HLNCoZFIbWnPv162mVR1BqZU3Vs5QLGwpi/w452-h640/Matron%20weighing%20student%20Getty%20images.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Weighing in: Mrs Paterson, the matron at the Wakefield Seaside School in Hornsea, weighing a new arrival.<br />Photo copyright of Hulton Archive / Getty Images.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Dunlop 200G Max Pro tennis racket, 1980s</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by Jean Broadbent, member of the Wakefield Historical Society</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiBv6ZY0vQd3QX3FKNQAnN5X7FpCxAVJ2pNmzyw3WHc_woF64eXVVW-7bvVsM6AVEEP-lSFDEj3lkJly8skHNHZCFDpiQpfboULVBzhKU4AW19QbxSjlFT6o1wj5x0fxxrY2By5b7dJ_INwQedMQ7kb8rPc6RJgTxtGUVR1d78AFBqvmtCtumqOB1UZrT/s445/Dunlop%20racket%20in%20case.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dunlop 200G Max Pro tennis racket, purple frame with orange handle" border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="445" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiBv6ZY0vQd3QX3FKNQAnN5X7FpCxAVJ2pNmzyw3WHc_woF64eXVVW-7bvVsM6AVEEP-lSFDEj3lkJly8skHNHZCFDpiQpfboULVBzhKU4AW19QbxSjlFT6o1wj5x0fxxrY2By5b7dJ_INwQedMQ7kb8rPc6RJgTxtGUVR1d78AFBqvmtCtumqOB1UZrT/w640-h356/Dunlop%20racket%20in%20case.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">William Sykes, a leather worker, started a business making footballs but quickly moved into tennis rackets and other equipment.<br /><br />After mergers with Slazengers (1942) and Dunlop (1959) they became well known particularly for tennis. <br /><br />I loved playing and watching tennis but was never fortunate enough to own a Dunlop 200G Max Pro like this one. <br /><br />It is evidence that this Wakefield company was at the forefront of scientific advances. <br /><br />Horbury has an interesting history in sport, unusually in equipment rather than participants.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCptQHcDI6azOs7RAEzWtnKFAwQ4_pDyI0ynnOiCbrY7K3yQDPbrcHZtNYnqlxzIAHUuT51v6O-u7M40acrSRCnzdV9MRLyTtCQy_gGHNz7yaJo6vp7jR_IX62dPMgJ8fapL76Cew5GAU3pO_wW3CxyabEcEa0xeutSVbxRXY5RVvlDEri-56KnUFeB1E/s826/SG%20and%20VW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Steffi Graf and Virginia Wade posing with a framed 200G max pro racket, with Dunlop banners behind them" border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="606" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCptQHcDI6azOs7RAEzWtnKFAwQ4_pDyI0ynnOiCbrY7K3yQDPbrcHZtNYnqlxzIAHUuT51v6O-u7M40acrSRCnzdV9MRLyTtCQy_gGHNz7yaJo6vp7jR_IX62dPMgJ8fapL76Cew5GAU3pO_wW3CxyabEcEa0xeutSVbxRXY5RVvlDEri-56KnUFeB1E/w470-h640/SG%20and%20VW.jpg" width="470" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />1980s Women’s tennis legend Steffi Graf presenting the millionth injection moulded 200G Max Pro racket to 1977 Wimbledon champion, Virginia Wade. <br />Photo taken at the factory in Horbury. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The display is at Wakefield One until end of May 2024.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2024/01/100-years-of-collecting-new-display_23.html"><br /></a></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2024/01/100-years-of-collecting-new-display_23.html">Click here for the Wakefield Civic Society objects and captions</a></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/">Click here for visitor information for Wakefield Museum (which is inside the Wakefield One building)</a></span></b></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-60461729550997037582023-11-20T16:49:00.005+00:002023-11-21T10:31:00.495+00:00100 Years of Collecting: Amazing Archaeology (Anglo-Saxons to Civil Wars)<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We’re picking back up our time-travelling archaeological adventure with the Anglo-Saxons! <br /><br />It follows on from our <b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/10/amazing-archaeology.html">previous blog exploring prehistory to the Romans.</a></b></span><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Anglo-Saxons and Vikings</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">In the 5th century AD central Roman rule collapsed and Britain dropped out of the Roman empire. Small kingdoms began to emerge in Britain. <br /><br />In the Wakefield area the British kingdom of Elmet formed. In turn this was taken over by the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Very few objects survive locally from the Anglo-Saxon and then Viking periods. This makes what we do have even more special! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We have these two spearheads in <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-museum/">Pontefract Museum</a></b>:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_sGv-i2Ho7IYm4qpSwiWWeCYZbUf_G0ODGJRnegI6qKdp9aI5ZKPRijsNcjZWCog2_iD9_0FZZrIhaQk4igU1Qj4k_QFtOPH-fTXCngVEtT8T1b9zZxFdCoFb1m4Q22OZc_OXUI3yIGfWxVHe_ehdPadJxo3HZhjgdivi6OadaUeprSAHKfD8mVtG4H0/s4779/IMG_0764.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A pair of long thin iron spearheads in a display case, they are partly corroded but generally well preserved" border="0" data-original-height="4779" data-original-width="3488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_sGv-i2Ho7IYm4qpSwiWWeCYZbUf_G0ODGJRnegI6qKdp9aI5ZKPRijsNcjZWCog2_iD9_0FZZrIhaQk4igU1Qj4k_QFtOPH-fTXCngVEtT8T1b9zZxFdCoFb1m4Q22OZc_OXUI3yIGfWxVHe_ehdPadJxo3HZhjgdivi6OadaUeprSAHKfD8mVtG4H0/w234-h320/IMG_0764.JPG" width="234" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We also have part of an elaborately carved stone cross shaft on display at <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/">Wakefield Museum</a></b>. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It dates to the 9th century AD, and was found being used as a doorstep in a shop on Westgate 1000 years later!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYo3Z1jWvilUsoGo5VVytLPOeWNm7JJiWt2V9S7Qc24gE08Nwq8d4eem6ZrowlC74dbNjht6m1hpGjmvFzN3YqznUp65MpAMO3eSGyLjP2Ce-GV13UiukIN5BviHB_GazohEhOjHPpRCVgr7ZD22_2KHkT0KjeKe9z48iDn2dG8M9fblcMjQZgV7vwHFQ/s2446/cross%20shaft.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A tall thin stone cross shaft with carved looping patterns. The cross and base have been recreated and are painted in blue, red and yellow." border="0" data-original-height="2446" data-original-width="871" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYo3Z1jWvilUsoGo5VVytLPOeWNm7JJiWt2V9S7Qc24gE08Nwq8d4eem6ZrowlC74dbNjht6m1hpGjmvFzN3YqznUp65MpAMO3eSGyLjP2Ce-GV13UiukIN5BviHB_GazohEhOjHPpRCVgr7ZD22_2KHkT0KjeKe9z48iDn2dG8M9fblcMjQZgV7vwHFQ/w143-h400/cross%20shaft.JPG" width="143" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Anglo-Saxon cross shaft at Wakefield Museum, completed with reconstructions of the base and cross. These would have been painted in bold colours.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The most spectacular Viking find from our area is the Stanley Ferry Viking log boat. This is on display in Wakefield Library, kindly lent by York Museums Trust.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWndd6TVfTBusl1z27VQ3YEjeoR4qcj-DqiSD4dSPs_34niWGnonKhzFWO9fL2iD9aWENd5LjYru9dmzPYTebcB-gU0DgUcw59oOyMQ_P4jP22P7BRDlzXCTNHaY5O7diVV1wBTZOfYdaFxGKFkgZyeyay85HKfNCEDwp0E0h4cuLL9MLixt7lcn5Cngpa/s4096/log%20boat%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Remarkably well-preserved fragments of a Viking-era log boat, displayed on a frame that demonstrates what the full boat might have looked like." border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWndd6TVfTBusl1z27VQ3YEjeoR4qcj-DqiSD4dSPs_34niWGnonKhzFWO9fL2iD9aWENd5LjYru9dmzPYTebcB-gU0DgUcw59oOyMQ_P4jP22P7BRDlzXCTNHaY5O7diVV1wBTZOfYdaFxGKFkgZyeyay85HKfNCEDwp0E0h4cuLL9MLixt7lcn5Cngpa/w640-h480/log%20boat%202.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Stanley Ferry Log Boat at Wakefield Library </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Norman Conquest</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">The Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods in Yorkshire ended with the Norman invasion of 1066 by William the Conqueror. <br /><br />Although we don’t have many objects from the Norman period, we do have two awesome places where their legacy can be seen: <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/">Pontefract Castle</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/sandal-castle/">Sandal Castle</a></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgeUsyfGqkpQLsNqF0RQA-U33bjwE7gZbmTDeFPaAKnyH0W2SnhLIN197OvBhyhyqSM-avlN9_eB_nmVKt1JOnDdQbpm_pJV7V0uxJ7LABad9LBRnq4khcTRLycqN1UyHBQPOCqoMGQ52eOLowBKmGhG-N-fG43bCtQWR01L3BGyuCv-tQleGjDBbBBml/s3500/PontefractCastle-262.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Part of the stone keep at Pontefract Castle" border="0" data-original-height="2198" data-original-width="3500" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgeUsyfGqkpQLsNqF0RQA-U33bjwE7gZbmTDeFPaAKnyH0W2SnhLIN197OvBhyhyqSM-avlN9_eB_nmVKt1JOnDdQbpm_pJV7V0uxJ7LABad9LBRnq4khcTRLycqN1UyHBQPOCqoMGQ52eOLowBKmGhG-N-fG43bCtQWR01L3BGyuCv-tQleGjDBbBBml/w640-h402/PontefractCastle-262.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pontefract Castle, built in 1070 by Ilbert de Lacy</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The standing
stone remains at both these sites today are the reinforced replacements for the
original Norman wooden buildings. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">These castles were key to turning William’s
battlefield victory at Hastings into long-lasting conquest. They maintained
dominance over the strategic landscape and the everyday life of local
residents.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2nKhSx2hg5eay-RRFhwxczbHBFCQ9uxBpBbwf1c-Ro_S83_UfdJDN40-jmh0Fuvm_oxmM1bE4QJN8bIlV7AoyOhbTEz4fMW2hSa3cRWWbxpOGQw2JUhwgmQNVwsFzmN6yfTz6c1ajqweFUHldLRjAzz7GtoMlRehM-lbgV-HzOQ-Ijl3VEe0hnDwA7Ku/s1707/Sandal%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The main remains of Sandal Castle, an inner stone wall with two archways and the remains of a further part of the Castle to the right" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1707" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2nKhSx2hg5eay-RRFhwxczbHBFCQ9uxBpBbwf1c-Ro_S83_UfdJDN40-jmh0Fuvm_oxmM1bE4QJN8bIlV7AoyOhbTEz4fMW2hSa3cRWWbxpOGQw2JUhwgmQNVwsFzmN6yfTz6c1ajqweFUHldLRjAzz7GtoMlRehM-lbgV-HzOQ-Ijl3VEe0hnDwA7Ku/w640-h360/Sandal%20Castle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sandal Castle, probably built in the 12th century by the de Warenne family.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The Normans didn’t just build castles, however. They also built religious houses such as St John’s Priory in Pontefract. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">When this site was excavated in the 1950s and 1960s, some of the most interesting finds came from graves in and around the church.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />This small cross was found around the neck of its owner. It is made of jet (the fossilised wood of the monkey puzzle tree), which was likely washed up on the beaches near Whitby.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LT9_xiizI0-ZK70HNI3OgGiLL2Us1r76Cpy0pjX-bZaGfkRGoBf0K7GQC3zNKcQjfEJ5VL2GUo4FL_XE7qXPI-pTgPY65xQO01Pik5wlSbXJ_tiJTV1NnTqLhWYIX5vBCPHnZq7U7LjX1vqNuHcEJlwBpQeZxIJJzwVkO2o1gsSwUmfXyEwHXZ_nYSvA/s3877/Jet%20cross.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A small stylised black jet cross with a series of circles engraved into its surface" border="0" data-original-height="3877" data-original-width="2535" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LT9_xiizI0-ZK70HNI3OgGiLL2Us1r76Cpy0pjX-bZaGfkRGoBf0K7GQC3zNKcQjfEJ5VL2GUo4FL_XE7qXPI-pTgPY65xQO01Pik5wlSbXJ_tiJTV1NnTqLhWYIX5vBCPHnZq7U7LjX1vqNuHcEJlwBpQeZxIJJzwVkO2o1gsSwUmfXyEwHXZ_nYSvA/w209-h320/Jet%20cross.png" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The jet cross found at St John's Priory, Pontefract</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">You can see it for yourself at Pontefract Museum! It also features in the <b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/100-years-of-collecting-online.html">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a></b>.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Lost and Found</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">Most archaeological finds weren't originally as carefully placed in the ground. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Many were lost, like this spear head, which was found in the Portobello estate near Sandal Castle. It was probably left behind during the bloody <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/sandal-castle/sandal-castle-history/">Battle of Wakefield</a></b> in 1460.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi1_YD-XTr6XVoQ4brh95DuB51k5aJBWH8gbR2F2iuHxl11ozJ5yVJeJt1oyg_6EJIH4skdvIiIswd6Fdr1-S_6BM-vDM7CoyUxtDKZbTW3aiKhm2njUZ0zZFgZnInJdM3_74z7aqMPQk1twkfPzS3u3DdoG4GU_HXzWTMncUU4_QlQbcPAsRI-UYnL-P/s5087/Iron%20spearhead.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A long pointed iron spearhead, which looks bumpy now due to corrosion before it was excavated" border="0" data-original-height="5087" data-original-width="1914" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi1_YD-XTr6XVoQ4brh95DuB51k5aJBWH8gbR2F2iuHxl11ozJ5yVJeJt1oyg_6EJIH4skdvIiIswd6Fdr1-S_6BM-vDM7CoyUxtDKZbTW3aiKhm2njUZ0zZFgZnInJdM3_74z7aqMPQk1twkfPzS3u3DdoG4GU_HXzWTMncUU4_QlQbcPAsRI-UYnL-P/w150-h400/Iron%20spearhead.png" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An iron spearhead, probably from the Battle of Wakefield in 1460</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Other items
were broken and thrown away, like these pottery fragments. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboTwbRbRsixivTG0oQnWjPAVBHah9go4sFcck66cG47w-QtlgEtOJ-M8dZJEEl74n5X_tYZPc44P_ekqjEkG18JCwt7v4IcEHjNiKNQRNBSTnftDwbxSlneEz11pXt9dvC1XvB9JvejrQmhEukNy8mf-eY0qxP3jCDM18vd-zeDpjBW10gAlRb0IuooNW/s5255/SH011369.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="An array of pottery fragments, mostly curved, one part with a boar's face" border="0" data-original-height="2970" data-original-width="5255" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboTwbRbRsixivTG0oQnWjPAVBHah9go4sFcck66cG47w-QtlgEtOJ-M8dZJEEl74n5X_tYZPc44P_ekqjEkG18JCwt7v4IcEHjNiKNQRNBSTnftDwbxSlneEz11pXt9dvC1XvB9JvejrQmhEukNy8mf-eY0qxP3jCDM18vd-zeDpjBW10gAlRb0IuooNW/w400-h226/SH011369.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pottery fragments found at Sandal Castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Although these fragments may not look impressive at first, when reassembled they from a portable urinal decorated with a boar’s head! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Given that they were found at the Yorkist stronghold of Sandal Castle, and the boar was a symbol of Yorkist king Richard III - could it be that this was actually used for the ‘royal wee’?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwQHzLCqIACXRZYML45NzvY7UYJ8kO-y1dLC2QahSReOumic6PMLw-NXKJobS1JQ73LleQeDD92FmakNuFnONJ1yPsjUzLqcz4Cbc2LcqBplG3sd17rFN7bJV5nsWz9gcOOKCrQGmQeday49lFZ9dmbG3fBTndTCBZE8qsPVk3B_VES5buNJ5xyKtDAd_/s1080/urinal.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A ceramic portable urinal, with a grey ceramic boar decoration. There's a handle to hold it in place and a hole to, well you know." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwQHzLCqIACXRZYML45NzvY7UYJ8kO-y1dLC2QahSReOumic6PMLw-NXKJobS1JQ73LleQeDD92FmakNuFnONJ1yPsjUzLqcz4Cbc2LcqBplG3sd17rFN7bJV5nsWz9gcOOKCrQGmQeday49lFZ9dmbG3fBTndTCBZE8qsPVk3B_VES5buNJ5xyKtDAd_/w320-h320/urinal.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="cf11"><span style="font-size: medium;">We carefully put the boar’s head decoration
back together from its pieces. It is displayed alongside a replica of the
urinal at Wakefield Museum.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We don’t know where the urinal was made but only a few miles away a major pottery industry was just beginning. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Pottery making in Wrenthorpe became so important that the village became known as ‘Potovens’ after the kilns the pots were fired in. <br /><br />Wrenthorpe pottery was distinctive, with dark colours and shiny glazes. This jug is a prime example! It was also found during excavations at Sandal Castle.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO94FsUCdHndp7A6y43ZksNgGm3recAhz2gz0dIfIvwu1qhTJ25U1ad5rbzNeM85jDR6sEpINwYSAW4D7jQROYLf0AgdqZOV96fb8hyoM4KXjCUtVOmzxJ1uscjBG1QX7pUtFb87k3uDpsDZIttLbWxlLgM1kq5N6qOyO2xeDzrpo4XRc__1h3n4HIeZJx/s3690/AR02439A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A tall brown ceramic jug with handle and off white leaf pattern on the front." border="0" data-original-height="3690" data-original-width="2282" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO94FsUCdHndp7A6y43ZksNgGm3recAhz2gz0dIfIvwu1qhTJ25U1ad5rbzNeM85jDR6sEpINwYSAW4D7jQROYLf0AgdqZOV96fb8hyoM4KXjCUtVOmzxJ1uscjBG1QX7pUtFb87k3uDpsDZIttLbWxlLgM1kq5N6qOyO2xeDzrpo4XRc__1h3n4HIeZJx/w248-h400/AR02439A.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Wrenthorpe jug, on display at Wakefield Museum and in the 100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">The English Civil Wars</h2></div><span style="font-size: medium;">A second Wrenthorpe pot also makes our 100 Years of Collecting list - but this time because of its contents!</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Ackworth Hoard consists of nearly 600 gold and silver coins, all buried in a Wrenthorpe pot, along with a gold ring.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitG83siOnF1yxFIsUKkc-PlJuLAsx8Uupv_zZ_2PAYq9J14iFGUZDMz9j2aYXI1-7IO1XF6WpCX91T4f8JtQ0aTA5DqAHkhl5Yv6WOyJVXwTNoti_JJVcQTmynwQKEqRj42DNL7MI1TW6btWpwJ67q9b47n2lN90d_86mLoWj4sN_m83yvixxFNBbwWxDN/s1080/Ackworth%20hoard.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A partially broken small brown pot with various gold and silver coins spilling out of it. There is also a gold ring." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitG83siOnF1yxFIsUKkc-PlJuLAsx8Uupv_zZ_2PAYq9J14iFGUZDMz9j2aYXI1-7IO1XF6WpCX91T4f8JtQ0aTA5DqAHkhl5Yv6WOyJVXwTNoti_JJVcQTmynwQKEqRj42DNL7MI1TW6btWpwJ67q9b47n2lN90d_86mLoWj4sN_m83yvixxFNBbwWxDN/w320-h320/Ackworth%20hoard.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Ackworth Hoard</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />It was buried in the chaos of the Civil Wars during the siege of Pontefract Castle in the 17th century. It had probably belonged to a Royalist supporter, who wanted to prevent it from being taken by the Parliamentary troops billeted in Ackworth. For whatever reason, the person who buried it was unable to come back and retrieve it. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The coins in the Ackworth Hoard were worth £85 and 12 shillings. This was a lot of money - around 7 years’ pay for a foot soldier during the Civil Wars. <br /><br />The hoard remained untouched in the pot for over 350 years – until it was discovered in someone’s garden in the 20th century! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You can see it for yourself on display at Pontefract Museum.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Even in the middle of a siege, the soldiers in Pontefract Castle needed paying. Being cut off from the outside world made this difficult. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Their answer was to create their own home-made coins from reused silver.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The silver would come from luxury tableware and candle-holders owned by the richest members of the garrison. The silver objects were cut up or melted down and reshaped. The 'siege coins' were then cut from the resulting silver sheet. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You’ll notice that siege coins aren't circular in shape like ordinary coins. This is because it was much easier to cut a straight edge than a curved one!</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Uzq2lhl0ctvbPYq5Rd4mQjb5TO1x1kSnUePFMHahdZU7tyWaRffo2I_HDqo8lKx4wg6zyG7I96rbonejrq3q8y5LLeLju-29FA0TeWblNzeTXbc0oQkrbULB5pNLqKtHSuEgwufPirNX07ysSOUD6IyU68TndsDOfTcvYb7-Ekek6lUoO5jmZGAoMqGM/s1080/siege%20coin%20UPDATE.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Diamond-shaped silver siege coin, with image of Pontefract Castle and the year 1648 engraved on the front" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Uzq2lhl0ctvbPYq5Rd4mQjb5TO1x1kSnUePFMHahdZU7tyWaRffo2I_HDqo8lKx4wg6zyG7I96rbonejrq3q8y5LLeLju-29FA0TeWblNzeTXbc0oQkrbULB5pNLqKtHSuEgwufPirNX07ysSOUD6IyU68TndsDOfTcvYb7-Ekek6lUoO5jmZGAoMqGM/w320-h320/siege%20coin%20UPDATE.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the siege coins produced at Pontefract Castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This example of a Pontefract Castle siege coin is in the Online Exhibition and on display in the Visitor Centre at Pontefract Castle. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It has a standard design for these siege coins featuring an image representing the castle itself. It includes the year it was created and the Castle was under siege - 1648.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It also has a morale boosting inscription, which translates as "while I breathe I hope".</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkkL69c1FbO-v2sJzOrI6fO4V1uuYUEYkDH2PpsHJIMwfE3sh96uJ-mPDp1109FBljOuF7gqt2v1ZE-QBdFLhAqwCLOGYUhAlvaWCMcaXbEYgMtY0UakSawxK57fjQACca_XNo0wUH5R94wFPGZ8umil-pQ7QDa9myBBA9JPA5MaL2qlFFD1uAMkmAI2D/s3026/AR02427B.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Reverse of the diamond-shaped siege coin with Charles I's royal cipher roughly stamped on the back. Part of it is cut off when the coin was cut," border="0" data-original-height="3026" data-original-width="2377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkkL69c1FbO-v2sJzOrI6fO4V1uuYUEYkDH2PpsHJIMwfE3sh96uJ-mPDp1109FBljOuF7gqt2v1ZE-QBdFLhAqwCLOGYUhAlvaWCMcaXbEYgMtY0UakSawxK57fjQACca_XNo0wUH5R94wFPGZ8umil-pQ7QDa9myBBA9JPA5MaL2qlFFD1uAMkmAI2D/w251-h320/AR02427B.jpg" width="251" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Reverse side of the siege coin, featuring Charles I's royal cipher.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />That brings us to the end of our amazing archaeology 100 Years of Collecting highlights! <br /><br />There’s lots more objects exploring the many and varied stories of the Wakefield district in our <b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/100-years-of-collecting-online.html">Online Exhibition</a></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">More 100 Years of Collecting blogs:</h2><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/10/amazing-archaeology.html">Amazing Archaeology (Prehistoric to Romans)</a><br /><br /><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/07/100-years-and-counting.html">100 Years and Counting</a><br /><br /><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/09/wakefields-sporting-heritage.html">Wakefield’s Sporting Heritage</a><br /><br /><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/08/100-years-of-collecting-trip-to-seaside.html">A trip to the Seaside</a></b></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-68390655296694839142023-11-14T09:47:00.002+00:002023-11-14T10:13:58.665+00:00New exhibitions at Pontefract Museum<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Two new exhibitions have just opened at Pontefract Museum!</span></b></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://bit.ly/PMLadiesWhoLaunch">Ladies who Launch: Celebrating Pontefract's Women in Business</a></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">13 November 2023 - 19 October 2024<br />Free - no booking required</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDOH-p6gmd3GyYv6kq3NxEHHBmemooI0-aQ8h_f9EdxY0m52Qs60ZiZRN-_72cVFmF-x3Qf2jq1uM4cDj_NysKPzS_LblQJM4vR07lgS3syU9DCbN6xRjwQ4kr5IwIjb1P1ph_3Q9Tvf-4jsIXuJgwDkBJR1_l1smb3TeVZGLZ8wYQX2hk6mUgF0mDxITd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rachel, one of the Yonder Events organisers, holding up a sign that says 'These are the times of our lives' on stage" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDOH-p6gmd3GyYv6kq3NxEHHBmemooI0-aQ8h_f9EdxY0m52Qs60ZiZRN-_72cVFmF-x3Qf2jq1uM4cDj_NysKPzS_LblQJM4vR07lgS3syU9DCbN6xRjwQ4kr5IwIjb1P1ph_3Q9Tvf-4jsIXuJgwDkBJR1_l1smb3TeVZGLZ8wYQX2hk6mUgF0mDxITd=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yonder Events bringing the vibes at their famous Yonder at the Castle event<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Explore the fascinating history of female entrepreneurs in Pontefract in <b>Ladies who Launch</b>, a new interactive and immersive exhibition.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Get hands on and try some of the trades from past and present.<br /><br />Step back in time to sample the sights and scents of Victorian Pontefract. Discover the local women leading businesses in sometimes surprising industries.<br /><br />Celebrate the success stories of today’s inspirational businesswomen - from indulgent skincare and beautiful bouquets to therapeutic yoga and exhilarating events.<br /><br />Tell us about the amazing women in your lives with our comment wall!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The exhibition features local entrepreneurs Michelle and Karen (Michelle's Flowers Ltd), Rachel and Hayley (Yonder Events), Emma (Santosha Yoga Studio) and Hollie and Lorna (Wild and Wood Skincare).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A fantastic team of Volunteer Researchers conducted research into four local Victorian businesswomen. Many thanks to Alice, Jennifer, Julia and Samuel for helping us to share these stories.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/ladies-who-launch-celebrating.html"><br /></a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/ladies-who-launch-celebrating.html">More information about the Ladies who Launch exhibition</a></b> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/boxed-in-from-whence-you-came-by-fern.html">Boxed In (From Whence You Came) by Fern Woodhead </a></span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;">13 November 2023 - 19 October 2024<br />Free - no booking required</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyZI99GINqRHlLagO8-tDOUxXi2Wj_NvCo2zRWElHBWS9f2vNkl_sKdGCgE-GIhh9l3PI9-E2JinlKaLqM3H18FLl2iuVrADfp8xtdx4jUTRYdXI72_UtoScNJZoDLJffBeJ7OQC8UkuAmhtpk-2ZTkuV6hRprTZzbzkZ5JrmIgGyhMMq1j4i9x_WQjUf3" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A black and white oil pastel self-portrait of Fern, trying to squeeze themself back into a box. The box reads 'Defective - return to creator'" data-original-height="1291" data-original-width="1831" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyZI99GINqRHlLagO8-tDOUxXi2Wj_NvCo2zRWElHBWS9f2vNkl_sKdGCgE-GIhh9l3PI9-E2JinlKaLqM3H18FLl2iuVrADfp8xtdx4jUTRYdXI72_UtoScNJZoDLJffBeJ7OQC8UkuAmhtpk-2ZTkuV6hRprTZzbzkZ5JrmIgGyhMMq1j4i9x_WQjUf3=w640-h452" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">'Boxed In (From Whence You Came)' by Fern Woodhead, now on display at Pontefract Museum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Boxed In (From Whence You Came) </b>is a brand-new artwork by Pontefract’s own Fern Woodhead (they / them).</span></div><div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The artwork<b> </b>explores Fern’s feelings about “being a queer person in an inherently non-queer society.” The striking oil pastel self-portrait is a response to Fern’s identity as a non-binary person and lesbian.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The display also features supporting commentary written by Fern along with personal items they have kindly lent for the exhibition. These include the Grayson’s Art Club exhibition catalogue in which they feature, and a hand-made crocheted lesbian pride flag.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fern hopes that the exhibition will raise awareness and start conversations around sexuality and gender identity. Wakefield Museums & Castles are very proud to acquire and display such an important and inspiring artwork and to showcase exciting local talent like Fern. The acquisition contributes to ongoing work to diversify the collection so that it represents a wide range of people’s lived experiences.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fern says <span>"</span><span>With this exhibition, I hope that we can bring more awareness and start more conversations about identity – all of us have an identity, so why shouldn’t we talk about it?"</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/boxed-in-from-whence-you-came-by-fern.html">Fern's full commentary on 'Boxed In (From Whence You Came)' and more information</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-museum/">Visitor and access information for Pontefract Museum</a></b></span></p></div></div></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-32106165467434594912023-10-31T14:34:00.002+00:002023-11-20T16:52:00.079+00:00100 Years of Collecting: Amazing Archaeology (Prehistoric to Roman)<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Our <a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/100-years-of-collecting-online.html">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a> spans thousands of years of human history. We’ve got a little bit of everything, from a prehistoric hand axe to a Prime Energy drink!<br /><br />This month, we’re focusing on some of our amazing archaeology collection highlights. We’ve got so much we’ll post it over two parts.<br /><br />For part 1, join us on a whistle-stop tour from prehistory through to the Romans:</b></span><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Prehistoric tools and technology</b></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">Did you know that some of the oldest evidence of human life in Britain comes from Wakefield? <br /><br />It includes this hand axe, on display at Wakefield Museum. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>It was originally made between 500,000 and 200,000 years ago when humans first settled in Britain.</span><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM-TKddS-fS5qRr4TKba-r9QQBn36xEOCp8J82W4y45N3Vw4tO0Jep0QXN0YeVeqP7R5TSOjcaKH6rQ15eXKi_MUUtYjkHsW1jMGZ2u_V4BzhJfIEmlDwotBFJ158Bf2eFWtWYKUrRUK5TMoolCGGISzl9PYh4FgKLyWIX3JuzmQUblsa4IsazCzptU4L/s1080/prehistoric%20axe.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="A brown and yellow mottled flint hand axe. It is in a sort of teardrop shape." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM-TKddS-fS5qRr4TKba-r9QQBn36xEOCp8J82W4y45N3Vw4tO0Jep0QXN0YeVeqP7R5TSOjcaKH6rQ15eXKi_MUUtYjkHsW1jMGZ2u_V4BzhJfIEmlDwotBFJ158Bf2eFWtWYKUrRUK5TMoolCGGISzl9PYh4FgKLyWIX3JuzmQUblsa4IsazCzptU4L/w400-h400/prehistoric%20axe.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Palaeolithic hand axe - on display at Wakefield Museum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div> <br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It might not look like much today, but flint hand axes like this were crucial multipurpose tools. They were useful for skinning and cutting up large mammals such as mammoths or Irish elk. They were a key invention for human evolution.<br /><br />These earliest humans were forced out during a long period of Ice Ages and only occasional traces of them can be found today. Our hand axe was found at Lee Moor near Stanley in 1889.</span><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">15,000 years ago</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">The next people to settle in Britain came after the end of the last Ice Age, 15,000 years ago. They followed the migration of large mammals into Britain’s cold, dry climate and open landscapes.<br /><br />As the climate warmed, trees and forests formed. These were better suited to smaller mammals. Humans had to adapt their hunting techniques and technologies. The new settlers began to use composite tools like harpoons. These harpoons used lots of tiny flints called microliths, moving on from the single large pieces of flint used for the hand axe. <br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMxeG311nVvQbhXioXXj4TDoTI6CheXGw-HZOeZaioIrwgBvRdUp17cvqiIbPptzTLJ8VAHdj16e6A20Pt2VwpRAS-hSK5FYW_bk8xPGeJqTIHNECdKVJSkCexnukVi191VFk6RigoZfDBXXaoAgvvw76IxXZQD2PCF5tOBAzefFhU6TGHCES2MXOro35/s507/microliths%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A series of small pieces of flint, in shades of pale grey and brown, and various sizes - but much smaller than the handaxe" border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="507" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMxeG311nVvQbhXioXXj4TDoTI6CheXGw-HZOeZaioIrwgBvRdUp17cvqiIbPptzTLJ8VAHdj16e6A20Pt2VwpRAS-hSK5FYW_bk8xPGeJqTIHNECdKVJSkCexnukVi191VFk6RigoZfDBXXaoAgvvw76IxXZQD2PCF5tOBAzefFhU6TGHCES2MXOro35/w320-h320/microliths%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A selection of microliths on display at Wakefield Museum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Bronze Age - around 5,000 years ago</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">By 5,000 years ago, communities were working together to clear forests and begin farming. People were beginning to live in permanent settlements rather than moving around the landscape with the seasons. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">New technologies also reached Britain, like pottery and metalwork. Metal was helpful for the new styles of shafted axes needed to clear woodlands for farming. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">One of our beautiful bronze axe heads features in the Online Exhibition. It was found as part of the Smalley Bight Hoard.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOC_y08DH_tSNKCsREU8B_NNnYtUX7mztUfU38RjdgmVvTWb8WWT3hyphenhyphenw90p4SOtldfiRQcbAXeSkkUz9T7HcfEyud5N7qy4vLEmoI6iAf_yozvarOV09r8ONJjx4Y9Tof4l6MEg1_fY0vpZrTvOwVhLf12CaIJh12_ZXc_PVhVlnShu_taLVWLIZvEF3R/s2795/AR002637.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Small bronze axe head, with three raised ribs running along the blade. Well preserved." border="0" data-original-height="2171" data-original-width="2795" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOC_y08DH_tSNKCsREU8B_NNnYtUX7mztUfU38RjdgmVvTWb8WWT3hyphenhyphenw90p4SOtldfiRQcbAXeSkkUz9T7HcfEyud5N7qy4vLEmoI6iAf_yozvarOV09r8ONJjx4Y9Tof4l6MEg1_fY0vpZrTvOwVhLf12CaIJh12_ZXc_PVhVlnShu_taLVWLIZvEF3R/w400-h311/AR002637.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bronze axe head - the loop would have helped fix it to a (probably wooden) handle.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">You can see more on display at <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/">Wakefield Museum</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/">Castleford Museum</a></b>!</span></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Burials: bronze and bones</h2><span style="font-size: medium;">As people settled into permanent homes, different social classes began to form. The emerging differences in wealth and power become visible in the archaeology.<br /><br />People who had become wealthy and powerful began to bury their dead in individual graves. This was a change from the shared communal graves that had typically been used. Wealthy people were often buried with very expensive belongings.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXg_RXrm59hqM8E0m6Z3e6Boo9fjPj-tdJmhQPP7KvOR1HUNO4hTrVIE2jOmmfAhhw4NlvapKMvztb6esHnA13hqUlY7Y8dqr3Xk2dzev9sFDSij54ywrbPCEuUVMlb3CPpABhFHp_r9Pgktyu-Odvs6nA1-lAB_gpfF0ARalrPheqK7sX4D6Np3BClLv/s2700/58%20Display%20Cases%20Castleford%20Museum%20Oct%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Display case containing bronze age burial finds, some ceramic and some metal" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXg_RXrm59hqM8E0m6Z3e6Boo9fjPj-tdJmhQPP7KvOR1HUNO4hTrVIE2jOmmfAhhw4NlvapKMvztb6esHnA13hqUlY7Y8dqr3Xk2dzev9sFDSij54ywrbPCEuUVMlb3CPpABhFHp_r9Pgktyu-Odvs6nA1-lAB_gpfF0ARalrPheqK7sX4D6Np3BClLv/w640-h426/58%20Display%20Cases%20Castleford%20Museum%20Oct%202019.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Display case containing local Bronze Age burial goods at Castleford Museum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These very fine Bronze Age burial goods are on display at Castleford Museum. They include a bronze dagger and stone wrist guard. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These came from burials in the landscape around Ferrybridge Henge, which was an important settlement for hundreds of years.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The most important finding from the Ferrybridge Henge is the incredible chariot burial from Ferry Fryston. Chariot burials are very rare, and this one was even more unusual because the chariot was buried whole alongside the rider.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzVJSpTCUD8S4VwNc3aaHp4bism-9Siq-_LlN9D0zNeBA_zPpjtrucozypjrk5FzLPkMfeFA6_5A7eFl_VNCgZLLectvSloLvQxti3s5yluQ9TByyRv9Q7bqVurMI5TdW46Blj_SgM6__BxffPcFAERO2E_qj8CcXTpRwPpZGAoVXNroFREDUvdkSQZdT/s2448/chariot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="The remains of an Iron Age chariot, displayed - 2 iron tires, 4 nave hoops, 2 linch pins and 2 horse bits" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzVJSpTCUD8S4VwNc3aaHp4bism-9Siq-_LlN9D0zNeBA_zPpjtrucozypjrk5FzLPkMfeFA6_5A7eFl_VNCgZLLectvSloLvQxti3s5yluQ9TByyRv9Q7bqVurMI5TdW46Blj_SgM6__BxffPcFAERO2E_qj8CcXTpRwPpZGAoVXNroFREDUvdkSQZdT/w400-h400/chariot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Ferry Fryston chariot burial at Castleford Museum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Normally, chariots were taken to pieces before burial. To bury it whole meant digging a very large hole for it! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This chariot is also unusual in that it couldn’t have actually been used for moving around. The wheels are different sizes and some of the bronze fittings were just for show - they are hollow and not nearly strong enough. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">However, it still taught us a lot about how chariots were made and how they worked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM4VTV6kttNIl5iLIeFc8sCg9UX44_t9kx4-FLEwM61IyAcM7ihbWG3hDQYVDxxjf_Lv8dVMDng43R-ckNVCjAnKHvXL0qhY2qxF_jzuzxFAEqBmpiyp3n_Gwk_3AgHnLqrSjuvAAlHFSDZ0cG4iH11O4QfVyBebSPfRs1Jbu4z8PGjynYOPu49Ij4ngQG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="A modern-day reconstruction of the chariot, with two large wheels connected to a square sided seat, and a long bar reaching out to be connected to two horses" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="1716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM4VTV6kttNIl5iLIeFc8sCg9UX44_t9kx4-FLEwM61IyAcM7ihbWG3hDQYVDxxjf_Lv8dVMDng43R-ckNVCjAnKHvXL0qhY2qxF_jzuzxFAEqBmpiyp3n_Gwk_3AgHnLqrSjuvAAlHFSDZ0cG4iH11O4QfVyBebSPfRs1Jbu4z8PGjynYOPu49Ij4ngQG=w400-h400" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A representation of what experts think the chariot would have looked like</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Studying the bones of the body in the chariot has revealed that they belonged to a 30 to 40-year-old man. He would have been about 1.70 metres or 5 feet 7 inches tall. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Modern archaeological scientific techniques have revealed even more about the burial. Radiocarbon dating has shown that the chariot was buried about 200BC, and isotope analysis tells us that the man buried in the chariot was not originally from the Castleford area.<br /><br />You can see the chariot burial in all its glory at Castleford Museum!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2022/07/ferry-fryston-chariot-burial.html">More on the Ferry Fryston chariot burial</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman Castleford - just under 2,000 years ago</span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">The Ferrybridge Henge area stopped being as important when the Ancient Romans came to Yorkshire. <br /><br />In 71 AD the Romans built a fortress at York and a road linking it to another fortress at Lincoln. Around the same time, they built a fort at Castleford, where this road crossed the Aire. <br /><br />The Roman army is known for marching great distances along the roads they built. This was possibly in part because of the hob-nailed sandals the soldiers wore. Examples of these sandals were found during excavations in Castleford. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the sandals were so well preserved that re-enactors use replicas based on them and call them ‘Castlefords’!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPpk5TmRarZgPd6rhSQs3ZgHqVjThDbToANV8g9WXggzFVoJu-ciIyt2gwD_R5N3GiU1x9O407gq20leiID06M7iNMDyasQIMvQWQ8SrV7vQAbirRDYFzAfGHQvcgsSgg9GFfAZfjK5Peys_Dycqs5QK8aLZvRhtDFyUs4nW3PB_AnWX-qBaKoes_E4Vf/s4679/Sandal%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The remains of a leather ancient Roman sandal, remarkably preserved. It has straps going across the foot and around the ankle" border="0" data-original-height="2237" data-original-width="4679" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPpk5TmRarZgPd6rhSQs3ZgHqVjThDbToANV8g9WXggzFVoJu-ciIyt2gwD_R5N3GiU1x9O407gq20leiID06M7iNMDyasQIMvQWQ8SrV7vQAbirRDYFzAfGHQvcgsSgg9GFfAZfjK5Peys_Dycqs5QK8aLZvRhtDFyUs4nW3PB_AnWX-qBaKoes_E4Vf/w640-h306/Sandal%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The well-preserved remains of an Ancient Roman leather sandal found in Castleford</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Roman way of life was adopted by many people in the areas they conquered. However, the Romans also keenly took on elements of those local cultures, particularly their gods and spirits.<br /><br />One example is the altar to Brigantia, the goddess of the defeated tribe on display in Wakefield Museum. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We also have a stone dedicated to the nymphs, local water spirits of the Aire. It features in the Online Exhibition and is on display at Castleford Museum:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmtE-oayQigtl7KS4PZ4JSZJNsvhuOZXbfWVDHeiCu2z5eD_ywA7allWVWGO0Engii2CTY1UDLdWfUfHbVsuDv9Ax5YhbTvP8I8_mAmRvV2UchjM7omrh8-01LUUl5U3UAD321cRXn_z_YMjcHysTtZpq8QNF8Ny2Dc8sjOzFKCBTHTO8NFRhFnjco9Nb/s1080/Nymph%20stone%203.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Remains of a carved dedication stone to the Nymphs, featuring two female heads" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmtE-oayQigtl7KS4PZ4JSZJNsvhuOZXbfWVDHeiCu2z5eD_ywA7allWVWGO0Engii2CTY1UDLdWfUfHbVsuDv9Ax5YhbTvP8I8_mAmRvV2UchjM7omrh8-01LUUl5U3UAD321cRXn_z_YMjcHysTtZpq8QNF8Ny2Dc8sjOzFKCBTHTO8NFRhFnjco9Nb/w400-h400/Nymph%20stone%203.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The stone dedicated to the nymphs, on display at Castleford Museum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/roman-castleford.html">More on Roman Castleford</a></b><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We hope you enjoyed this trip back in time through our amazing archaeology! <br /><br />Ready to carry on the adventure? <b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/11/100-years-of-collecting-amazing.html">Click here for Amazing Archaeology (Anglo-Saxons to English Civil Wars)</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/100-years-of-collecting-online.html">Click here to view the 100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a></span></b></p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">More 100 Years
of Collecting blogs:</span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/07/100-years-and-counting.html">100 years and counting!</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/09/wakefields-sporting-heritage.html">Wakefield’s sporting heritage</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2023/08/100-years-of-collecting-trip-to-seaside.html">A trip to the seaside</a></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-13885373852933634872023-10-11T09:23:00.001+01:002023-10-11T09:23:21.107+01:00What Wakefield Wore<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In 2025, we'll be opening our <a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/a-new-wakefield-library-museum.html">New Library and Museum</a> in the former BHS Wakefield building! </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Digital Volunteer Rebecca has been looking back at BHS Wakefield's history, and explores how it influenced 'what Wakefield wore' in this guest blog:</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">BHS Wakefield - at the heart of Kirkgate</span></h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The department store British Home Stores (commonly referred to as BHS) was founded in 1928 and ran for a total of 88 years. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">There were over 160 BHS stores, located at the heart of high streets across the country. They all closed in 2016.<br /><br />BHS Wakefield opened in the 1930s on Kirkgate and quickly became popular with local residents. The store mainly sold home goods and clothing for men, women and children. It later also expanded to food. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">BHS Wakefield followed the ethos of encouraging local people to ‘buy British’.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt7OGKtGAYzzpyjTaWNwd20NHeX2PwkM-Xp1o7Ww5KYtbYhRZYitcMezJEH538PvGrZnS5jiopkgJQJEWZNuRKKC0r2olTxojwZrGe-N-Z6Ji6ogBEqnpGroZoThdjKGB33WYhDqbUBhuDRJLWeOI1gjqD6wTWXFNelzh8dcoEYUzKJPtE0voOpnY4HF9h" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="People walking along Kirkgate in the 1970s, with BHS and Marks and Spencer on the right hand side" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1796" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt7OGKtGAYzzpyjTaWNwd20NHeX2PwkM-Xp1o7Ww5KYtbYhRZYitcMezJEH538PvGrZnS5jiopkgJQJEWZNuRKKC0r2olTxojwZrGe-N-Z6Ji6ogBEqnpGroZoThdjKGB33WYhDqbUBhuDRJLWeOI1gjqD6wTWXFNelzh8dcoEYUzKJPtE0voOpnY4HF9h=w640-h388" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Kirkgate in the 1970s - BHS is on the right</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">John G was a Manager at BHS Wakefield. He remembers that “BHS in the 1970s was very different to the store that entered the 21st century”. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Over the years, the Wakefield branch underwent many changes. These included increasing the size of its sales floor, beginning to sell a wider range of merchandise and displaying their stock differently. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Despite these changes, BHS was always renowned for looking after their staff members and creating a close-knit community.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Staff take to the stage</span></h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Throughout the 1960s and 70s BHS’s ‘ready-to-wear’ clothing made fashion trends accessible for everyone, including their own staff. <br /><br />In the 1970s, the staff of BHS Wakefield staged their own fashion show to showcase the clothes available to buy in the store at the time. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A member of the ‘You know you have lived in Wakefield when…’ Facebook group fondly remembers that the fashion show was held at Unity Hall and that it even made the local newspaper! <br /><br />The fashion show featured many sought-after characteristics of 1970s fashion, such as floral prints, embroidery, synthetic fabrics such as polyester, athletic wear, different styles of dresses and a large array of nightgowns.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU4YdAUqr7pnUu9wEyztDPDRYq-8iWD11-TRHQTCt-6tk9-Ljl_KWJSQvlAdqIdIlP_kjJiwjCMrqgr35WBphUBHsmS58MRjhvK5vxD0ZNftJKmnPRiP_dOb85f_vECHWc7F9SuInoqtCeMW7h_bHE_E6OMXMOEbgTxkNc5f9n5bjlxzlfAXXnY0xl9_iV" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A staff member wearing a belted shirt dress, red neck scarf and sandals" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU4YdAUqr7pnUu9wEyztDPDRYq-8iWD11-TRHQTCt-6tk9-Ljl_KWJSQvlAdqIdIlP_kjJiwjCMrqgr35WBphUBHsmS58MRjhvK5vxD0ZNftJKmnPRiP_dOb85f_vECHWc7F9SuInoqtCeMW7h_bHE_E6OMXMOEbgTxkNc5f9n5bjlxzlfAXXnY0xl9_iV=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of John G</td></tr></tbody></table></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In the photo above a staff member is
wearing a neutral-coloured shirt dress paired with bold red accessories. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Dresses in boxy styles such as these became popular in the 1970s. They followed
the more ‘masculine’ style of women’s clothing which was seen in shirt dresses
of the 1950s. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Worn with heeled shoes and an on-trend neck scarf, they are showing
how these dresses can be styled to look stylish, yet comfortable. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Another popular trend at the time was bright coloured athletic wear, as shown modelled here:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj49O7tUVVrM6UDZ6xG9bndsLVtFgqQiTaK-YBOSsH8IgZeoHNfSxI_sZ_Zz0IRMDCsKZNComJG19fiAuNUU3TsKWIdciDUK6Ce1ClOS9pDV3OitRsxGpcAyLfSEF-etTC_3-A3v6QpajZu2a3LzlCmnCbubW6sQRJCALuIlLpIo5KAmnHSdiSl6j0yblv-" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="One staff member dressed in a white and blue hooded top and blue shorts, followed by another wearing a green zip up short-sleeved shirt and white high rise shorts" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj49O7tUVVrM6UDZ6xG9bndsLVtFgqQiTaK-YBOSsH8IgZeoHNfSxI_sZ_Zz0IRMDCsKZNComJG19fiAuNUU3TsKWIdciDUK6Ce1ClOS9pDV3OitRsxGpcAyLfSEF-etTC_3-A3v6QpajZu2a3LzlCmnCbubW6sQRJCALuIlLpIo5KAmnHSdiSl6j0yblv-=w427-h640" width="427" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo courtesy of John G</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">High-rise shorts are seen paired with
hoodies and zip-up tops which show how sportwear began to be seen as
fashionable rather than purely practical.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikS1LF0YP347bny8RLFDKtbMCNvdKOddDnFBqYDAQTx22OENpaeroCabXuIp6-hAkH9PD_ReVpwbmN23NI_sfgqmfzb4bx8Ft8azXROcmtru-Vl9yhQcNPWfF1bzPbR3YWRgFzmJBNf_bjulIJtRWop67w33FRTsUUCF-0LYrcHs4JDP-IvqXRYUYC2wZU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="A staff member wearing a bright pink shirt tucked into a maxi skirt with a bold purple, pink and brown swirly design" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="397" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikS1LF0YP347bny8RLFDKtbMCNvdKOddDnFBqYDAQTx22OENpaeroCabXuIp6-hAkH9PD_ReVpwbmN23NI_sfgqmfzb4bx8Ft8azXROcmtru-Vl9yhQcNPWfF1bzPbR3YWRgFzmJBNf_bjulIJtRWop67w33FRTsUUCF-0LYrcHs4JDP-IvqXRYUYC2wZU=w427-h640" width="427" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo courtesy of John G</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />Fashion of the 1970s is known for its bold colours and prints, as in the photo above. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Created in the 1960s, psychedelic prints, such as the one used to make this skirt, featured intense colours and flowing patterns. Here the swirls of different shades of purple come together to create the bold design of this long flowing skirt, also part of the stock at BHS Wakefield.</span></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJNxDOclDBTK28jq42F5sc7zsZmz5Y1F-XSWTIB01VvkLMbKM9U5oN04HayfTBkzeIVIj1iPeCexD3e1biS6XXTkK0TqQueJP7HxDJCv_AwB0Q_iclUA2Nat-q_F6JBoEiYJRmFIykPxFq7lN7HRswmK8kilUYhi9DMHGykxm6KI77xLFMdjVetAYkqH8J" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img alt="A staff member walking along a red carpet wearing a full-length white night dress and fluffy slippers" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJNxDOclDBTK28jq42F5sc7zsZmz5Y1F-XSWTIB01VvkLMbKM9U5oN04HayfTBkzeIVIj1iPeCexD3e1biS6XXTkK0TqQueJP7HxDJCv_AwB0Q_iclUA2Nat-q_F6JBoEiYJRmFIykPxFq7lN7HRswmK8kilUYhi9DMHGykxm6KI77xLFMdjVetAYkqH8J=w443-h640" width="443" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo courtesy of John G</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">One of the most prominent items of clothing showcased in the BHS Wakefield fashion show is their range of flowing nightgowns for both women and children. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From long gowns made from satin fabrics with embroidered flowers, to shorter sheer styles with lace details, the variety of these nightgowns shows their popularity within Wakefield in the 70s.</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhofHYqkNU7s-D0g79L6FuJvSPxAsLNCvhnggx4Fkil5YAK8Cz0IxaYOQC4jU_h3ao7pmpShClF5iJxOew26K3tO4FWvfFccADoiDswRGGkARgxUOjlFdqbDVzqzo5q1YszQsUS4E6I7JyuiKiF6RPJJTT4fmO52qHjnlsF4CnqS0aMA_nPZ4Zcg_J_h56L" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A pair of children wearing full-length nightgowns walking along a red carpet, one is also holding a candle" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="404" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhofHYqkNU7s-D0g79L6FuJvSPxAsLNCvhnggx4Fkil5YAK8Cz0IxaYOQC4jU_h3ao7pmpShClF5iJxOew26K3tO4FWvfFccADoiDswRGGkARgxUOjlFdqbDVzqzo5q1YszQsUS4E6I7JyuiKiF6RPJJTT4fmO52qHjnlsF4CnqS0aMA_nPZ4Zcg_J_h56L=w437-h640" width="437" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of John G</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Special thanks to John G for sharing his memories and the photos featured in the article and members of local Facebook groups who gave details of their time at BHS.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We want to know ‘What Wakefield Wore’
in the 1970s! Were you inspired by the fashion show? </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What parts of 1970s fashion would you bring back today - or never want to see again? </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Let us know in the comments!</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://bit.ly/NewLibraryMuseum">Click here to find out more about our New Library and Museum project</a></span></b></p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-91464883150829348832023-10-05T15:01:00.003+01:002023-10-12T09:29:38.604+01:00The First Wakefield Museum<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Wakefield Museum has now existed in some form for 100 years! </b><br /><br />The doors of Wakefield’s first civic museum and art gallery opened at Holmfield House in Thornes Park in 1923. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It was formally opened on 10 October 1923 by the Mayor, Councillor Harold H. Holdsworth.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4YEBec8JRu9uc-8cWJ1uL94Mjd1rNnmz7g2Svb7xW8IMBJE3jrZ8dzUM3paVrkla8Ceo-FK2X3hpqU5tNAc_CxW_aZjSX_mmGeTU6ni4rzK4YzyTpC83eN98SarLbKql_8iaayMVzSfDt87eayH6wQlFRIcwfyGNu5DN2UdJXKea5laE3MdRbWoHvdcFX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Holmfield House situated in Thornes Park, a pretty but relatively small building surrounded by plants and shrubs" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="2999" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4YEBec8JRu9uc-8cWJ1uL94Mjd1rNnmz7g2Svb7xW8IMBJE3jrZ8dzUM3paVrkla8Ceo-FK2X3hpqU5tNAc_CxW_aZjSX_mmGeTU6ni4rzK4YzyTpC83eN98SarLbKql_8iaayMVzSfDt87eayH6wQlFRIcwfyGNu5DN2UdJXKea5laE3MdRbWoHvdcFX=w640-h400" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Holmfield House in the 1940s</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In his speech, the Mayor hoped the museum would inspire civic pride at the city’s long history. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">He said it would be a place of both education and recreation, somewhere that the people of Wakefield could go to escape the hustle of city life. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4u2KzPf1y1olDcu-JjU0KZr8xpsxbMS4_IcjkVJ7H50yygvaj5vnvaHW6NPgxAcRLjoJs0vdm0_ou-6x4odMoMLaerUrmkCLGVrFh-jbEMWO2B2xagJMxI-aDrMB8QDJUj_yzM1bNTQNNfFiSrYPv9aXc19nEGkMK5D8BdtyUra0LkEZaGzmStJfhsOd4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Invitation card with the City of Wakefield crest, and message 'The Museum Committee request the pleasure of the company of D.H. Crowther and friend at the formal opening of the Wakefield Museum at Holmfield, on Wednesday, the 10 October 1923, at 3pm, by the Right Worshipful the Mayor (Councillor Harold H Holdsworth, J.P.)'" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1936" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4u2KzPf1y1olDcu-JjU0KZr8xpsxbMS4_IcjkVJ7H50yygvaj5vnvaHW6NPgxAcRLjoJs0vdm0_ou-6x4odMoMLaerUrmkCLGVrFh-jbEMWO2B2xagJMxI-aDrMB8QDJUj_yzM1bNTQNNfFiSrYPv9aXc19nEGkMK5D8BdtyUra0LkEZaGzmStJfhsOd4=w640-h414" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Formal invitation to the opening of Wakefield Museum on 10 October 1923</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Guests at the opening were served tea in the refreshments room and treated to performances from an instrumental quartet. The museum was specially decorated for the occasion with floral displays, including orchids.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRdKek56XCN7_7BXwr8upHeW6Yg-e4jarmOZ2bZdBVq2RCzYhgKxb9z9AuXjVvhSg8ztqZQe46nJ6R9-wS49xsWzfp68TJJFNjDBPEPo3KC2z2X-nGjwW_JbWNsn9ZK1ubq7_tlL6v9msw7hxOkRImsq7ycsGeeUPey1jcP8mOlyvD6W7KKfaxTlCciofe" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Printed programme for the formal opening, with the Mayor opening the Museum at 3pm and tea served at 4pm" data-original-height="2698" data-original-width="1646" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRdKek56XCN7_7BXwr8upHeW6Yg-e4jarmOZ2bZdBVq2RCzYhgKxb9z9AuXjVvhSg8ztqZQe46nJ6R9-wS49xsWzfp68TJJFNjDBPEPo3KC2z2X-nGjwW_JbWNsn9ZK1ubq7_tlL6v9msw7hxOkRImsq7ycsGeeUPey1jcP8mOlyvD6W7KKfaxTlCciofe=w389-h640" width="389" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Programme for the Formal Opening of Wakefield Museum & Art Gallery on 10 October 1923</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The first curator, Harold Parkin, had gathered a small but impressive collection for display. It included bullets and cannon balls found at Sandal Castle, Ancient Roman coins, and a night watchman’s Waits badge. There were also donations and loans of furniture, paintings and armour.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> Visitors enjoyed displays of archaeology, Egyptology, natural history, social history and art - and, of course, the all-important tearooms!<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ1H6Ji_J19ZP-KRXgNJFodP51FOGNc0Tf6PTGeb0IUrw-v5T3UTDtpvOrYWO6UVTQeAXNLXwRMIdFt2JCB-po6qvTtcj576laocpQ-AWVzAYoVxtCSFaSENzupTEjpfN8Ecp_8pOtcdz7D0f13SIahS_qEFROQP-gMp3OQruVEG_YRdkwQFDuUMz87yPx" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two women and two young boys, all very smartly dressed, viewing a photography exhibition. Lots of framed photographs are hung together very closely, completely covering the walls." data-original-height="2146" data-original-width="2875" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ1H6Ji_J19ZP-KRXgNJFodP51FOGNc0Tf6PTGeb0IUrw-v5T3UTDtpvOrYWO6UVTQeAXNLXwRMIdFt2JCB-po6qvTtcj576laocpQ-AWVzAYoVxtCSFaSENzupTEjpfN8Ecp_8pOtcdz7D0f13SIahS_qEFROQP-gMp3OQruVEG_YRdkwQFDuUMz87yPx=w640-h478" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Visitors to a photography exhibition at Holmfield House in the 1930s - we do things a bit differently today!</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The museum was described by the Wakefield Express as “a great step forward in our civic life”.<br /><br />The Holmfield House museum proved very popular and by 1934 was attracting over 40,000 visitors a year.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">By 1956, Wakefield Museum left Holmfield House for the former Mechanics Institute on Wood Street. The displays included popular recreated room scenes from history. </span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In 2012, we moved to the city’s newest civic building, Wakefield One, <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/"><b>where you can find us today</b></a>!</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amongst many other things, the uniforms worn by our brilliant Visitor Experience Assistants have changed significantly over time! </span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This drawing shows the inspiration behind the uniform from the 1930s:</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNANd-L1HEQGud0k-X49-rtqscbUXuWtskU3FQbaie8c6MI3h51hetKvXMIQnBAPJf3NxqgzDGtrg0oxWV6rGfOzL7GDrEvV1dqU7ZC2JYmBkAfKsgqvlOjHVRMwJYo1CrxlnnHzGGrUA_emcQitrt5_AF14QX91FVg6Kr7BaNQa1iri-wN2EDp3eK2yl1"><img alt="A drawing of a man in fitted almost hotel porter style jacket, trousers and cap that reads 'Empire'." data-original-height="3270" data-original-width="1966" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNANd-L1HEQGud0k-X49-rtqscbUXuWtskU3FQbaie8c6MI3h51hetKvXMIQnBAPJf3NxqgzDGtrg0oxWV6rGfOzL7GDrEvV1dqU7ZC2JYmBkAfKsgqvlOjHVRMwJYo1CrxlnnHzGGrUA_emcQitrt5_AF14QX91FVg6Kr7BaNQa1iri-wN2EDp3eK2yl1=w240-h400" width="240" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And here's Visitor Experience Assistant Jade today (also showcasing our new What's On for Families Guide!):</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo-OzV3c-zlB9qBw8C4HaFs7PLgdzjnyb6tyGXdqChxvFRaBSlUlXMNSm_usTyi_lptFOkVWcikYMQJeGtp7Xq1w5Uk0K1bJOZIgd9TH9H_yNQ4aRO_cUl5ANBNB8p_JRLPiRdzUx6d0B2wT7_LwSoi0Dwu_Hiv5wt_S9mIGLE0Y7zFqAZuvZEs-zWi4WZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Our Visitor Experience Assistant Jade holding up one of the What's On guides in the Victorian Kitchen at Wakefield Museum" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo-OzV3c-zlB9qBw8C4HaFs7PLgdzjnyb6tyGXdqChxvFRaBSlUlXMNSm_usTyi_lptFOkVWcikYMQJeGtp7Xq1w5Uk0K1bJOZIgd9TH9H_yNQ4aRO_cUl5ANBNB8p_JRLPiRdzUx6d0B2wT7_LwSoi0Dwu_Hiv5wt_S9mIGLE0Y7zFqAZuvZEs-zWi4WZ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>What memories do you have of visiting the Wakefield Museums of past and present? Let us know in the comments.</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Talk">Join us for a free talk about 100 Years of Wakefield Museums and Castles</a> on Wednesday 11 October</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Blog">More on our centenary project '100 Years of Collecting'</a></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">Online Exhibition '100 Years of Collecting'</a> - looking at our history through 100 objects</b></span></div></div></div></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-61489004029210261872023-09-26T14:44:00.003+01:002023-09-27T13:42:33.730+01:00Wakefield's Sporting Heritage<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;">When it comes to sporting heritage, Wakefield District has lots to celebrate… even more than you might think!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We've dug out some sporty showpieces from our collection, many of which also feature in our <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a></b>.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We are Rugby League </span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Wakefield district is often defined by Rugby League. It
both unites and divides our communities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">David Storey encapsulates this in his classic
1960 gritty northern novel, This Sporting Life:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-fLP92MwS18BMh20VTf56bJySo3bUl1Jm5fU9lw8--PClFqPBMwiW9ttA2imkBstt_5BbdbXAhr9zaomYSfdDs8U3f8qyGO9HVKj-ghHSge22vNObKJWxG2MdF3YqOeKRPLVP-MmYXHZP4lFv1_o--rZqESgcNLney_AVfPaM6aJHOKeQ_4g5qQgu9Y6n" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Front cover of This Sporting Life, with a rugby player tackling an opponent" data-original-height="4015" data-original-width="2497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-fLP92MwS18BMh20VTf56bJySo3bUl1Jm5fU9lw8--PClFqPBMwiW9ttA2imkBstt_5BbdbXAhr9zaomYSfdDs8U3f8qyGO9HVKj-ghHSge22vNObKJWxG2MdF3YqOeKRPLVP-MmYXHZP4lFv1_o--rZqESgcNLney_AVfPaM6aJHOKeQ_4g5qQgu9Y6n=w199-h320" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our copy of This Sporting Life, on display at Wakefield Museum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The story follows
a Wakefield Trinity player as he navigates his sporting career and his love
life. In 1963 a film version starring Richard Harris was released to rave reviews. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Belle Vue stadium features as a key location in the film and many
residents remember being paid to attend as extras in the stands.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most local people are close followers of one of the big three teams:
Wakefield Trinity, Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">We have some
fantastic objects telling the stories of the clubs, covering their historic
victories and record-breaking achievements.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Iconic objects include this thick woollen jersey worn by Wakefield Trinity’s Harper Oliver Hamshaw way
back in the 1880s: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWA8CjHgd9vE5gfEKVQNyb6P6_1TXx4s9nPAl6xuhU_uOY2M2wg6IN-fJUID-PB-7q1E4FYONrAczltp1fJlSQQTDozyCFfI72HzLjBFQSJD58ObCAPgCQn96GWuiIt_M19liXHjr5BbJWtCWLFdT4sB4WezzS5S7Oom6IOP2ot0lC40JJj2sbe_UElKLv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A thick woollen button-up jersey, navy blue with a red horizontal stripe across the chest and the arms." data-original-height="794" data-original-width="596" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWA8CjHgd9vE5gfEKVQNyb6P6_1TXx4s9nPAl6xuhU_uOY2M2wg6IN-fJUID-PB-7q1E4FYONrAczltp1fJlSQQTDozyCFfI72HzLjBFQSJD58ObCAPgCQn96GWuiIt_M19liXHjr5BbJWtCWLFdT4sB4WezzS5S7Oom6IOP2ot0lC40JJj2sbe_UElKLv=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Harper Oliver Hamshaw's rugby jersey</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was a time when Trinity shaped
the creation of professional rugby league by paying their star player, three-quarter back,
Edward ‘Teddy’ Bartram, a salary of £52. This made him the first professional rugby league player.</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Professional sport would be nothing without the supporters! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Telling local fans' stories is just as important as that of the players. This rosette was proudly worn by a Featherstone
Rovers supporter when Fev reached the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final in 1974:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpPDAb07Q3eL6Id9WqxRmF2lx0Km_wFugCx55-1ey6qwn8JaRmcmq6Jl-eenH4ZbXrb_Zjuz7dI8ko78WSWclFC081VxIUldm65Edncz8qhPBBS7vYHVWPTjNA0GOQE4wmMsMDghgFNDp7h26K96cOGfb-pEmjCdWCfxpdW8GweME2CaC7ZV8w0zs-fkOD" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="A blue and white rosette with 'Featherstone R', 'Wembley' and a picture of the trophy on it" data-original-height="5018" data-original-width="3341" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpPDAb07Q3eL6Id9WqxRmF2lx0Km_wFugCx55-1ey6qwn8JaRmcmq6Jl-eenH4ZbXrb_Zjuz7dI8ko78WSWclFC081VxIUldm65Edncz8qhPBBS7vYHVWPTjNA0GOQE4wmMsMDghgFNDp7h26K96cOGfb-pEmjCdWCfxpdW8GweME2CaC7ZV8w0zs-fkOD=w267-h400" width="267" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A fan's Featherstone Rovers rosette from the 1974 Rugby League Challenge Cup Final</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Local players didn't only capture hearts and minds - they smashed records. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This rugby ball was used by
Arthur ‘Brus’ Atkinson to make a record goal kick of 75 yards in Castleford's
victory against St. Helens, on 26 October 1929. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The record still stands 94
years later!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLFBvfqEf5_1DwAyZ15P5QVo8ZonAqpy2yGuUv1zZaP4s0e-YRgr6XgctS2ZFqX50QYBRIaO6BdtuupwYnJtgKdvd_UvNOJpJ32F1hDdtMbtkXho1LZyYU7WWcrcor1L1MKEqPa8U04dDO1czxkuCSQhzCLIjVCJhMSDewBh4XLkLPzjRSKEOaxJIN7c-c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="An old hand-stitched rugby ball with the details of Atkinson's achievement written on it" data-original-height="2286" data-original-width="2586" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLFBvfqEf5_1DwAyZ15P5QVo8ZonAqpy2yGuUv1zZaP4s0e-YRgr6XgctS2ZFqX50QYBRIaO6BdtuupwYnJtgKdvd_UvNOJpJ32F1hDdtMbtkXho1LZyYU7WWcrcor1L1MKEqPa8U04dDO1czxkuCSQhzCLIjVCJhMSDewBh4XLkLPzjRSKEOaxJIN7c-c=w400-h354" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Arthur Atkinson's record-breaking rugby ball</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">But - it's not just rugby league Wakefield makes waves in!<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Super Sharp Shooter: Stephanie Park</span></b></h3><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/StephanieParkBlog">Stephanie Park</a></b> nee Hopley (1940-2012) was a nurse and
midwife in Wakefield. After losing a leg following an accident, she took up competitive shooting. Stephanie went on to
become the World Disabled Champion in target shooting in 1987 and the winner of
the Cardiff Open Shoot in 1989. This was the first sports event in which
disabled and non-disabled competitors took part equally. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was also a world champion athlete in field sports and archery.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiifk2DYdiG2LIPHIv_6mwTOdrH6j_QQPILrtsuA3aJdhMeT7X7rgfbZ4DKnrEEbTKzjwQgUgmI1IfdLKKCg-3cDcpbfhwmixl0kpWP379e0XQMa7REf1YC5oH9L8HoIAvVk7b1BzdiCkmPD0kehCzX-KJ79Y-bIYvIZi4yue2A_IMXhDyGKp51QgAlMxGe" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stephanie in action, aiming her rifle while in her wheelchair. She has short, dark curly hair and is wearing a leather jacket and jeans." data-original-height="794" data-original-width="541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiifk2DYdiG2LIPHIv_6mwTOdrH6j_QQPILrtsuA3aJdhMeT7X7rgfbZ4DKnrEEbTKzjwQgUgmI1IfdLKKCg-3cDcpbfhwmixl0kpWP379e0XQMa7REf1YC5oH9L8HoIAvVk7b1BzdiCkmPD0kehCzX-KJ79Y-bIYvIZi4yue2A_IMXhDyGKp51QgAlMxGe=w273-h400" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stephanie in action</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #1c2b33;">She hit all 10 shots through the central ring of this target shot at the
1989 National Small Bore Rifle Association Championship, and rightfully kept it
as a souvenir! </span><span style="color: #1c2b33;">It features in our <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a></b>:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #1c2b33; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge6gAAIaR9XSReJfR9Uk1VvQ9ZxYdNBvCPpfHzTd8pvQ5OVQRVHb0k3kXgpAzFLtbat1jEEBQCab9LZ2iTEczkXiedg7UPEY43Dfgl6q_bjHXjYCwHbuOcJlCHw4IhbVI7j1YFOw7BLq4QTx3PgdVHreX2hid-1xTVdLHFwXwcRLsits253BJPBxbRTQ1i" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A square cardboard target shot with all 10 shots through the central ring" data-original-height="3169" data-original-width="3206" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge6gAAIaR9XSReJfR9Uk1VvQ9ZxYdNBvCPpfHzTd8pvQ5OVQRVHb0k3kXgpAzFLtbat1jEEBQCab9LZ2iTEczkXiedg7UPEY43Dfgl6q_bjHXjYCwHbuOcJlCHw4IhbVI7j1YFOw7BLq4QTx3PgdVHreX2hid-1xTVdLHFwXwcRLsits253BJPBxbRTQ1i=w320-h316" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stephanie's keepsake target shot from the 1989 National Small Bore Rifle Association Championship </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stephanie was also a disability rights campaigner and community leader. Her proud son Daniel kindly donated her archive to our collection in 2014.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/StephanieParkBlog">Click here to read more about Stephanie's incredible life and career.</a></b> </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Tour de Force: Barry Hoban</span></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Barry Hoban is a former professional cyclist from Wakefield who rode during
the late 1960s and early 1970s. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He holds the record for the most Tour de Frances completed by a British rider – having finished 11 of the 12 he started between
1965 and 1978. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He was also the first Briton to win two consecutive stages of
the Tour, a feat not matched until 2008!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvu-YXtirofzVDdnRDYf6NfNMO0fF1eVISkYWv5SU6qX0TJGSR1qhInSdhZS0MwXJyK7xGsUu2WlIG0tZSE7n_Gi5y5VDFRIGi5UF1UWsb9l7eKmicUmgEDgbDGnhN_dxkYTqlK7_aaSnZJepu2XYYFwcNuxyp9QfZNGarlnRCg7RQ3bLW0zzkqdCFrmtp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Square glass display case featuring photos and objects relating to Barry Hoban's career, including a pink road bike and pink, white and blue jersey" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="2178" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvu-YXtirofzVDdnRDYf6NfNMO0fF1eVISkYWv5SU6qX0TJGSR1qhInSdhZS0MwXJyK7xGsUu2WlIG0tZSE7n_Gi5y5VDFRIGi5UF1UWsb9l7eKmicUmgEDgbDGnhN_dxkYTqlK7_aaSnZJepu2XYYFwcNuxyp9QfZNGarlnRCg7RQ3bLW0zzkqdCFrmtp=w390-h400" width="390" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A display from 2014 showcasing Barry Hoban, featuring one of his bikes and jerseys</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Supporting Role: Sykes & Slazenger</span></h3></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As well as our sporting stars and top teams, Wakefield District has a very proud heritage of sports manufacturing.</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1870 a saddler’s apprentice from Horbury founded William
Sykes Ltd. Soon he was the chairman of a thriving international business. Sykes produced equipment for a huge variety of sports, from billiards to boxing,
crown green bowling to croquet. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcWJhfguU2hNqQQG3AhtUeFvdcOj0rR-rHcub_HHqQ9lMH95nt1hsygjHCQMAdPKS-RDwvlRJWwF7tNdlpav6Ygig2NDVx9syU3YK_sXovWv4-KLWgPc7GRh6ZCmk-zeu57Y_K8N7GqcZsp1t_5fFvn6kwfOwrfew26p16DbaMQlX9DGfuY7b2VABHRJep" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Advertising poster for 'Choose a Sykes Model', with images of the EDB, the Blue Riband, the Ruby and the Alpha rackets, and the taglines 'Senior Service' and 'Simply Splendid - none better'" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="794" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcWJhfguU2hNqQQG3AhtUeFvdcOj0rR-rHcub_HHqQ9lMH95nt1hsygjHCQMAdPKS-RDwvlRJWwF7tNdlpav6Ygig2NDVx9syU3YK_sXovWv4-KLWgPc7GRh6ZCmk-zeu57Y_K8N7GqcZsp1t_5fFvn6kwfOwrfew26p16DbaMQlX9DGfuY7b2VABHRJep=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A vintage Sykes advert from the 1930s</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sykes eventually became part of the Dunlop
Slazenger empire, pioneering ground breaking new products and technologies. For
more than a century, Horbury was a centre of excellence and innovation in
sports production, supplying top competitions like the FA Cup and Challenge Cup.</span></p></div><span style="font-size: medium;">When Australian legend Don Bradman maintained a test cricket batting average of 99.9 over his career (1928 – 1948), he did so using cricket bats made in Horbury. The Don Bradman endorsed signature cricket bat became a very popular and
long running brand of bat for Sykes, and continued after the
company merged with Slazenger:</span><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmURIoAsp71m3y945c0YgEShDCx4cYhvsTa8VmeW4tzCrn1Ag0zSK3yat_TzN2bn1EJzyh21qg3l2cYwS-c4M7qMAQG9f129UdHymfl_d5bnEel1hF3SeMsByT0Hkb9BUcayVFqxT9pHT6E9Du4zAbT4KoECAbtJb1oQvYo4bgFs5wVyKM12KsiwAdOkRV" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Old wooden cricket bat, engraved with 'Sykes, Don Bradman - Autograph' and Bradman's signature" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="465" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmURIoAsp71m3y945c0YgEShDCx4cYhvsTa8VmeW4tzCrn1Ag0zSK3yat_TzN2bn1EJzyh21qg3l2cYwS-c4M7qMAQG9f129UdHymfl_d5bnEel1hF3SeMsByT0Hkb9BUcayVFqxT9pHT6E9Du4zAbT4KoECAbtJb1oQvYo4bgFs5wVyKM12KsiwAdOkRV=w235-h400" width="235" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Don Bradman signature cricket bat</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">When England won the World Cup in 1966, they did so kicking a ball made here in Horbury.</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">We've got one of the footballs made for the Final on display at Wakefield Museum:</span></div><div><br /></div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjB5W4g6hxIfafw8huFBwT06wwLJPWws6Rrq-NUN0nRrzRAe90h-FziC6VXNyPh01fR3JE_GVqimLVQTmTgMp3l69mhjySpg8MJ61JNqProRsEEF5YpigdsYyoAl3PBky_KBNDC5p-B7XESC1oBYTnRHpPvD6QxCXd_6ZcM-1c28AWaiLLyf9hGGn4Ih2N3" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bright orange hand-stitched Slazenger Challenge 4-Star football" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjB5W4g6hxIfafw8huFBwT06wwLJPWws6Rrq-NUN0nRrzRAe90h-FziC6VXNyPh01fR3JE_GVqimLVQTmTgMp3l69mhjySpg8MJ61JNqProRsEEF5YpigdsYyoAl3PBky_KBNDC5p-B7XESC1oBYTnRHpPvD6QxCXd_6ZcM-1c28AWaiLLyf9hGGn4Ih2N3=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the Slazenger 4-Star Challenge footballs made for the 1966 World Cup</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1988 German Tennis ace Steffi Graf became the first (and still only) player to win a Golden Grand Slam (she won each of the four Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic Gold medal all in one year). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">She did so using a tennis racket designed and made in Horbury - The Dunlop 200G Max:</span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspHA3OWZAUrvjLC1a_13X7sJiCwwXda22ooIY8mFsA2ZWtPlPKpc9owlaQFifJm-HnL1BqPNQApdV5B-1FJR8AUriL0pEn0c9di6MGQ9NSTx10maqEXs89hrB8kcKVdy88iAlU3Bj1hT45cIBVIMtI5hpQAJBRVTqyhCa6ckzG9KzCS7oeC3Zy0mc0jdS/s794/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(27).png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A purple tennis racket with green and brown details and the Dunlop logo" border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="442" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspHA3OWZAUrvjLC1a_13X7sJiCwwXda22ooIY8mFsA2ZWtPlPKpc9owlaQFifJm-HnL1BqPNQApdV5B-1FJR8AUriL0pEn0c9di6MGQ9NSTx10maqEXs89hrB8kcKVdy88iAlU3Bj1hT45cIBVIMtI5hpQAJBRVTqyhCa6ckzG9KzCS7oeC3Zy0mc0jdS/w223-h400/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(27).png" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Dunlop 200G Max racket, the type used by Steffi Graf to win her Golden Slam</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2020/07/making-racket.html">Read more about Sykes, Slazenger and Dunlop's impact on international tennis</a></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So, yes - we're pretty proud of our sporting heritage!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Find out more:</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/StephanieParkBlog">Stephanie Park's incredible life and career</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2020/07/wfmuseumstaffpick-wakefield-trinity-and.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Staff Pick - Wakefield Trinity and Me</span></a></b><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2017/03/playmakers-your-memories-of-slazenger.html">Memories from former Slazenger and Dunlop employees </a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2021/07/history-opening-up-transcribing-sykes.html"><b>Transcribing the Sykes Visitor Book</b></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition"><span style="font-size: medium;">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</span></a></b></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-25288613569423758002023-09-01T08:00:00.002+01:002023-09-01T08:00:00.145+01:00The story of Jack and Marie<div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Our Collections Volunteer Sue has recently transcribed a collection of over 40 letters from the Second World War. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">She uncovered a beautiful story of love and resilience during very difficult times. <br /><br />Read on as Sue pieces the letters together to tell the story of Jack and Marie. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXGsrzH1u6-lb7RXCQBU6_GL_OPTv1tPw5EzWUcuAoDFfzbbeJ-SAKicY9NbHCf2Wm7Uksfky7SBSPfObSfGadcoNkvHQOITWrIxAeevsvJxuURRGUOkTUDw-aiBY1dlyOIQ4mSMnEsD-sRolKLdOxH3CWUjXedSErxUn_pTLH2GelwCTYxD4A13MOqsfU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="A photograph of two men and two women on a pier, probably at the end of the second world war. Jack is a taller man in uniform, and Marie is smartly dressed with her auburn hair up" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1845" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXGsrzH1u6-lb7RXCQBU6_GL_OPTv1tPw5EzWUcuAoDFfzbbeJ-SAKicY9NbHCf2Wm7Uksfky7SBSPfObSfGadcoNkvHQOITWrIxAeevsvJxuURRGUOkTUDw-aiBY1dlyOIQ4mSMnEsD-sRolKLdOxH3CWUjXedSErxUn_pTLH2GelwCTYxD4A13MOqsfU" width="384" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: start;">We believe Jack is the man in uniform, and Marie is the woman to his right</span><br style="text-align: start;" /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Introducing Jack and Marie</span></b></h2></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack and Marie were a young couple, very much in love. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">They got married in May 1939, and moved into a house together on the Lupset Estate in 1940. This estate was developed by Wakefield Corporation in the 1920-30s. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">At the time it was much admired as the largest local government housing scheme in Europe. Jack and Marie were very proud of their home.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisGptLKIheL4IV6IV4EGl7Ayj1lbn8fSg_236gFTPBwyawvyOPeDmRZ0kKJ8FWkWHjDsqdRpMOfxNXHgUkNqhCTV33XWuoleAhAXTZYyTOgx6TiVXhPMwuV1PuvvqTv7uFdzGg79I06AL35HS-Azgsp5eze9tasXVWp6HPn9yNEFnl5hvZuoSBq9LiwRJ0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A black and white postcard showing an aerial view of Lupset Council Housing Estate in the 1930s. Townley Road can be seen running through from right to left." data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="4098" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisGptLKIheL4IV6IV4EGl7Ayj1lbn8fSg_236gFTPBwyawvyOPeDmRZ0kKJ8FWkWHjDsqdRpMOfxNXHgUkNqhCTV33XWuoleAhAXTZYyTOgx6TiVXhPMwuV1PuvvqTv7uFdzGg79I06AL35HS-Azgsp5eze9tasXVWp6HPn9yNEFnl5hvZuoSBq9LiwRJ0=w640-h382" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lupset Estate in the 1930s - photo copyright of Wakefield Libraries</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Their married bliss was soon interrupted by the outbreak of war. In May 1941 Jack was called up. He trained in North Wales and was posted to the Middle East. <br /><br />Jack was homesick and missed Marie very much. He wrote to her every weekend, sometimes more often. Marie kept his letters. <br /><br />In 2016 Wakefield Museums and Castles purchased a collection of over 40 letters written between 1941 and 1943. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These were Jack's letters to Marie, lovingly kept. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We don't have Marie's responses, but we can learn a lot about what she must have been telling Jack about life back home in wartime Wakefield from his letters.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack's letters</span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">Like all wartime letters, Jack's were censored. They contained little information about locations and manoeuvres in case they fell into enemy hands. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">However, this isn’t what Jack wanted to write home about anyway! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Much of each letter was taken up with reminiscences of his life with Marie in Wakefield, and how much he loved her and was missing her. <br /><br />On the first anniversary of his call up he wrote a moving description of the morning he left her, echoing the experiences of many a conscript:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz9LV6Zm4RSU-zqfn5Z-c0jt1oc7652iFvrsqhFj2WoqOtLZxpIDDuCZFUNgOuJDCzK-eg5kJCTsD8nuZ3sJO7P8g-c8BgFNSb8spCuGRa1gGNcViFb5_sSGpiTMPccCf-lpRagtXVCH5bW46QLqEBXkDja2uqmsY7IbMOFUJhmgE1gM5BDnj2LTvFXxQJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jack's letter on the first anniversary of his call-up - transcribed below" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="2456" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz9LV6Zm4RSU-zqfn5Z-c0jt1oc7652iFvrsqhFj2WoqOtLZxpIDDuCZFUNgOuJDCzK-eg5kJCTsD8nuZ3sJO7P8g-c8BgFNSb8spCuGRa1gGNcViFb5_sSGpiTMPccCf-lpRagtXVCH5bW46QLqEBXkDja2uqmsY7IbMOFUJhmgE1gM5BDnj2LTvFXxQJ=w640-h142" width="640" /></a></div><blockquote>"It tells me that almost twelve months ago, months of pain suspence [sic] and darkness, I had the utter misfortune to be ripped from the arms of a girl in a million."</blockquote>Jack’s letters contain fascinating snippets about his life in the army. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">His replies to Marie’s letters also talk to the living conditions and cultural attitudes of 1940s Wakefield.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Life in the army</span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">In August 1941, soon after arriving in the Middle East, Jack was injured in an accident. He broke his toe, which failed to mend properly causing him to limp slightly. Because of this he was rated ‘unfit to serve’ at the front, where he would have earned promotion. Instead, he had to settle for a more mundane (but much safer) post behind the lines. <br /><br />Jack was assigned to duties in the stores, collecting, stocking and distributing uniforms, ammunition, and other equipment. He also opened and ran a canteen which also acted as a shop.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The horrors, death and destruction of the Second World War are rightfully widely reported.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack's letters give detailed insight into another, sometimes overlooked element - the sheer 'monotony' of war:<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFQd5wjvdMlouVUO6JfI2N9pSa1CD7A9Q0b1bDQLFZDMgA7LcrZ6Ty_8WFmiaubdb07HOMu6LH7r8DbL2r9Ank4ZDeDSA9A3fMo7NGPXkeFRhEcaVExQG-RDHrBRsk5N3584M1haxq7JArceC46Hlsb7kC8pu_x_kOcz5LGx0bcj-EhytMYZleCn93dtm8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A letter from Jack referring to his boredom - transcribed below" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1849" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFQd5wjvdMlouVUO6JfI2N9pSa1CD7A9Q0b1bDQLFZDMgA7LcrZ6Ty_8WFmiaubdb07HOMu6LH7r8DbL2r9Ank4ZDeDSA9A3fMo7NGPXkeFRhEcaVExQG-RDHrBRsk5N3584M1haxq7JArceC46Hlsb7kC8pu_x_kOcz5LGx0bcj-EhytMYZleCn93dtm8=w640-h182" width="640" /></a></div><blockquote>"Don't think that life in the service is a cure for monotony, because frankly I didn't think it was possible to bump into so much boredom." </blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of Jack's letters suggest he was a bit fed up with his life in the army. He and his fellow soldiers were at the beck and call of their senior officers. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">His letters record the following unenviable tasks:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">They were required to thoroughly spring clean their billet each week, making
a special effort before a visit by a VIP;</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">One time they were marched to the beach for a 'dip in the ocean' at 6 in the morning</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">They were sent without notice on a long journey on Boxing Day 1942, hangovers notwithstanding;</span></span></li><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Another time, Jack was left to mind the stores for 3 days and nights, with a long to-do list, while the Quartermaster was away.</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">Thankfully for Jack, there were some better moments. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">High points included visits to the cinema – Jack recommends several popular favourites to Marie, and especially enjoyed watching Carmen Miranda in ‘Weekend in Havana’. He also fondly records trips down-town with his mates Montey and Kenny.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas 1942 was a ‘jolly’ time - the men were granted a day off! Jack organised and sold tickets at an extra 2/3 (2 shillings and threepence, or 12p) for a full traditional meal of turkey with pork stuffing and apple sauce, baked potatoes, cabbage, parsnips, Christmas pudding and sauce, mince pie, and fruit and nuts.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The height of joy was the arrival of the post - especially when it
contained a letter from Marie. </span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Frequent delays in the erratic postal service
were much bemoaned, and Jack began keeping a (handwritten) spreadsheet to
record the despatch and arrival times of their letters. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking after family - from afar</span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack would have dearly loved to go home on leave. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">However, when he was given a precious week off in October 1942, he used it to go and find his brother Harry who was stationed not far away:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpatSs2kl1o2bi6g9zWqQBiP6YbeSKkQ4hRLbxNB1dYhxvqmmxyqZgXxQlT8ffEM1nElvXjtcVQeHneIJOaNBhkfka4JezTaR8ObSKSKVjPW7NMNYiAemQwg7cU9MzlJscewtiB-gsE9qaUDoW4azNmevSS6FsgxIend0rUmuqZiGlXiVwXkdEPHIh_GUu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A letter from Jack telling how he was going to find his brother soon - transcribed below" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="2266" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpatSs2kl1o2bi6g9zWqQBiP6YbeSKkQ4hRLbxNB1dYhxvqmmxyqZgXxQlT8ffEM1nElvXjtcVQeHneIJOaNBhkfka4JezTaR8ObSKSKVjPW7NMNYiAemQwg7cU9MzlJscewtiB-gsE9qaUDoW4azNmevSS6FsgxIend0rUmuqZiGlXiVwXkdEPHIh_GUu=w640-h160" width="640" /></a></div><br /><blockquote>"I am making an all out, all in bid to locate our Harry, whom you will know by now, that he is only about 50 miles from here. </blockquote><blockquote>He told me in his last letter that he could fix me up with a bed and some food so in that line I have nothing to fear, the biggest proposition being, getting there, it will mean hitch hiking, as there is no bus service."</blockquote> Jack was sending part of his army pay home to Marie to support her. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">He was careful with his money and didn’t draw much of his pay, leaving 10 shillings (50p) a week to accumulate against “a rainy day”. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">While he was in hospital in 1941 his pay was docked to 1/3 (6p) a day, or 8/9 (44p) per week. In September 1942, he discovered that, although he had resumed full duties in March, the army was still paying him the reduced rate. They restored his back pay but underestimated the amount he had saved, so he no longer trusted the army to look after his money. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">He arranged to send £10 from his savings to Marie, plus some of his back pay. </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">By April 1943 his pay had risen to 6/4 (32p) a day, of which he sent around half home to Marie.</span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Middle East</span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack generally did not enjoy his living conditions in the Middle East. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mosquitos were a constant problem, and he also met scorpions, ‘great big’ spiders and ants. The climate could be very hot with endless blue skies, or surprisingly cold with storms, wind and even snow. The desert had “blinding dust”.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />Despite this, he clearly appreciated being billeted next to the “beautiful blue Mediterranean [Sea]</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">”. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9hzUXveBfCWpFZlI_uXx5tFkRYE-f1fATRq9Lxl0q0nYkxSnrW3PNs97u106AES4dHxp8ZtptUNyxpzAeJNs9R6LZrSTp_Dy8F_encWD6Cw7kyx6xgzpTFggjvlO5YLvVDVFUtaikCvMtfijWi_te1ES0CSle4sClycEQNWYSDUVsnV9N7_pOCzu8emgS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A letter from Jack talking about the Mediterranean Sea - transcribed below" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="2445" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9hzUXveBfCWpFZlI_uXx5tFkRYE-f1fATRq9Lxl0q0nYkxSnrW3PNs97u106AES4dHxp8ZtptUNyxpzAeJNs9R6LZrSTp_Dy8F_encWD6Cw7kyx6xgzpTFggjvlO5YLvVDVFUtaikCvMtfijWi_te1ES0CSle4sClycEQNWYSDUVsnV9N7_pOCzu8emgS=w640-h190" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"As I look to my right I have in front of me the Mediterranean Sea looking dark, oily, and full of mystery. What a great change this sea provides, it was yesterday that a few of us boys, remarked how beautiful this sea looked.</span> </div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The sun was beating down onto the almost stagnant surface, transforming into a bed of myriad coloured diamonds..."</span></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He also writes that “I thought Palestine was beautiful in parts, but honestly I take my hat off to the scenery [Syria] can produce.” </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Olive groves, pomegranate trees, banana plants and especially date palms all produced magnificent fruit which was piled up in the local shops and sold very cheaply.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">His encounters with the local people were limited but were always a source of interesting observations. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">He noted the poverty – people going out without socks or shoes in the cold and rain, when boots cost £2/10/- (£2.50) and a man’s wages were just 3s 4d (17p) a day. Infrastructure was sadly lacking and there was no public transport. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">There were a wide variety of shops, from ones selling jewellery, clothes and handbags, to those selling ice cream and ‘excellent’ rice puddings. At one point Jack says he wants to buy Marie some jewellery, but doesn’t know which to get her.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />After the first year Jack started taking Arabic lessons and could chat with the boys in town.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Marie's story - back home in Wakefield</span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Jack comments frequently in reply to the news Marie sends to him. Through this we can learn about Marie’s life in wartime Wakefield. <br /><br />By winter 1942 she was unfortunately in poor health and struggling financially. She moves back in with her parents for a spell. She lost her job, but in February 1943 she got a new job at Clayton Hospital. <br /><br />Marie also took in lodgers, including a family from London with whom she became very friendly. <br /><br />She was good friends with her neighbours on either side, Mary and Vi, and a photo found with the letters show a group of 4 girls on a day out at the seaside:</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7LrEITnF6wDvLWzjpBmirAKzgMAfVuk9V2mqZkxG9eV19JRnNlKCa3px75uCyrfbPEW7ASN1Rxols6yCsTLMv_d9ZRoD1sFmi4R3wZY8E1kCxFP0hXfRIKUi6bYCGGEMlxk_UrtLMjTrCkBem0Ktv8YM8mN2jnJpj4RDwlO_R9we5y71IXBYTFeI6qOoU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Four young women walking hand-in-hand along a pier, all smartly dressed, from the 1940s" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1887" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7LrEITnF6wDvLWzjpBmirAKzgMAfVuk9V2mqZkxG9eV19JRnNlKCa3px75uCyrfbPEW7ASN1Rxols6yCsTLMv_d9ZRoD1sFmi4R3wZY8E1kCxFP0hXfRIKUi6bYCGGEMlxk_UrtLMjTrCkBem0Ktv8YM8mN2jnJpj4RDwlO_R9we5y71IXBYTFeI6qOoU=w400-h297" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Marie (we think she's second from the left) with her friends at the seaside</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">From the letters we also get glimpses of their life together before the war. Jack worked as a painter and decorator, like Marie’s brother Harold. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe this was how they met? <br /><br />Until January 1943 Marie was working at Webster Bros. This may have been in the grocery store on the corner of Cheapside and Westgate, which had a pie shop above, or possibly in the café in Cross Square. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpsu7Q5g2MOCnC2x_wrJRLCNrLN3RhYOQYH4__inFQ8wTLjOMUa4JEOEGbZR-EQGnJaej6DIWnHQOx8C6RT-6_PFd-GafLr59Zg_yV3TK1_S3vdo5WlgYoyhs2GpMwMOUZQlsYRLFpAT2QUmFlQyxhAKex8z6GKJ-6XnU-ikdj2GtBlXC4fQsXorpItbbu" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A black and white photograph of Cross Square, Wakefield, with Wakefield Cathedral centre" data-original-height="2387" data-original-width="4035" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpsu7Q5g2MOCnC2x_wrJRLCNrLN3RhYOQYH4__inFQ8wTLjOMUa4JEOEGbZR-EQGnJaej6DIWnHQOx8C6RT-6_PFd-GafLr59Zg_yV3TK1_S3vdo5WlgYoyhs2GpMwMOUZQlsYRLFpAT2QUmFlQyxhAKex8z6GKJ-6XnU-ikdj2GtBlXC4fQsXorpItbbu=w640-h378" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cross Square, Wakefield, in the 1940s. <br />Webster Bros is on the right, towards the Cathedral.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After she lost her job, Marie almost signed up to the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). She told Jack that she had been challenged by a recruiter who accused her of occupying a “hiding place” and told her that if she didn’t volunteer she would be forced into the service.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack was horrified. His reply to her reassured her that this was untrue, and pleaded with her not to become </span><span style="font-size: large;">“</span><span style="font-size: medium;">another victim</span><span style="font-size: large;">”:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7S-qEEPAWEZAGMew5LeQVgaYkjNyz4pCv6XFzHqXDaj16mpm9S9tAEMzeYQEMoeexxIyTuiK0THCLqpNLtJ1NE5wV8B83KIg9mcPc4NPjO2Z-xKYCOBypyRyBXtaQmUvkjsxWs513xHf33cO0BMZciJ0KNlM_NSMfCdNYtWylsZ7lcdfLQRaTGMgSYq89" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A letter from Jack replying to Marie's near recruitment experience - transcribed below" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1961" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7S-qEEPAWEZAGMew5LeQVgaYkjNyz4pCv6XFzHqXDaj16mpm9S9tAEMzeYQEMoeexxIyTuiK0THCLqpNLtJ1NE5wV8B83KIg9mcPc4NPjO2Z-xKYCOBypyRyBXtaQmUvkjsxWs513xHf33cO0BMZciJ0KNlM_NSMfCdNYtWylsZ7lcdfLQRaTGMgSYq89=w640-h314" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">"I don't know of this body who claims, is doing his bit with zest and zeal, got you to believe that you would have to go into the service, but I find the word W.A.A.F.S mentioned. Now sweet, I don't know of this man, who clapped his hands when he saw you, and who thought "another victim" "</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">In reality, Marie seems very resilient. Like many women, she took advantage of the opportunity the war presented to assert some independence. She went out to work despite some reservations from Jack. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">She took the initiative in writing about her difficulties in dealing with their long separation, which Jack then echoed.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Jack was particularly keen to hear news about what family and friends were up to. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">He was dismayed at the way the “wicked war” had deeply affected his younger brother Albert:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCl1i0xn7VP-K_AulUGX6NxFXEle3kKxGe0_t9_9mooM5-4atg10zTyuMCJjyUUkV7P9lyhQA6CX6G2y2RpirflXfkzLuhRiZAjCQ6tNCgg5s3d9k7uUoNswK5-PHbYf9x6o22WnhPPoL87ctcjemqrx22OC02PWU2yy0rwEFkCxCZ9WSUf1a8aD2Kr3te" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A letter from Jack reflecting on his brother's experience - transcribed below" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="1893" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCl1i0xn7VP-K_AulUGX6NxFXEle3kKxGe0_t9_9mooM5-4atg10zTyuMCJjyUUkV7P9lyhQA6CX6G2y2RpirflXfkzLuhRiZAjCQ6tNCgg5s3d9k7uUoNswK5-PHbYf9x6o22WnhPPoL87ctcjemqrx22OC02PWU2yy0rwEFkCxCZ9WSUf1a8aD2Kr3te=w640-h158" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>"It's a bad show Marie, I don't know, life in the service seems to have an uncanny way of pulling a chap down like this..."</blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack even tried match-making between Albert and Marie’s friend Mary from afar!</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After the war</span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;">Thankfully for this story, there was a happy ending. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack returned home to Marie when the war ended. Sometime in the mid-1950s they moved from the Lupset estate but appear to have stayed in the Wakefield area. </span><span style="font-size: large;">No children have been traced.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />They stayed together and grew old together. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack died in 2002 aged 89, and Marie in 2011 aged 94.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We'll let Jack sign off:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguO58hVhGBzJ7xVnJF8DUiv5y9excz9q-n_PrEIji9VsTrteTZNcaS-j6hoxqyyc1zvfid-APcQUH5yq9IVCeTjKeKwj6OOO6Uu1lub5C3voMvdeaUqcjaU4cco61wYyNSIvondRBLY1dTH0j-cFWlmvEJQtTFtr8AcE-xl_pmYsgjLjL579SJj1YeKoYn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A sign-off from Jack that reads 'goodnight angel, your always, forever thinking of you, sweetheart Jack', surrounded by kisses" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="2101" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguO58hVhGBzJ7xVnJF8DUiv5y9excz9q-n_PrEIji9VsTrteTZNcaS-j6hoxqyyc1zvfid-APcQUH5yq9IVCeTjKeKwj6OOO6Uu1lub5C3voMvdeaUqcjaU4cco61wYyNSIvondRBLY1dTH0j-cFWlmvEJQtTFtr8AcE-xl_pmYsgjLjL579SJj1YeKoYn=w640-h228" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Looking for more local wartime stories? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WW1GK">Click here to read George Kellett's diary from the First World War</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2018/11/armistice100-at-wakefield-museum.html">Click here to learn about Sergeant Arthur Cox and Nurse Marion Walker</a></b></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-74385837414528172402023-08-24T13:58:00.005+01:002023-08-24T14:39:28.634+01:00Ken Hanson: A Mining Deputy's Story <!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lindsey Hanson from the Wakefield Word Writers' Group has interviewed a very important person indeed - her dad!</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2b33; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Ken Hanson was a Deputy at Ackton Hall Colliery and Kellingley Colliery.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>She has written up their discussion in this guest blog. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ken recalls the everyday work and responsibilities of a Mining Deputy, the good friends he made and one he sadly lost along the way.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Please note: this blog post discusses mining accidents.</b></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiypcP_FCYJH08g7wNOz61PG5CQbWcdRtyofp95WTUw5aNifbr8j_xfhdFKjUFiwor-XusPHrr_85S1jiBKBiHB_VyXa6Ry9-GsMPADb7uudCW16YR-Ihk4QLIg33eQOnuSV4o7wR4-FDp8SMmzOyOJdugODeLNnqULX-VaJ1Yfa6OVZA_HJPyZ0HoztFpM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ken sat at home with a selection of his former mining objects on the table" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiypcP_FCYJH08g7wNOz61PG5CQbWcdRtyofp95WTUw5aNifbr8j_xfhdFKjUFiwor-XusPHrr_85S1jiBKBiHB_VyXa6Ry9-GsMPADb7uudCW16YR-Ihk4QLIg33eQOnuSV4o7wR4-FDp8SMmzOyOJdugODeLNnqULX-VaJ1Yfa6OVZA_HJPyZ0HoztFpM=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ken Hanson with some of his mining career memorabilia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ken:</span></b><p></p><p></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I was just fifteen when I left school and
wasn't sure what I wanted to do to start with. </span></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">You didn't have many choices
back then with jobs in my neck of the woods, even with decent grades from
school. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">After a brief stint at mechanics, a Moulder in a place called Resil in
Pontefract, and then six months as a Bus Conductor, I started working at Ackton
Hall Colliery. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I worked in several pits in the region over the time I was a
miner, starting as a General Worker, then a Face Worker, before eventually
making my way up to Deputy Grade One.</span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Training was essential, as it wasn't just
coal you had to think about when going down the mine. There were so many safety
aspects and regulations you had to be aware of, and to know your first aid in
case of accidents. We had what is known as morphine safes down the pits too. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A
Deputy would be specially trained in delivering morphine should a serious
accident happen.</span></span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="eop"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUuMFVPYf8cykVcnW16qhRGTDVK_euzkCds5ye1UQZG_uFirD5vRgG9IlfGMIu99UN1QMSgJTLExHWumVHEKw35ONw4_703oBB2vK8t9iTd6tzH7GWuJeBUh27JsWnNqLnJqyFmimr-oM9xxJym1DuE8f8PjXRfG3sgWWLjW71ejZJOUZTU5vA8-u55v28" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ken holding up his oil lamp" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUuMFVPYf8cykVcnW16qhRGTDVK_euzkCds5ye1UQZG_uFirD5vRgG9IlfGMIu99UN1QMSgJTLExHWumVHEKw35ONw4_703oBB2vK8t9iTd6tzH7GWuJeBUh27JsWnNqLnJqyFmimr-oM9xxJym1DuE8f8PjXRfG3sgWWLjW71ejZJOUZTU5vA8-u55v28=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ken with his safety lamp. <br />Only colliery officials had one of these and it lasted for the full shift.<br />Methane gas would go through the filters and alter the size of the flame, alerting the officials to how much methane was in the area. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><h3 style="margin: 0cm; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="normaltextrun"><b><span lang="EN-US">What was the most important part of the
job?</span></b></span><span class="eop"> </span></span></h3><b></b><p></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="eop">
</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Ken: </b>As a Deputy you oversaw health and safety
every shift you were on. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">You would go down on your own first (this was known as
a 'pre-shift') making sure everything was ok before the men would come down onto
the job, making sure there was no methane gas about and everything was ok for
them to start work. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We had fans down the pit too, these were our main
ventilation, so it was essential they were running correctly (these were also
monitored from the surface). </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">It was a big responsibility resting on your
shoulders. All the rest of the men going down the mine after you were
trusting you that everything was okay - dads, sons, brothers, best mates. </span></span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div><br /></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How were you able to communicate if needed?</span></b></h3><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ken: </b>Once you were down there you could ring other places to contact the surface if needs be. These phones were mainly at gate ends and the controls inbye of the gate. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone who went down the mine were given two discs called checks. Everyone had their own different check number. One was left with the onsetter on the pit top, and you kept the other one for when you came back out to give to the onsetter then. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">That way the management knew if anyone was still down the mine. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFaTcWTHyyil8z19UScQPb75prN3hpMw0A-Kd6B5S-TjwJMGgCtTTDu2ZJjq8yB3IT0TtI_GRS7cOI7RxAYrSfFvFvyHuI1_uejuFgri2wzDQICECYxx4ceS4JLFyR9UTlSj95wmZ_wptSQciE2k_eTxtN1GcQxL9ahpOl-_npJs94cOSzXSZV2JG8cM_p" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A rounded metal disc with a hole punched out to loop onto a chain, with 3612 Kell. engraved on it" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFaTcWTHyyil8z19UScQPb75prN3hpMw0A-Kd6B5S-TjwJMGgCtTTDu2ZJjq8yB3IT0TtI_GRS7cOI7RxAYrSfFvFvyHuI1_uejuFgri2wzDQICECYxx4ceS4JLFyR9UTlSj95wmZ_wptSQciE2k_eTxtN1GcQxL9ahpOl-_npJs94cOSzXSZV2JG8cM_p=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ken's pit check (number 3612) from his time working at the Kellingley Colliery.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did you ever encounter an accident? How did you deal with them?</span></h3><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ken: </b>I was once on shift and a mate of mine was working near a dinting machine, the machine caught the belt that was used to transport muck onto the gate belt. It pushed my mate into the girder at the side trapping him. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You had to act quickly. Sadly he was seriously injured; the lads got him out, but his leg was in a bad way. He had a hole in the top of his leg, he was taken out as quickly as they could, but sadly he ended up losing his leg. It was very rare for things like this to happen. <br /><br />It was on one of my afternoon shifts where everything was going as it usually would and we would go down the mine, but we noticed the shearer was fast under the face chocks. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The day shift lads had drilled some holes in front of the shearer, and I went over behind the machine and was preparing to fire some shots to free the machine when the roof above me collapsed and buried me. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I was buried for four hours. I was doubled up, but I could breathe okay. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">My left arm was visible to the men digging me out. My index finger was hanging off and one of my mates shouted: “Ken, if I pull the finger off you will get a bit of compensation!”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> “****** that.” I said (that’s mates for you) </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So they sewed it back on. <br /><br />No matter how much training you do have, you're never trained for that type of thing. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I am grateful to my mates for getting me out that day. I know how lucky I am to be alive. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I told the boss not to let the wife know as I knew she would worry. Even after all that, I still was home from the hospital at the normal time I would have been home. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Five weeks later I was back at work, the first shift back I was allowed to go down on my own to see how I would go. No problem.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I was transferred to Kellingley pit after Ackton Hall was closed down - quite a few men also went there. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">One of my good mates transferred with me. He was a</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">real comic, a great guy and a great mate. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I didn’t work many shifts with him as Kellingley was such a big mine. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It’s still difficult to talk about. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It was an horrendous and upsetting day, the day I found out he had lost his life. He had been tragically killed in an accident while on his shift.</span></div><h3 style="margin: 0cm; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">What was it truly like down there?</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="eop" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="eop"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">The pit itself seems an eerie place for
those who haven't been down, but you get used to it. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">It never really smelt much
down there, but when you were going down in the pit cage that had three levels
with 120 men on, and there’d always be one who would start eating garlic on purpose
on the bottom level and it stunk the cage out, all in a bit of fun though.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you turned your lamp off when
underground, it was completely black. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">You tried to ignore being claustrophobic,
it was mind over matter. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">You’d eat your snap (lunch) down there too. You would
have to do your business down there as well; remember, they were long shifts. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
for uniforms, we had orange workwear the pit supplied, and you could get clean
ones every week. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Everyone who went down the pit had to wear a lamp that fitted onto
the helmet. The battery for this was worn on your belt. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This went alongside a
self-rescuer which carried a mask in case of a fire. The mask went into the
mouth and a clip was worn over the nose. </span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">Luckily, I never had to use one. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc4zdqvYWOyYMJH9nXhh2WGmUXmE_O160ThLhcdUKgr_Hj3d4OLVemm_sM4r0zp6f6GRARCYWoi20xFMfwmpuQAE52pych_OrF5RdQPsWOAR_8w8LB09Y5z4aPddbG3VOIu_Dp5ajwTyOXAe0KBQEUEzDNhYUugXGwQuOFIMa7drUQtae5UN16V_EsP6GU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A tall cylindrical oil lamp, a black battery-powered lamp with the lamp on the end of a thick cable, and small blue leather satchel with 'first aid' written on it" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1535" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc4zdqvYWOyYMJH9nXhh2WGmUXmE_O160ThLhcdUKgr_Hj3d4OLVemm_sM4r0zp6f6GRARCYWoi20xFMfwmpuQAE52pych_OrF5RdQPsWOAR_8w8LB09Y5z4aPddbG3VOIu_Dp5ajwTyOXAe0KBQEUEzDNhYUugXGwQuOFIMa7drUQtae5UN16V_EsP6GU=w400-h392" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ken's oil lamp, lamp and battery to fit to his helmet, and blue first aid bag.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiRkXqBdFGGIfVk3kwUmlLA7oRdEm5PK9gYxMZLBzeu2FhwZMi_MG6g1G0F47xqY_vcaAoBVMhooQXiMHxr2Xv032bEeJnNM143xpbzx_e7L9qZO0XK_ayGpAljPQ9ECILpdiyNTrLksbnmAttY3nXyMjwBahG7dMSWMHrGoXwaJMlsbi_bukpMNpDldQ/s4927/SH010175.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A white peaked safety helmet, clearly well used, with a safety lamp and battery attached" border="0" data-original-height="3114" data-original-width="4927" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiRkXqBdFGGIfVk3kwUmlLA7oRdEm5PK9gYxMZLBzeu2FhwZMi_MG6g1G0F47xqY_vcaAoBVMhooQXiMHxr2Xv032bEeJnNM143xpbzx_e7L9qZO0XK_ayGpAljPQ9ECILpdiyNTrLksbnmAttY3nXyMjwBahG7dMSWMHrGoXwaJMlsbi_bukpMNpDldQ/w400-h253/SH010175.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A miner's safety helmet with an Edison clip-on lamp and battery attached from our collection. <br />It features in our <a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition"><b>100 Years of Collecting</b></a> Online Exhibition.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">Deputies and some first aiders also carried a first aid bag. These contained
basic tackle, plasters and bandages. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most deputies carried a stick. This
was handy when you walked over uneven ground as you can imagine it was pretty
rough walking at times! </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">I also had my stick marked with twelve-inch measures,
so you could get a rough idea of the depth of things without getting my tape out. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="A long cylindrical wooden stick with marks every inch for 12 inches" data-original-height="2030" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUsbU1zyySR87J2r3xxMFrJYvHEuMgLkKMH9dna6oHBdHvqWnYIq-th4c_taMW_nW6Lo0iQMllBJ7TwUrNpKrA6N9MDxqQkDHoeoI6IIMoUvBLlV3e3DLYxCI2bW3ZyXfY73qb9gSNF-0G7n5SQkRD-zfFKthcO6O4dbEgCf3GwgDusVQQD0KtLMSVem94=w167-h400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="167" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ken's deputy stick, laid out on the table for scale. <br />There are 12 inch measure lines down the length of the stick. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMrPBfhOaC9Pn5ure9d802UeMBoKHPd02bYF21LdCRi7u0eX2ypH-Y74D1pkt9P3jSS59xzX8g6tSfsD3Ea9yRqleg_GHemL0wctz5o7_bgl1TLi-wnDLfIQa96KIy3RyvJmBBOzvJ9dfhxcSq91famAFUNf_QSdxT_hCRu6Uvw9B6-1fJ2wBOO7dZ81vx" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The top of the wooden deputy stick, with a metal badge attached engraved with 'Ken - Kellingley'" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMrPBfhOaC9Pn5ure9d802UeMBoKHPd02bYF21LdCRi7u0eX2ypH-Y74D1pkt9P3jSS59xzX8g6tSfsD3Ea9yRqleg_GHemL0wctz5o7_bgl1TLi-wnDLfIQa96KIy3RyvJmBBOzvJ9dfhxcSq91famAFUNf_QSdxT_hCRu6Uvw9B6-1fJ2wBOO7dZ81vx=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The personalised top of Ken's deputy stick</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><p></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;">You couldn’t have an ordinary battery watch down there, it was too dangerous with gases being down there, you had to have a normal wind up one. </span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Deputies carried
what was known as oil lamps, these were used for checking methane gas. If 'one
and a quarter' was detected, we had to leave the district immediately. </span></span><span class="eop" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did it feel like you were part of a community?</span></h3><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ken: </b>Banter was good down there, good for morale. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You made mates working quickly down the mines. I made mates for life, still plenty about. I met my best mate to this day there, he was and still is always cracking jokes and making everyone laugh. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I have lots of good memories, I wish it hadn’t ended so quickly and it was sad to see the pits closed. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The pits closing was like losing a lot of mates. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I have no regrets about the choices I made and the work I did in my time as a Deputy. It had its moments, but I wouldn’t change a thing other than losing my mate at Kellingley. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">What can I say? It kept me fit, I had and still have great mates, it was part of an era and time that I lived through and enjoyed. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy days. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Thanks to Ken for sharing his story and Lindsey for writing it up!<br /><br />We'd love to hear more mining stories from around our district. If you have a story you'd like to tell, please get in touch with us at museums@wakefield.gov.uk.<br /><br />We've recently installed 'Joining Ranks', a new display at Castleford Museum paying tribute to the women who rallied together during the 1984-85 miners’ strike.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://bit.ly/CMCommunityCases">Click here for more information about the Joining Ranks display.</a></b></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-22857762560909119762023-08-18T12:06:00.003+01:002023-08-18T13:57:54.442+01:00100 Years of Collecting - A Trip to the Seaside<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p><span style="font-size: large;">We're celebrating our
centenary year throughout 2023 with new displays, digital content and events. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As part of the celebrations, we created an <a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">interactive online exhibition starring 100 objects</a> that represent our 100
Years of Collecting.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each month, we’ll be looking at some of the objects in more
detail and sharing other treasures from the collection in special themed blog
posts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's been a bit of a dreary August - so we're taking you on a virtual trip to the seaside through our collection!</span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Mr Punch Glove Puppet</h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This little fellow is full of nostalgia for many local people!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiSqQdKprsE6XTphQSrv1qVbQ-8uXXap66SkhzgRhMqjufP4XX9qC-k_WFDhaHG_OInpBorn_4_pPdsCUVoHV37xmJCGR5F2K66QZVpSedlM66VdtczEiCKR-obb63GktNqgMMGFF9pozr1tD6-muiQZ5kF_FzcYL3ooj2xNicQiNMKPGyAJGk_G4yJ_n/s2924/SH001371.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiSqQdKprsE6XTphQSrv1qVbQ-8uXXap66SkhzgRhMqjufP4XX9qC-k_WFDhaHG_OInpBorn_4_pPdsCUVoHV37xmJCGR5F2K66QZVpSedlM66VdtczEiCKR-obb63GktNqgMMGFF9pozr1tD6-muiQZ5kF_FzcYL3ooj2xNicQiNMKPGyAJGk_G4yJ_n/s2924/SH001371.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHISxCp33O5_PKN9vPe4_PC-pUoShmmAQi-cUs3C58Lapdh1sQoKzSZo45R-6D65w592eBZLYLNHXCGirgpRMsFpGqHHTr0Fk-LUyhixay0CQPJybvNDc0HcGPAbSDKE5RqSHdTGFFdc-pX1F168pTwg5SI_1JnYFee4wDQdx_rf0uUGrM50j9lHiXuDCG/s1080/Punch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Mr Punch glove puppet, with ceramic head and slightly crazed expression, white hat with Mr Punch embroidered on it, and a long red gown" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHISxCp33O5_PKN9vPe4_PC-pUoShmmAQi-cUs3C58Lapdh1sQoKzSZo45R-6D65w592eBZLYLNHXCGirgpRMsFpGqHHTr0Fk-LUyhixay0CQPJybvNDc0HcGPAbSDKE5RqSHdTGFFdc-pX1F168pTwg5SI_1JnYFee4wDQdx_rf0uUGrM50j9lHiXuDCG/w320-h320/Punch.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">He's part of a mid-20th century Punch and Judy puppet set that belonged to Featherstone legend, Albert Massey.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Albert was a surface worker with the coal board. In his spare time he often performed Punch and Judy puppet shows.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyG2Ss30M8f_ZhJRRIPtsbTG42chbbLsbdJ6F36v_JN4V5gWdtv6TrZ07Vff7IudLjS-Ok5W1AJ1V9W6YYuFgk1p1NmDkeJoWlMDHKg4WLokrUruUPAtV36eLUKmQ6BfgUwanlyis2XVo4hpWU97qJCuUcoLVHGU8xD0CCMsm4tGZZ77tkgF08KrpIjnC/s2994/w04903.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black and white photo of Albert Massey as an older man at a park" border="0" data-original-height="2946" data-original-width="2994" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyG2Ss30M8f_ZhJRRIPtsbTG42chbbLsbdJ6F36v_JN4V5gWdtv6TrZ07Vff7IudLjS-Ok5W1AJ1V9W6YYuFgk1p1NmDkeJoWlMDHKg4WLokrUruUPAtV36eLUKmQ6BfgUwanlyis2XVo4hpWU97qJCuUcoLVHGU8xD0CCMsm4tGZZ77tkgF08KrpIjnC/w320-h315/w04903.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Albert Massey in the 1960s</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Albert’s puppets and props were donated to the museum
collection in the 1980s. The Mr Punch puppet representing Albert's story is one of our 100 Years of Collecting star objects.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As well as Punch and Judy themselves, the set also
includes several of Mr Punch’s various enemies - the Policeman, the clown and
the crocodile - who all often found themselves at the wrong end of Punch’s stick.</span></p>
<table style="text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM51Ak6kARYe5T7Ja_YSDwi5NRH06j3xhSeLzdzhfTyfFHxtFjW6S6M7Zt7IOw1oxlg3kneAVv_pQVR_xairqF8cYq4RyCeDmh0iTscP1INK47myyRKgUYaUf-W8_zyze-X97ccCrua5-0AzkAQOIIRHbgwBdgoPdlxZFTgmOqfFr7YDJDnyVtxmOrW6db/s1611/SH001367.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Old crocodile hand puppet attached to a long green glove" border="0" data-original-height="1611" data-original-width="1191" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM51Ak6kARYe5T7Ja_YSDwi5NRH06j3xhSeLzdzhfTyfFHxtFjW6S6M7Zt7IOw1oxlg3kneAVv_pQVR_xairqF8cYq4RyCeDmh0iTscP1INK47myyRKgUYaUf-W8_zyze-X97ccCrua5-0AzkAQOIIRHbgwBdgoPdlxZFTgmOqfFr7YDJDnyVtxmOrW6db/w237-h320/SH001367.jpg" width="237" /></a><br /><br /></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY9QZfH4ywYhISON0xPT4hyKTadirJgYH2G6zfJk6hb3zbd0Hbx08_K0Nf075Dc6Nx4go1UjZWWYJsIKAg7Jci_f5yiSJr06DYKeiQpvzh6O48rQzQFB6hH7RUGF0km3dR4FXO0J7mC9lhBjLayS81zCXN_Xe2DBgXrrOTj5xz9rSlHE1jNnHnlWC55Or/s2556/SH001370.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Old clown hand puppet, with a ceramic painted face and traditional clown-style gown" border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY9QZfH4ywYhISON0xPT4hyKTadirJgYH2G6zfJk6hb3zbd0Hbx08_K0Nf075Dc6Nx4go1UjZWWYJsIKAg7Jci_f5yiSJr06DYKeiQpvzh6O48rQzQFB6hH7RUGF0km3dR4FXO0J7mC9lhBjLayS81zCXN_Xe2DBgXrrOTj5xz9rSlHE1jNnHnlWC55Or/w195-h320/SH001370.jpg" width="195" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Albert performed in local venues such as Pontefract Park - but
Punch and Judy shows will always be associated with the golden age of the
British seaside holiday. </span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seaside Holidays</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">From the Victorian era onwards, red and white striped puppet show booths popped up on beaches and piers up and down the
country. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a group of holidaymakers and daytrippers being entertained by a puppet show at Scarborough beach in the 1950s:</span></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi7411IWg83nKcS7Hw5hzeWzzuxvR1i2QQXEF1-Htb3_17r3x8t2L6B2RTREzGJWsHqAGPBy07PkTnhEBGWO-Xj2u1T6SVQo8N4N0Z73tmHBWWDj279nb1xE6EC-_kCdMzzTbPDbcirZKg4IFKs9wyYaZcgDqd8zj8TqmJhXwrc2dBxXltf4A8MEE8AU2/s1631/P10295.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A black and white photo of a large crowd of children sat on the sand, watching a puppet show" border="0" data-original-height="1631" data-original-width="1012" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi7411IWg83nKcS7Hw5hzeWzzuxvR1i2QQXEF1-Htb3_17r3x8t2L6B2RTREzGJWsHqAGPBy07PkTnhEBGWO-Xj2u1T6SVQo8N4N0Z73tmHBWWDj279nb1xE6EC-_kCdMzzTbPDbcirZKg4IFKs9wyYaZcgDqd8zj8TqmJhXwrc2dBxXltf4A8MEE8AU2/w249-h400/P10295.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of these children look like they're enjoying the show more than others...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This photo is one of many captured by another local legend, Jack Hulme from Fryston. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Hulme was a former colliery worker and hairdresser, and became an enthusiastic amateur photographer. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">He mostly photographed scenes from everyday life in Fryston
and created an extraordinary record of industrial Yorkshire. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Hulme’s charming
action shot of a boy jumping over a makeshift hurdle is another of our 100
Years of Collecting star objects:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQgPzLV0RPOcTG429rEy9Yn6A3uqhZ9lPHgPxUZxsxAVlgS7saqiMKxl9JBWno6CTix3nlx_ksa7uApS7ACeqqpX-oyQRtxbUjHkTMgfPJhDELAP-fOQAVYkHsLdFegkK2rUkfbLAo-gqyevDAK9lgmjNZE852A1Xp8Vup5xGLdEX_AheLnyqQRzdRres/s1626/Hulme%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A young child jumping over a makeshift hurdle of bricks and a plank, in the street in Fryston" border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="1021" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQgPzLV0RPOcTG429rEy9Yn6A3uqhZ9lPHgPxUZxsxAVlgS7saqiMKxl9JBWno6CTix3nlx_ksa7uApS7ACeqqpX-oyQRtxbUjHkTMgfPJhDELAP-fOQAVYkHsLdFegkK2rUkfbLAo-gqyevDAK9lgmjNZE852A1Xp8Vup5xGLdEX_AheLnyqQRzdRres/w251-h400/Hulme%20photo.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">By the mid 20<sup>th</sup> century, more people than ever
before were heading to the coast. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Public holidays and paid annual leave meant
workers and their families could afford to take a seaside break. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Employers and
community groups often organised special excursions and laid on transport to
the beach, such as these trips from Fryston. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jack Hulme joined them, and of course captured the trips in his photos:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR7yTQJSuG97_RKFrvgkLzKTmlHhBjb5vWnAa_qUkNCiDCxW_hZRB6ef2EKJ-HIRXiBsI-ITvbyXXkLX9Ce5-p7jRP2SF-F1zwVXc0np1ZKTERcG1rMsL1O6uOOC8F9O9iaPippIw0lsvLEtjCQBF6-WekefFUN_QXZZhsrPNTjiaKjWVOA9aOosoFRWh/s2891/P06027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rows of buses stretching into the distance, and a group of people walking away from them on their way to the seaside" border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="2891" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR7yTQJSuG97_RKFrvgkLzKTmlHhBjb5vWnAa_qUkNCiDCxW_hZRB6ef2EKJ-HIRXiBsI-ITvbyXXkLX9Ce5-p7jRP2SF-F1zwVXc0np1ZKTERcG1rMsL1O6uOOC8F9O9iaPippIw0lsvLEtjCQBF6-WekefFUN_QXZZhsrPNTjiaKjWVOA9aOosoFRWh/w400-h264/P06027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFLHcanhR4BstVuV95mXUcYXYVKlvk5tvKZPIQBITi18Rpu3jU0HuRJB11xGoVoF12xn20mgTLmUrza5ihuzOPB0RaSG6O4YihO5eYrMGj2t_6YRFvKXmh_9ot_hEoQCxezbN3wgF4sE6q5lqj0cR4kdjaAINLcI9suTJ-Xa_Gb2IasNUHWmyk8nwx1lu/s1432/P10282.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rows of people sat in deckchairs at the seaside, with 3 double decker buses in the background" border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1432" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFLHcanhR4BstVuV95mXUcYXYVKlvk5tvKZPIQBITi18Rpu3jU0HuRJB11xGoVoF12xn20mgTLmUrza5ihuzOPB0RaSG6O4YihO5eYrMGj2t_6YRFvKXmh_9ot_hEoQCxezbN3wgF4sE6q5lqj0cR4kdjaAINLcI9suTJ-Xa_Gb2IasNUHWmyk8nwx1lu/w400-h276/P10282.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Fryston daytrippers - with 3 of the 10 buses they travelled over on in the background!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rail companies also arranged extra services to seaside
destinations during the summer. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This posters advertising train times from Pontefract to the east coast was produced by Holmes Printers in Pontefract, for the Prince of Wales Colliery. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coal miners and their families packed onto the trains, ready for a day out with their buckets and spades.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4LeypTjQiOOxWoyOxomrVJaHJS2LjRGl0TLXJgE5o3be3AZ46dpyEKzCCKSdc7KIXrBddRd6jmdw-v8zKe9Nt8Rst7NsYnZ_SdbUL_CuT1NMMOfLqObn7GAL2KbfH5bv-ggJbky4DhYLYmHJi2kUnWLULPeP6NgUce-Wn8XZ96ARxLDXFYb-Lr7_YY7R/s5913/E0000802.jpg"><img alt="Print poster advertising the Prince of Wales Colliery's annual outing to Bridlington on Sunday 23 June 1963. Includes train times and fares" border="0" data-original-height="5913" data-original-width="4436" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4LeypTjQiOOxWoyOxomrVJaHJS2LjRGl0TLXJgE5o3be3AZ46dpyEKzCCKSdc7KIXrBddRd6jmdw-v8zKe9Nt8Rst7NsYnZ_SdbUL_CuT1NMMOfLqObn7GAL2KbfH5bv-ggJbky4DhYLYmHJi2kUnWLULPeP6NgUce-Wn8XZ96ARxLDXFYb-Lr7_YY7R/w300-h400/E0000802.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seaside souvenirs</span></h2><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">No trip to the seaside would be complete without picking up a souvenir or two!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ironically, these mementos of the east coast were actually made back over here, in Knottingley, by Bagley & Co Ltd: </span></p></div>
<table><tbody>
<tr><td><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1R02tx0DB3uvX0tPEhEdry1HlzXhypRtIH5xd-zDd4DznSa6QqaPmSavQ0ZevdJBKVcFGYE6w83ra68QeIlmM-JECDXESwD9WrGClddB5prMKPZWNhFXfPnuQZ3V43URte1Osrps-dT_iQDWggG2Lc1Rkl_RVIo8js7v5j_LFJ7pjENr9tagIIYXlB4kL/s2076/SH003282.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="A small blue glass vase with flower decoration, and the word Bridlington" border="0" data-original-height="2076" data-original-width="1434" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1R02tx0DB3uvX0tPEhEdry1HlzXhypRtIH5xd-zDd4DznSa6QqaPmSavQ0ZevdJBKVcFGYE6w83ra68QeIlmM-JECDXESwD9WrGClddB5prMKPZWNhFXfPnuQZ3V43URte1Osrps-dT_iQDWggG2Lc1Rkl_RVIo8js7v5j_LFJ7pjENr9tagIIYXlB4kL/w221-h320/SH003282.jpg" width="221" /></a><br /></td><td><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FR2zLTn3bueBCANXTqpPe_p1pn9I8fApgofYJJ5FNv81Q9CptanaNxKCV0NbBrrZZXJlAi08YLrrriSgrQjaFLhgaguA_kDwdJ7J-C1VO1Ixvga7zJ12UZmfprdyK5yUc-642hogFcfvlsrC2-AijDO5N5vRxuJB6xOLnA4ri5aRpQXEmeQSyJTySnrM/s1416/SH003354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="A green glass boat trinket with floral decoration and Great Yarmouth painted on it" border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1416" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FR2zLTn3bueBCANXTqpPe_p1pn9I8fApgofYJJ5FNv81Q9CptanaNxKCV0NbBrrZZXJlAi08YLrrriSgrQjaFLhgaguA_kDwdJ7J-C1VO1Ixvga7zJ12UZmfprdyK5yUc-642hogFcfvlsrC2-AijDO5N5vRxuJB6xOLnA4ri5aRpQXEmeQSyJTySnrM/w320-h215/SH003354.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bagley’s started as a bottle factory but became known for
its innovative decorative coloured glass in the 1930s. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The company’s iconic Andromeda bowl
design also features in our 100 Years of Collecting:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgoNNDELr4tlMjerR6-CQuBh7zDhVd5bgCBFRMWjE-4C7JYgVJ9nDyzA2ijpu93OTVoDGx6YTLQHLEMtFbk8JWPBfTrDX4Q1m6tynhksdvhPdnTrYconrz24t0y9-Se0uueKC1dBBR2tmGCMXBBNB7iF8_ZmFUneY6g9jvxduVEXVGm6y6toDFcrmzjBm/s3018/SH003034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A yellow shallow glass bowl with a figurine of Andromeda standing upright in the centre" border="0" data-original-height="3018" data-original-width="2262" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgoNNDELr4tlMjerR6-CQuBh7zDhVd5bgCBFRMWjE-4C7JYgVJ9nDyzA2ijpu93OTVoDGx6YTLQHLEMtFbk8JWPBfTrDX4Q1m6tynhksdvhPdnTrYconrz24t0y9-Se0uueKC1dBBR2tmGCMXBBNB7iF8_ZmFUneY6g9jvxduVEXVGm6y6toDFcrmzjBm/w240-h320/SH003034.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What objects, photos or memories do you have of seaside trips from yesteryear? We'd love to hear from you!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Post in the comments, or email us at museums@wakfield.gov.uk. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">Click here for more on our 100 Years of Collecting project</a></b></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-35439243801588161492023-08-10T14:05:00.003+01:002023-08-11T10:16:05.679+01:00"Well, who would have thought it?" - Organising the first Wakefield Pride<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It's Wakefield Pride on Sunday 13 August!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Did you know that the first ever Wakefield Pride was in 2005?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael was one of the organisers. He kindly did an oral history interview with us in 2017 for our Rainbow Trails project. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In this clip, Michael tells us about organising the first ever Wakefield Pride. He remembers how the team turned it around from an impending disaster into a 'resounding success'!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="386" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dsGJh30V2gQ" width="464" youtube-src-id="dsGJh30V2gQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XDGmg882g9lhLWo5Q9r30xslASK3KgPZ/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116925552138783646528&rtpof=true&sd=true"><span style="font-size: medium;">Click here for a full accessible transcript of the recording</span></a></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We've also got a range of posters and wristbands from previous Wakefield Prides in the collection. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These items were kindly donated by (a different) Michael, one of our brilliant Visitor Experience Assistants:</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuMDYlZpymgi1alImDUEidkptMo8RkmDCWKEeh3Bo4TOrlqtOtfgNbEL4YzYzGqeAnqOXucLJMW-XMymiVSoQ8ni9stC3PlwrRJnXj50A9IISBcjNrVaRajlaTsmOSNAJm-CPX49F9NVnds8z5jVgRG94KvJMQHd6vOzyGOvYkB5DtNeCKD9JYeLBS8m-/s4227/SH12579B.jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Very colourful poster for Wakefield Pride 2010 featuring photos and names of key acts and performers. As well as Blanche and MarkyMark, there was Angie Brown vs the Sleazesisters, S Club 3, Big Soul and Miss Sordid" border="0" data-original-height="4227" data-original-width="3028" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuMDYlZpymgi1alImDUEidkptMo8RkmDCWKEeh3Bo4TOrlqtOtfgNbEL4YzYzGqeAnqOXucLJMW-XMymiVSoQ8ni9stC3PlwrRJnXj50A9IISBcjNrVaRajlaTsmOSNAJm-CPX49F9NVnds8z5jVgRG94KvJMQHd6vOzyGOvYkB5DtNeCKD9JYeLBS8m-/w458-h640/SH12579B.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Poster from the 2010 Wakefield Pride on Sunday 8 August. <br />Blanche and MarkyMark were key features once again 5 years on!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwwOMlfy-Bj15sKB1Asb4LQZXHVrF4PbDoJLNih0Luocfu_zgQFC4B9Nhz5bQmnazkh0LZT9lWDRQBJcl-a9KVvI7evJ_lDAqzKcLDIgrLJ2eRTde7QSjs1KBs5CRzjI-630gk5Q-qjxDUh2nfQzS1dbijC4TZ0BhoW9XA8PWWlRNYCzTRLjubooUpM1h/s4265/SH12579A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Poster for the Wakefield Pride 2010 after party, with a photo of a packed Pride crowd and Miss Sordid and Markymark at the bottom" border="0" data-original-height="4265" data-original-width="3043" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwwOMlfy-Bj15sKB1Asb4LQZXHVrF4PbDoJLNih0Luocfu_zgQFC4B9Nhz5bQmnazkh0LZT9lWDRQBJcl-a9KVvI7evJ_lDAqzKcLDIgrLJ2eRTde7QSjs1KBs5CRzjI-630gk5Q-qjxDUh2nfQzS1dbijC4TZ0BhoW9XA8PWWlRNYCzTRLjubooUpM1h/w456-h640/SH12579A.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Poster for the 2010 Pride After Party at the New Union - hosted by MarkyMark and Miss Sordid</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc_MUB3qrKc8JG0gsUqQXGk9ZaIrlzSBdD3yJWfyFhTSCAs58m4vHn0XjH02gnbfk4VK1ntwiH41ZukEJaIJARcrGkyN-vDx2p2uELaPya1WBJ1id-p7VJrj-WkEhsOHkXonEhUKXlX6Tz1Y8fQwI733t_n4EXGY6_gjjPuaB8Sxj3A3Yza6TYUwQLn_l/s2752/SH012580.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Multicoloured rainbow wristband with 'Wakefield Pride 2010' on in black letters" border="0" data-original-height="1934" data-original-width="2752" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc_MUB3qrKc8JG0gsUqQXGk9ZaIrlzSBdD3yJWfyFhTSCAs58m4vHn0XjH02gnbfk4VK1ntwiH41ZukEJaIJARcrGkyN-vDx2p2uELaPya1WBJ1id-p7VJrj-WkEhsOHkXonEhUKXlX6Tz1Y8fQwI733t_n4EXGY6_gjjPuaB8Sxj3A3Yza6TYUwQLn_l/w400-h281/SH012580.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael's wristband from Wakefield Pride 2010</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We also have items kindly donated by Steve Ogilvie, also known as Madam Connie, one of our finest local drag queens! </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">They include this Wakefield Pride 10th Anniversary wristband:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHmu6eGk-GlYnF-S_-vMZ3oXu8ia_faS-oLIcsSpx12B_d-JaG8ptbue6U0yvSLIZ3sS1ddSdjVvJ91u6MmcYZOrbAx5jEqF9b65UsQquOvKtGMI9vBJ0llnfIXMdde1_X2b2JY7PSdpu5kTUfUn1Lq0Cef6mJr2fLPUkVCC7B6cOfGBMwzfT_RwsbXbh/s3993/SH012901.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rainbow wristband with 'Wakefield Pride 10th Anniversary' on in white letters" border="0" data-original-height="2776" data-original-width="3993" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHmu6eGk-GlYnF-S_-vMZ3oXu8ia_faS-oLIcsSpx12B_d-JaG8ptbue6U0yvSLIZ3sS1ddSdjVvJ91u6MmcYZOrbAx5jEqF9b65UsQquOvKtGMI9vBJ0llnfIXMdde1_X2b2JY7PSdpu5kTUfUn1Lq0Cef6mJr2fLPUkVCC7B6cOfGBMwzfT_RwsbXbh/w400-h278/SH012901.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Steve also kindly donated one of Connie's sickening sequinned dresses, and a stunning red wig, which is currently on display in <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMCMovingStories">Moving Stories at Wakefield Museum</a></b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Madam Connie's wig also proudly features in our <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a>.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMCLGBTHM23">Click here for more about Madam Connie's story, and her costume designer Sue Riley</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We wish everyone a happy Pride, and hope we get better weather than the first one had in 2005!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WhatIsOralHistory">What is Oral History? Find out here</a></b> in an article written by University of York placement student Lydia</span></p></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-68360149126143683782023-07-25T12:07:00.006+01:002023-08-11T10:16:22.778+01:00Castleford Community Cases - New Displays at Castleford Museum<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Castleford Museum’s latest exhibition honours inspiring
local women from the worlds of education, art, politics and sport.</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Four new
family-friendly and interactive displays showcase historic pioneers and the
stars of the future!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgY-hHg3U4rFt6VsYAsnV4np4c5dc_BLPkVPLBGPSLNuHW9YodWojupO6Ib3HPMAr-KIZziCTXHH_xf8fqPuYwPs0adugED5gHZnOaRx8MQcTalToH9kJ2hKNwm8pLTbfEDo4T8vnGq6sfSvdZbSlO2hOJ_AiMNsFmHIPlSMIccDR1lDyboQOZqXS7NsPH/s3254/Making%20their%20mark%20edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Making their Mark display, with different styles of colourful painted pottery" border="0" data-original-height="2514" data-original-width="3254" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgY-hHg3U4rFt6VsYAsnV4np4c5dc_BLPkVPLBGPSLNuHW9YodWojupO6Ib3HPMAr-KIZziCTXHH_xf8fqPuYwPs0adugED5gHZnOaRx8MQcTalToH9kJ2hKNwm8pLTbfEDo4T8vnGq6sfSvdZbSlO2hOJ_AiMNsFmHIPlSMIccDR1lDyboQOZqXS7NsPH/w640-h494/Making%20their%20mark%20edit.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Making their mark</b> reveals how the influential art
teacher <b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2022/04/finding-alice-gostick.html">Alice Gostick</a></b> sparked a passion for pottery painting across the
country. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Following her example, talented craftswomen led Castleford’s
proud tradition of hand decorating ceramics. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The display focuses on the
intricate work of five painters: Eva Arundel, Mrs England, Vera Ward, Ida
Woodward, and Alice herself. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The women’s beautiful pots are a rainbow of colour
and pattern, each signed with their own unique maker’s mark.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sEAQvH3ffxICwmsVieMYW4fFypymZank5VTOBy5Mr9SPm2dRifGBguUbVSpxwO1BcoJJbW7s71NKfKHAEsPLiIUfYiTQsgeEmuyNCSmXcrjFLEiuzUmL918OoMHV4Mv6tljrmoScm7vNaTJTCV1qsiUe8JnUTAFnLiLsXhhlW2aKwlgyV_rg2kShoYZ4/s1080/fryston%20flying%20pickets.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="A large fabric hand stitched and drawn banner. Large text:Fryston Branch, N. U. M, Can, shall and must! Oppose Pit Butchery." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sEAQvH3ffxICwmsVieMYW4fFypymZank5VTOBy5Mr9SPm2dRifGBguUbVSpxwO1BcoJJbW7s71NKfKHAEsPLiIUfYiTQsgeEmuyNCSmXcrjFLEiuzUmL918OoMHV4Mv6tljrmoScm7vNaTJTCV1qsiUe8JnUTAFnLiLsXhhlW2aKwlgyV_rg2kShoYZ4/w400-h400/fryston%20flying%20pickets.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fryston Flying Pickets banner, on display in Joining ranks. <br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Joining ranks</b> pays tribute to the women who rallied
together during the 1984-85 miners’ strike. Discover how they protected
communities and often changed their lives in the process.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The display features key objects such as the hard-hitting ‘A-Z
of a Miner’s Wife’ poster sold in aid of the Normanton and Altofts Miners’
Support group, which is kindly lent by the <b><a href="https://www.ncm.org.uk/">National Coal Mining Museum</a></b>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">It sits
alongside a banner, handmade for two of Fryston’s flying picketers by their
sister, and proudly adorned with Women Against Pit Closures stickers. The banner
was donated to the Wakefield Museums & Castles collection in 2018 and is
displayed here for the first time. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXR0prwa_GAz6TGKB7VRQCia2KXKIQJDXPXxCfIbHVARCyb9rGcCkpJbXaSt0uuawOWfM_RchZZsxMCNPNf6UNSc7gGS9gNeBBPlRt_eZJv19FqlKO2C5YP2u4XCLtoj9htgVQNATS2kC7CHZWlLiSfk_N75_cH6T63S7dLRqEMTRL15SoesJtnfp3-bey/s4544/CS002037_edit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Black satin fitted blazer with silver collar and pockets" border="0" data-original-height="4544" data-original-width="3450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXR0prwa_GAz6TGKB7VRQCia2KXKIQJDXPXxCfIbHVARCyb9rGcCkpJbXaSt0uuawOWfM_RchZZsxMCNPNf6UNSc7gGS9gNeBBPlRt_eZJv19FqlKO2C5YP2u4XCLtoj9htgVQNATS2kC7CHZWlLiSfk_N75_cH6T63S7dLRqEMTRL15SoesJtnfp3-bey/w304-h400/CS002037_edit.jpg" width="304" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Meg's fabulous black and silver Lee Bender jacket, on display in Degrees of style</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Degrees of style </b>tells the story of a miner’s
daughter turned stylish socialite, who reinvented her life. Fashion follower Meg returned to education later in life and swapped glamorous parties for
university and a career in design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Meg’s story is told by a close friend and the display
centres on one of her prized fashion staples, a distinctive black and silver
jacket by Lee Bender at Bus Stop, worn on the local 1980s dinner party circuit. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can also try on a range of
vintage jackets for size! </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRB--52dgYX1XB9m9PdvJz__7432QbwVaBc3I05UMuOqhriGraIqaL5ZIYHKaYny92FbqdCndjuxfsc2vNkImMLS-N30H0-_NGI634awqd6vR_an5pt-YYWqWffW4_Aeqm41MJA4FQv3hA0Wt_ub4k71WDdebcZKvJwOD5Wyzzb_PQpqlF-6CqVwSDVyG/s5550/Castleford%20Academy%20Girls%20Rugby%20League%20Training-126.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Castleford Academy girls rugby league team photo" border="0" data-original-height="3700" data-original-width="5550" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRB--52dgYX1XB9m9PdvJz__7432QbwVaBc3I05UMuOqhriGraIqaL5ZIYHKaYny92FbqdCndjuxfsc2vNkImMLS-N30H0-_NGI634awqd6vR_an5pt-YYWqWffW4_Aeqm41MJA4FQv3hA0Wt_ub4k71WDdebcZKvJwOD5Wyzzb_PQpqlF-6CqVwSDVyG/w640-h426/Castleford%20Academy%20Girls%20Rugby%20League%20Training-126.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Castleford Academy girls rugby league team</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Raising champions</b> features some of the many girls’
rugby league cups and medals in Castleford Academy’s impressive trophy cabinet.
Marvel at the school’s honours board, hear from former students who have made
it to the sport’s highest level, and see the current stars in action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Former students who have made it to the sport’s highest
level share their stories in their own words and explain what rugby league
means to them, whilst training footage shows the Academy’s current stars in
action. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Y</span><span>oung visitors inspired to follow in their footsteps can find out how
to get started in the game, and take their celebration selfie with our museum
trophy!</span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Share your story </span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">We also want to hear your stories! We are especially keen to hear about any women who were involved in the
miners’ strike or worked in the pottery industry. Story sheets are available in
the Museum for you to fill in with details of the amazing women in your lives.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The hand-painted coffee set by Alice Gostick and the Fryton Flying Pickets banner both also feature in our <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition</a>.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/">Click here for full visitor and access information for Castleford Museum</a></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-45642555082018796982023-07-17T15:11:00.001+01:002023-08-01T10:26:51.314+01:00Celebrate Summer with us!<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking for free things to do in Wakefield, Pontefract and Castleford these summer holidays?</span></span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We’ve got something for all the family across our sites!</span></p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Lt-56RQ0uXzCEQQAoYQmP96kDXUIxZXUIgGZ1tj8a7B75SwmKwNYdoM1a4WfEeHKvWvLfAYWHtapmeSjzPVaNxf9q_4vfP136qVQDg-pC7-Bmv10_zAmGbMJznzKgtaejykxHkDrfqcMK5aoka1c-Yvj36GaU1NSbAP0m8wDogqJ-aknWlQABlUbX7_I/s2700/26%20Pontefract%20Castle%20Aug%202019%20Costumes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two young visitors in medieval fancy dress at Pontefract Castle" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Lt-56RQ0uXzCEQQAoYQmP96kDXUIxZXUIgGZ1tj8a7B75SwmKwNYdoM1a4WfEeHKvWvLfAYWHtapmeSjzPVaNxf9q_4vfP136qVQDg-pC7-Bmv10_zAmGbMJznzKgtaejykxHkDrfqcMK5aoka1c-Yvj36GaU1NSbAP0m8wDogqJ-aknWlQABlUbX7_I/w640-h426/26%20Pontefract%20Castle%20Aug%202019%20Costumes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;">Super Summer at Pontefract Castle</h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Join us for a different fun theme every week at <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">Pontefract Castle</span></strong></a>!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With <strong>free entry</strong>, wide open spaces, dark dungeons and heaps of history, there’s something for everyone.</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Be a Victorian Historian: </strong>Monday 31 July - Saturday 5 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Medieval Melee: </strong>Monday 7 August - Saturday 12 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>A Week of Tomfoolery: </strong>Monday 14 August - Saturday 19 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Castle Attack and Defence: </strong>Monday 21 August - Saturday 26 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Unexpected Discoveries: </strong>Monday 28 August - Saturday 2 September</span></p></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Activities, crafts and games 10am to 3pm each day</span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Free and no booking required</span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><b style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/">Click here for Visitor and Access Information for Pontefract Castle</a></b></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBbkZF7cCT7CxCi5Jjwn5qfo4QPcYoNXB-B-diUs1tkHKOtGOqZ7x2-Zf7zDp6-6OY3xZOqhJieGjz4CIAyFlUyJi2y2flCuSc8a81cDO96ouEgI0nHR7iKE7ae5n70AJaRRa11ucvflAxtqdx7mNprho3FIM5GdRFBGZ-jdAwbaTnyObePFpYr3jkBPd/s2400/37%20Children%20and%20Adults%20Castleford%20Museum%20Oct%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A young visitor and their grown-up handling archaeological objects at Castleford Museum" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBbkZF7cCT7CxCi5Jjwn5qfo4QPcYoNXB-B-diUs1tkHKOtGOqZ7x2-Zf7zDp6-6OY3xZOqhJieGjz4CIAyFlUyJi2y2flCuSc8a81cDO96ouEgI0nHR7iKE7ae5n70AJaRRa11ucvflAxtqdx7mNprho3FIM5GdRFBGZ-jdAwbaTnyObePFpYr3jkBPd/w640-h480/37%20Children%20and%20Adults%20Castleford%20Museum%20Oct%202019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;">Summer Fun at Castleford Museum</h2></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Get creative with us this summer at<span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">Castleford Museum</span></strong></a>! Discover more about your local history with awesome activities, crafts and gallery trails.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We’ve got plenty to make, do and discover with a different theme each week of the holidays:</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazing Archaeology</span></strong></p><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Monday 24, Tuesday 25, Thursday 27 and Friday 28* July</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Snapshots of the Past</span></strong></p><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Monday 31 July and Tuesday 1, Thursday 3 and Friday 4* August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Seasides</span></strong></p><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Monday 7, Tuesday 8 and Thursday 10* August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Perfect Pottery</span></strong></p><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Monday 14, Tuesday 15, Thursday 17 and Friday 18* August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Terrific Transport</span></strong></p><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Monday 21, Tuesday 22, Thursday 24 and Friday 25* August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Reet Good Rugby</span></strong></p><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tuesday 29 and Thursday 31 August and Friday 1* September</span></p></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Activities and crafts available 10am to 3pm each day</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Free and no booking required</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>* Dates with a * are SEND Sessions.</strong> SEND families and groups are welcome at all of our sessions, but we run these for visitors who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere. </span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These sessions will be run with more sensory activities, independent learning, lower light levels and ear defenders available upon request.</span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><b style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/">Click here for Visitor and Access Information for Castleford Museum</a></b></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdLPSQ0HhEI1MJill6glrpUJNpyX97tNvaxFYwtiQHM1rxmGyEmnP25zBhkLIkF37CgQ67a6gsF9V_gSqIUNEp5iIIEivy2eGhPhdVfxia3KtvGzz-FT1WAH2RyLhWggi55pcpLARcYfokHDsdjo4WGqJHHtBQ_Kjzm2o7RwcZJLI50Sd0vrFdjmMw6OK/s2048/Moving%20Stories%20@%20WKF%20Museum%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A young visitor holding their drawing up to the camera in Moving Stories at Wakefield Museum" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdLPSQ0HhEI1MJill6glrpUJNpyX97tNvaxFYwtiQHM1rxmGyEmnP25zBhkLIkF37CgQ67a6gsF9V_gSqIUNEp5iIIEivy2eGhPhdVfxia3KtvGzz-FT1WAH2RyLhWggi55pcpLARcYfokHDsdjo4WGqJHHtBQ_Kjzm2o7RwcZJLI50Sd0vrFdjmMw6OK/w640-h426/Moving%20Stories%20@%20WKF%20Museum%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;">Moving Stories Summer Celebration at Wakefield Museum</h2></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wakefield Museum is getting ready to move! <a href="https://bit.ly/NewLibraryMuseum" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">We are making an exciting new Library & Museum</span></a> and we want you to be part of it.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Come to <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">Wakefield Museum</span></strong></a> for an exciting summer full of fun hands-on activities for all the family.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Discover surprising facts, see unusual objects and join in with a different theme each week:</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Fabulous Festivals: </strong>Friday 4 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Moving Around: </strong>Friday 11 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Entertainment: </strong>Thursday 17 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Toys and Games: </strong>Friday 25 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Time Travel: </strong>Friday 1 September</span></p></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Activities and crafts available 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 3pm</span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Free and no booking required</span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><b style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/">Click here for Visitor and Access Information for Wakefield Museum</a></b></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span></span></p><!--more--><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyBWYcTo7fnogXYXh5H_iGxRbeTrPNiQZnTLpvmP6cGYaREIhA2KTT0FIRvJGbfdgIJc0FYw2JbyNt7plp0UlYhbuTd87wWhWzaHHwMaotvaMxugHZ7Oa02fVmt56gOE2eFUW4qIwe9ULMX5k6MUpKwojuFIC7ylCuEVkHN8FTTHm_T_gNEMy3DyNelcR/s2400/82%20Wakefield%20Museum%20Childrens%20Crafts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A toddler enjoying crafts at Wakefield Museum" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyBWYcTo7fnogXYXh5H_iGxRbeTrPNiQZnTLpvmP6cGYaREIhA2KTT0FIRvJGbfdgIJc0FYw2JbyNt7plp0UlYhbuTd87wWhWzaHHwMaotvaMxugHZ7Oa02fVmt56gOE2eFUW4qIwe9ULMX5k6MUpKwojuFIC7ylCuEVkHN8FTTHm_T_gNEMy3DyNelcR/w640-h480/82%20Wakefield%20Museum%20Childrens%20Crafts.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Mini Moving Stories at Wakefield Museum (ages 2 to 5)</h2><p></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our littlest visitors can also join in the fun with Mini Moving Stories at <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">Wakefield Museum</span></strong></a>! </span></p><div><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy multi-sensory storytelling and hands-on activities as we learn about where we live.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There will be a different theme each week:</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Fabulous Festivals:</strong> Thursday 3 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Moving Around:</strong> Thursday 10 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Entertainment:</strong> Wednesday 16 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Toys and Games:</strong> Thursday 24 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Time Travel:</strong> Thursday 31 August</span></p></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Activities at 10.30am to 11.30am and 1.30pm to 2.30pm in the Learning Zone</span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Free and no booking required</span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><b style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/">Click here for Visitor and Access Information for Wakefield Museum</a></b></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p></div><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span></span></p><!--more--><p></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr23a1LNcbii0q2j3rL30YZSQEVQ9HKR_8koI-mWZUMPd16rZDY55md4iqxNJxnbL7DAGEcC99ZxnsdH5cwS2WVC5iW2fUVS9lGdTt0sfth79MjjuOCQOo3HlRDI1FYxhIO48mrEWOJ59AFQQE2unAxK7p573Fj-P65T1I8I-Wwl5DMY9J_5Q8U43_1D7I/s2048/_K0A5558-Liqourice%20Festival-Museum_Andrew%20Benge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Young visitors enjoying crafts at Pontefract Museum" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr23a1LNcbii0q2j3rL30YZSQEVQ9HKR_8koI-mWZUMPd16rZDY55md4iqxNJxnbL7DAGEcC99ZxnsdH5cwS2WVC5iW2fUVS9lGdTt0sfth79MjjuOCQOo3HlRDI1FYxhIO48mrEWOJ59AFQQE2unAxK7p573Fj-P65T1I8I-Wwl5DMY9J_5Q8U43_1D7I/w640-h426/_K0A5558-Liqourice%20Festival-Museum_Andrew%20Benge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">A Summer of Mystery at Pontefract Museum</h2><p></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Join us each Wednesday in August at <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-museum/" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">Pontefract Museum</span></strong></a> to solve some mysteries linked with the town’s intriguing history!</span></p><div><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each week there’s a new challenge, and something different to make to remember your adventure by!</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>The Unusual Ingredient: </strong>Wednesday 2 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>The Mysterious Monk: </strong>Wednesday 9 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>The Missing Word: </strong>Wednesday 16 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>The Unidentified Object: </strong>Wednesday 23 August</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>The Lost Letters: </strong>Wednesday 30 August</span></p></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Activities and crafts available 10am to 3pm</span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Free and no booking required</span></p></div><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-museum/">Click here for Visitor and Access Information for Pontefract Museum</a></b></span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span></span></p><!--more--><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxwVdRa1o3jkvXDo0KsZwDVTxz31LlBRlb3OXIphB64oTJ1UOqmMudMBZX2YOXiEvVPlnLcdx3YFDX_tbHzyaOeEiIy4oR4rpjRALWEGf7UV3zJ_SBcBTqY2tn1rLlghiQxi1ysSVOMiBWbA4Fy7Zr0TWz1Cj-saUxkI0b_QGTCzyY9BHtlZkE3Y1zYcy/s1920/pexels-yan-krukau-8612992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two children and their grown-up crafting with colourful paper, pencils and scissors" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxwVdRa1o3jkvXDo0KsZwDVTxz31LlBRlb3OXIphB64oTJ1UOqmMudMBZX2YOXiEvVPlnLcdx3YFDX_tbHzyaOeEiIy4oR4rpjRALWEGf7UV3zJ_SBcBTqY2tn1rLlghiQxi1ysSVOMiBWbA4Fy7Zr0TWz1Cj-saUxkI0b_QGTCzyY9BHtlZkE3Y1zYcy/w640-h426/pexels-yan-krukau-8612992.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Activities at Home</h2><p></p><p style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We’ve got loads of <a href="https://bit.ly/WFMuseums_Activities" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">activities here on our blog</span></strong></a> for those days where you and your squad don’t fancy leaving the house!</span></p><div><ul class="last-child" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Try our <a href="https://bit.ly/MusCas_CraftVlogs" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">playlist of Crafting Vlogs</span></strong></a><strong> </strong>with step-by-step instructions</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/colour-our-collections.html" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">Colour our Collections</span></strong></a><strong style="color: #2b00fe;"> </strong>with beautiful colouring sheets based on museum objects</span></p></li><li style="text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://bit.ly/CastleActivitySheets" style="direction: ltr; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: black;">Create your own Castle scenes</span></strong></a> at home, full of different characters!</span></p></li></ul></div><p class="last-child" style="background-color: white; direction: ltr; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space-collapse: preserve; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-77790880807820361982023-07-07T15:16:00.005+01:002023-10-05T15:16:00.601+01:00100 Years and Counting!<!--Google tag (gtag.js)-->
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<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Decorative asset and logo for W M and C 100 - 100 Years of Collecting" border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T9ffR9s2AXdEQWYM3B0ya1mwzV7QJXOX-AwZRKMITiWuorAlfVGqZw88wGLeuCQpO068kr_fFCqgXKTcqsLiofYU3RClCAicDojOLGn5MkTWTnXZ5rl6Dj7PT7HwYP7L1vHGEsOx4BVTFZ34JjwSPcEOspmOAogmaPpYMNuSTiVNvm8TGtdO-vwIQwP2/w640-h236/Facebook%20Cover.jpg" width="640" /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">2023 marks the centenary of the Wakefield Museums &
Castles collection. We have been collecting objects and telling stories for 100
years!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We are celebrating our centenary throughout 2023 and into 2024 with new displays, digital content and events. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We're launching the celebrations with <b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">a new Online Exhibition showcasing 100 objects that represent our 100 years of collecting</a><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">. Click here to explore!</a> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But first, let's go back to the the very beginning...</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">10 July 1923 - Our first official objects </span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The first ever entry in our accession books (the early handwritten records of all objects entering the collection) was on 10 July 1923. It was for 'One Mahogany Cabinet' containing 'Mosses' and 'Lichens', as well as 'Three Madonna Pictures from Board' 'and 14 cases of Birds'. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">An eclectic selection that paved the way for the 100 years of wonderful and weird objects to come!</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX5dE9rYEhy0M7kY8FBSzefB371pLlqu_z_jTARPpDnsFqjQAnKId2i-aqgKa71uNRtscKs2iGLLwEXxGbEAHrJzWB865pXkoJZMCmOTupTGgGUWdiIKpsU8auUKbBXetTrCLJwRJ879JZdu6Jc0Z6K6KiSX7V_yWrQ41iAUtmkt4nGq-MTsmBPImA7Am/s6233/1923%20first%20entry.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Handwritten accession book entry for July 1923. In addition to the objects on July 10, a large oil painting of 'The Village Christening' was accessioned on July 12 and 'four etchings and two watercolours' on July 27." border="0" data-original-height="3961" data-original-width="6233" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX5dE9rYEhy0M7kY8FBSzefB371pLlqu_z_jTARPpDnsFqjQAnKId2i-aqgKa71uNRtscKs2iGLLwEXxGbEAHrJzWB865pXkoJZMCmOTupTGgGUWdiIKpsU8auUKbBXetTrCLJwRJ879JZdu6Jc0Z6K6KiSX7V_yWrQ41iAUtmkt4nGq-MTsmBPImA7Am/w400-h254/1923%20first%20entry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first ever entry in our accession books on 10 July 1923</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRN6GPZUgqOLQhaX0QbDNHgnQ1lVAEJuCaRqkmk3N_Eeo4h2fdEFMpUZVfujLAu_yAy56ePvmvABL0ZWvOGBd04T4vN-mI38mngPvl0NP33rdFihTu27lk0FYAump66ysQw8wqcndfJIlddfqkHw-8LIRPIyGypnEidsua0c9KCEgtG2qtGiXI-Q8B9ECS/s794/1923%20cabinet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A large, tall mahogany cabinet, with double doors and three large drawers below these" border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="596" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRN6GPZUgqOLQhaX0QbDNHgnQ1lVAEJuCaRqkmk3N_Eeo4h2fdEFMpUZVfujLAu_yAy56ePvmvABL0ZWvOGBd04T4vN-mI38mngPvl0NP33rdFihTu27lk0FYAump66ysQw8wqcndfJIlddfqkHw-8LIRPIyGypnEidsua0c9KCEgtG2qtGiXI-Q8B9ECS/w300-h400/1923%20cabinet.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The mahogany cabinet in question, our first ever officially accessioned object</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wakefield's first civic museum and art gallery</span></h3><div></div><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;">The doors of Wakefield’s first civic museum and art gallery opened at Holmfield House in Thornes Park in 1923. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The first curator, Harold Parkin, had gathered a small but impressive collection for display. It included bullets and cannon balls found at Sandal Castle, Ancient Roman coins, and a night watchman’s Waits badge. There were also donations and loans of furniture, paintings and armour.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100FirstMuseum"><o:p></o:p></a></b></p></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100FirstMuseum">More on the first Wakefield Museum</a></b></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5cd5YPGViSPjOEvwvcNBUNbTovC-rPh-p3R5LgtRbYGVC5MrYLIlGqWFyr9XxMriQzwr9gB1-pZk7Y7YNMucGlEgft7Coqdg-nvDIsNn0alT2mgaoqPqFAm9fNyqK_N40owjyos-k-2xp0O5KY-bbIxQfRWoOEZ2z504Nx5QDo65s9L487ykGMgaUTJN/s520/W02167.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Holmfield House situated in Thornes Park, a pretty but relatively small building surrounded by plants and shrubs" border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="520" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5cd5YPGViSPjOEvwvcNBUNbTovC-rPh-p3R5LgtRbYGVC5MrYLIlGqWFyr9XxMriQzwr9gB1-pZk7Y7YNMucGlEgft7Coqdg-nvDIsNn0alT2mgaoqPqFAm9fNyqK_N40owjyos-k-2xp0O5KY-bbIxQfRWoOEZ2z504Nx5QDo65s9L487ykGMgaUTJN/w400-h250/W02167.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Holmfield House, circa 1940s.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHlNPOpXSqfVxCG8HL-41IsOc415kJGwJ9jykWiWi4BgKbKAme1vLOHlqM-0xEwoXumvpPMphS5j7-lAOIKeO-i85x2uWeqTwXYECdfh_5nqIDM9G2sodNlRJLpZEkW2MkKveXKM8shSBmggFqMewOUar5WLFuxZcAzYgLjOUAZvsKzt9u2M3-wC4kkmR/s520/W02178.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two women and two young boys, all very smartly dressed, viewing a photography exhibition. Lots of framed photographs are hung together very closely, completely covering the walls. We do things a bit differently today!" border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="520" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHlNPOpXSqfVxCG8HL-41IsOc415kJGwJ9jykWiWi4BgKbKAme1vLOHlqM-0xEwoXumvpPMphS5j7-lAOIKeO-i85x2uWeqTwXYECdfh_5nqIDM9G2sodNlRJLpZEkW2MkKveXKM8shSBmggFqMewOUar5WLFuxZcAzYgLjOUAZvsKzt9u2M3-wC4kkmR/w400-h299/W02178.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Visitors to a photography exhibition at Holmfield House in the 1930s - we do things a bit differently today!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From then - to now</span></h3></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Since then, our collection has grown and grown! We’ve opened new museums and moved between different sites. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In 1934, Wakefield Corporation opened a dedicated art gallery on Wentworth Terrace. It was open until 2009. Today, the fine art collection is managed and cared for by The Hepworth Wakefield. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In 1956 Wakefield Museum left Holmfield House for the former Mechanics Institute on Wood Street, where the displays included popular recreated room scenes from history. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In 2012, we moved to the city’s newest civic building, Wakefield One, <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/wakefield-museum/"><b>where you can find us today</b></a>!</span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_Qbf2OVkm9ppAT2sP1kOCNTDLWxMsMD_47YoJJ15wU8PlXhKp2G00TbtfVIO6QfbjE2imN79TwY2xr3hK1yIR6GhWYOVmKNvWvCYWBmx9nA7_S6IVgdCWUTfWbTg7jex-go-B2W5zhJXEyN_DKXw0y4wogHxsPvIjASHI72TwlAOWYst6JxQALARvG_U/s4000/Pontefract%20Museum%20exterior%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The exterior of Pontefract Museum, an art nouveau building that used to be a library, built in 1904" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_Qbf2OVkm9ppAT2sP1kOCNTDLWxMsMD_47YoJJ15wU8PlXhKp2G00TbtfVIO6QfbjE2imN79TwY2xr3hK1yIR6GhWYOVmKNvWvCYWBmx9nA7_S6IVgdCWUTfWbTg7jex-go-B2W5zhJXEyN_DKXw0y4wogHxsPvIjASHI72TwlAOWYst6JxQALARvG_U/w400-h300/Pontefract%20Museum%20exterior%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The beautiful art nouveau building housing Pontefract Museum</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pontefract and Castleford</span></h3><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1974 Wakefield Council began caring for and developing the
collections from Pontefract Museum and Castleford Library. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-museum/">Pontefract Museum</a></b> moved to our current home in the former Carnegie Library in 1978. We’re very
proud to continue to care for the beautiful art nouveau building. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2013, we
opened <b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/">Castleford Forum Library & Museum</a></b>, sharing the history of the town’s
origins as <a href="https://bit.ly/RomanCastleford">Roman Lagentium</a>, its proud industrial past and present, as well as
changing displays produced with our local communities.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From 1 to over 100,000 objects</span></h3><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We now look after over 112,000 objects that tell the story of our district from the distant past to the present day. We programme exhibitions and displays at Castleford, Pontefract and Wakefield Museums, Pontefract Castle Visitor Centre and our Museum Hubs across the district. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Any objects that are not currently on display are <a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2020/09/heritage-open-days-behind-scenes-at.html">cared for at our Museum Store</a>, ready for future exhibitions and research. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Online Exhibition - 100 Years of Collecting</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-size: large;">We're launching the celebrations with </span><b style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">a new Online Exhibition showcasing 100 objects that represent our 100 years of collecting</a><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition">. Click here to explore!</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/WMC100Exhibition" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Front page of our 100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition. Click the image to go to the exhibition page." border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1060" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G26_12CK0PygTq3GQjyE3rBOzgIkEKgLJ2ORwAS3YNFGoILjFBgM3W3B3_gcH0lp1HTRXWCwU0AOGRXtVjIH-zhPvzQigD5kwqAty1PnuCdShD2Ii6CcYVisAU81-H_eGiATN7CrboOGSOmct9TRlwVu89fO2gMrz7eW60IM7lkDwzJ2ggOwCIWGsbHD/w640-h356/homepage%20snapshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Check back on our blog over the coming weeks and months for more about our centenary, and object highlights compiled by our team and volunteers! </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>You can also follow the project on social media with the hashtag #WMC100.</b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-12192598650256965752023-07-07T11:36:00.002+01:002023-07-07T13:49:57.894+01:00Pontefract Castle Interactive Painting: New Resource<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Explore the history of Pontefract Castle through <a href="https://bit.ly/PCInteractivePainting">this interactive version of Alexander Keirincx's painting</a>! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commissioned by Charles I and painted by Keirincx in 1640, it shows the Castle in its heyday.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/PCInteractivePainting" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="A large oil painting of Pontefract Castle as it was in about 1640, painted by Alexander Keirincx. It shows what a grand site it was, and much larger than the standing remains today might suggest. There are 10 towers and 3 lines of defensive walls extending down to the Knottingley Road." border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1285" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio0Z9QrCclb-zlyJMKz1rtjQRgbQrE91BIubUqEbtfjNNFYsT9RkPslqAd0ZSC0YW6tOpUyQfPHJkqL39pPSYbbq6OKL3UI2CFB6Mx8q1FPTkA1NZcOU0dj2i5FVDOwn8E8-015g7kjbdGlEjiRXuFvFu2ynT5hM36OvUJa9NrmQF7Aus_W5vkzHsZXLT/w640-h346/Kierincx%20full.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/PCInteractivePainting">Click here to go to the interactive painting</a></b></div></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We're developing new digital content all the time. We would love to have your feedback on the Interactive Painting, or anything else you would like to see - post it in the comments below!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Want to see the Castle for real? Pontefract Castle is free entry and open daily. </b><b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/" style="color: #0072a2; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here for visitor and access information for Pontefract Castle</a>.</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We also hold Dungeon Tours and Castle Explorer Tours every weekend! <a href="https://bit.ly/WMandCTickets" style="color: #0072a2; text-decoration-line: none;">Click here to book.</a></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The original painting is on display in <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-museum/" style="color: #0072a2; text-decoration-line: none;">Pontefract Museum</a>.</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The painting is on loan to Wakefield Museums and Castles from The Hepworth Wakefield.</span></p>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-61216095232548242632023-06-22T11:52:00.003+01:002023-06-22T13:00:18.204+01:00Artist Commission - Healthy Hedgerows: Sandal Castle Environmental Project<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<p><b style="font-size: large;">We've got an exciting new opportunity for artists who love nature and community engagement! </b></p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Healthy Hedgerows Project is a project delivered by Wakefield Museums & Castles, in collaboration with The Woodland Trust and local primary schools. The project aims to rebuild and strengthen the biodiversity of <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/sandal-castle/">Sandal Castle</a> through the planned management and replanting of the hedgerows around the site.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdUpMdkyah6RnSMPFQ9QFLLztc9q2VvpGe7yZHd-L2kcvK--mvfMF1Z_Q_XY8FZhfWKg02yF2avQ4cmgpCUMpjZWO6tpappKOlcR-AWvCVWoqUbAiQ-1nrPp-7bSJkjBSnMJj5IH9hI7hjAqr36tn53ekm2OKFd1Xgc0UKhDGtBOuJVJ7yxycV0udI9SQ/s5640/041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="The ruins of Sandal Castle on a sunny day" border="0" data-original-height="3760" data-original-width="5640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdUpMdkyah6RnSMPFQ9QFLLztc9q2VvpGe7yZHd-L2kcvK--mvfMF1Z_Q_XY8FZhfWKg02yF2avQ4cmgpCUMpjZWO6tpappKOlcR-AWvCVWoqUbAiQ-1nrPp-7bSJkjBSnMJj5IH9hI7hjAqr36tn53ekm2OKFd1Xgc0UKhDGtBOuJVJ7yxycV0udI9SQ/w640-h426/041.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />As part of the project, we're commissioning an artist to work with local primary schools, museum staff and the Woodland Trust to create an artwork that responds to the environment, particularly the flora and fauna of the Sandal Castle site, and to the hedgerow replanting carried out by our Hedgerow Heroes.<br /><br /><b>Apply by: 21 July 2023<br />Fee: £7000</b><br /><br /><b><a href="https://bit.ly/HealthyHedgerowsBrief">Click here for full brief and how to apply</a></b></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-55569270439646071442023-06-08T15:04:00.001+01:002023-06-08T15:27:58.566+01:00Albert Wainwright: Pride Month 2023<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<p><b style="font-size: large;">This Pride Month, we are proud to share a fantastic new
addition to our collection!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We have recently acquired a small number of sketchbook pages
by Albert Wainwright (1898-1943), an influential artist from Castleford. </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">A friend and contemporary of Henry Moore, Wainwright produced
a large and varied body of work. This included ceramics, theatrical design and
book illustrations, as well as watercolours and drawings. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although he didn’t reach
Moore’s commercial success or recognition during his sadly short lifetime, Wainwright’s
reputation has deservedly increased in recent years. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">His work is also
significant in its depiction of gay love at a time when homosexuality was still
illegal in Britain. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0F4WUWD5zsTtWwxU_c0GdWYk81nTG3YbRsUAojyP0SYrrXqpOlgjvj02_RMUS3yScSPfvNV29l5FuhQ5BEjkolSePrzyl_gXEIvwQJ_GKh6J_hzEpiqvqUTJsKP0bztN4UmJpvCC5G4Rf8G6k78En19fiXerfNGjGmwTewbPmlkUNdl8hKRH7M8ArWg/s4705/E008050A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A sketch depicting two seated schoolboys by the riverbank, with further studies of male figures reclining on one another. The seated schoolboys are in colour, wearing navy blue blazers and shorts, and pale green caps and socks." border="0" data-original-height="3322" data-original-width="4705" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0F4WUWD5zsTtWwxU_c0GdWYk81nTG3YbRsUAojyP0SYrrXqpOlgjvj02_RMUS3yScSPfvNV29l5FuhQ5BEjkolSePrzyl_gXEIvwQJ_GKh6J_hzEpiqvqUTJsKP0bztN4UmJpvCC5G4Rf8G6k78En19fiXerfNGjGmwTewbPmlkUNdl8hKRH7M8ArWg/w640-h452/E008050A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sketch by Albert Wainwright, recently acquired by Wakefield Museums & Castles. Features drawings of schoolboys, including a pair where one is tenderly reclining on the other.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wainwright was born and brought up in Castleford. He
attended Castleford Grammar School and was taught by the inspirational artist <a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2022/04/finding-alice-gostick.html"><b>Alice
Gostick</b></a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gostick encouraged Wainwright’s artistic potential and her support
helped him to secure a place at the Leeds School of Art in 1914. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gostick’s
influence on Wainwright’s art continued. He became a regular at her renowned pottery
painting classes, hand-painting ceramics in a traditional style known as
Castleford ‘Peasant Pottery’. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1927, Wainwright returned to Castleford
Grammar School as an art teacher, temporarily taking Gostick’s place after she
became ill. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JGnkED5J3VctnCQ8DbYJUiHwWnNb6g4ZhOaC9qQUjEtNOwVt8mhTKJFiaRjDfxA4WKXEZBfwysfN92HSt3ritefjm8zYoN-1HBD8HsGSaZvcClx9eG3s19vla6Nsdm_9CywmQBdP7cEUvNsyf5x6xce0XzOV-MQre3OKun_WYOkPqRVN0HXlRPJGQg/s794/SH14580A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A tall, thin cylindrical vase, made and hand-painted by Albert Wainwright. The painting style is abstract, with purples, reds, yellows, greens and black swirls painted onto the white base." border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JGnkED5J3VctnCQ8DbYJUiHwWnNb6g4ZhOaC9qQUjEtNOwVt8mhTKJFiaRjDfxA4WKXEZBfwysfN92HSt3ritefjm8zYoN-1HBD8HsGSaZvcClx9eG3s19vla6Nsdm_9CywmQBdP7cEUvNsyf5x6xce0XzOV-MQre3OKun_WYOkPqRVN0HXlRPJGQg/w428-h640/SH14580A.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Hand-painted vase by Wainwright in the style of Alice Gostick</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7wrK_z-zAOppO2QZB4T1FpYnwN901m3rDmUFvyv0D8P0XNsgf5U8lpZAL6EfKo2asJqKfq2HG9P5AAp2-XVV0BxWZaPsWgBCOuk-wBFenAlE2lmeKitIR-VYC5HhyUtrExGVad-azAt9LI3j7CbZ2mosveeoOfv0ehKb1_zZXazCIDwG_MZoebowZg/s595/SH14580B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Base of the same vase, with Wainwright's monogram, a capital A in a circle" border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="595" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7wrK_z-zAOppO2QZB4T1FpYnwN901m3rDmUFvyv0D8P0XNsgf5U8lpZAL6EfKo2asJqKfq2HG9P5AAp2-XVV0BxWZaPsWgBCOuk-wBFenAlE2lmeKitIR-VYC5HhyUtrExGVad-azAt9LI3j7CbZ2mosveeoOfv0ehKb1_zZXazCIDwG_MZoebowZg/w400-h400/SH14580B.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Base of the same vase above, marked with Wainwright's monogram.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gostick also encouraged her pupils to design costume, stage
sets and programmes for school productions. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The experience was invaluable for Wainwright,
who went on to work as a theatrical designer. He received over a hundred costume
and scenery commissions. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">His intricate watercolour designs spanned a wide range
of productions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-3UOdXYYo3ShdO9dn7mjuK0ECQ1rrHKZ-Tk_bAdPVPKyn_5-5QaqiFAk0zix3cTHLgIKD2T-SkhsmvTjhbMoHqYUZQeOBOTfCqre2hEHAaii8TWl15ZXgkekRewhpGRdpPlxBMsJnjUTyTBjRZfTQIEpbqCGdNlT4JpkZh7rNQDoDjOHEP8J1jVReg/s520/E0000398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Portrait poster for exhibition of Wainwright's work. Reads 'Albert Wainwright, 1898 - 1943. Artist, illustrator, theatre and costume designer of Castleford.' Includes a large illustration by Wainwright of a costume design for an Ancient Greek female character in art-deco style" border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="368" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-3UOdXYYo3ShdO9dn7mjuK0ECQ1rrHKZ-Tk_bAdPVPKyn_5-5QaqiFAk0zix3cTHLgIKD2T-SkhsmvTjhbMoHqYUZQeOBOTfCqre2hEHAaii8TWl15ZXgkekRewhpGRdpPlxBMsJnjUTyTBjRZfTQIEpbqCGdNlT4JpkZh7rNQDoDjOHEP8J1jVReg/w452-h640/E0000398.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Poster for an exhibition of Wainwright's work at Wakefield Art Gallery in the 1980s. It features an example of his costume design.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As well as his commercial work, Wainwright was a prolific draughtsman. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He filled many sketchbooks with illustrations and watercolours of local landmarks
and characters, capturing a snapshot of industrial Castleford in the 1920s and
1930s. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVwYWdneSFIEtSmsW8lGpU5JL8IyKMzO8eDXaOLMl01vrui3cuSqNFe9WwNcoumE9DoK4FNE0p0VoqGugq-pfQIiB5TqI2IEqh7Z4zRZ2Q4GNG_1TEa2xL4xKeH202AAWvHZbe0L2iB5ZZ99pHaNC10qmAqrpDRwlZt4IngRsWogsiBwkTV33MY2-Mw/s5032/_MG_3727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sketch by Wainwright of the cemetery at Red Hill. To the right of the main sketch are the words 'Red Hill', 4 tall narrow buildings with billowing chimneys, and 'October 25th' in a stylised circle" border="0" data-original-height="3640" data-original-width="5032" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVwYWdneSFIEtSmsW8lGpU5JL8IyKMzO8eDXaOLMl01vrui3cuSqNFe9WwNcoumE9DoK4FNE0p0VoqGugq-pfQIiB5TqI2IEqh7Z4zRZ2Q4GNG_1TEa2xL4xKeH202AAWvHZbe0L2iB5ZZ99pHaNC10qmAqrpDRwlZt4IngRsWogsiBwkTV33MY2-Mw/w640-h462/_MG_3727.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Page from the 'Castleford Notebook', 1928 by Albert Wainwright. Sketch of the cemetery on Red Hill.<br />With thanks to The Hepworth Wakefield.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqOJ6MartJMe7pLpK0dJicsNZZXvztl6EXF3MqgeGHypqL0ihLJSKgONAfhDN5ley68n7HHrCBx5PUk2XAQuK8f7L08EidEHF1sNk4HR31WnhQZlum7PrXz_zQLw5U3-U0p2_PMIvOKfKv3Ffzfu1Cm7ua9-Uv52moHzkAG5yC5uu1m4HGeM0Puka5g/s5072/_MG_3728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sketch by Wainwright of large, busy factories and mining activity at Castleford. The chimneys are billowing black and white fumes. The miners in the foreground are small, almost stick figures" border="0" data-original-height="3688" data-original-width="5072" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqOJ6MartJMe7pLpK0dJicsNZZXvztl6EXF3MqgeGHypqL0ihLJSKgONAfhDN5ley68n7HHrCBx5PUk2XAQuK8f7L08EidEHF1sNk4HR31WnhQZlum7PrXz_zQLw5U3-U0p2_PMIvOKfKv3Ffzfu1Cm7ua9-Uv52moHzkAG5yC5uu1m4HGeM0Puka5g/w640-h466/_MG_3728.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Page from the 'Castleford Notebook', 1928 by Albert Wainwright. Sketch of factories and mines in Castleford.<br />With thanks to The Hepworth Wakefield.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">His personal sketchbooks also include many studies of people, including androgynous figures, young men and depictions of male intimacy. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wainwright was gay but homosexuality remained illegal in Britain during his lifetime. It was not decriminalised until 1967, 24 years after his premature death. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although Wainwright’s sketchbooks were not originally intended for public view, they are a rare record of gay love in the early 20th century. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">We are very pleased to have acquired some examples of these
sketchbook pages at auction earlier this year. They are a valuable addition to
our collection. In addition to examples of Wainwright’s ceramics, theatre work
and industrial sketches already in our collection, these sketches of male
intimacy will help us to tell a fuller story of his life and career. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
reveal a sometimes hidden LGTBQ+ history. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPmFMZagHnkwNtQltZiqxO--88MjSAR2rveBMznZH4rbgIU38KZ-9z26r2Xk1SZeauNbNAMuwO5qRIfR3Z8d8g2YK4pb2D2J7g2AR11Q4jUne4fZKNsXbm79eSgf1RLGTlZHAoQVCmJiWQ9svLuBxRYtlAREMQuy-881yu8YPbBgW_Yh_LeY9XqI9MQ/s4629/E008049A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sketch of two schoolboys, one reclining on the other, and a third schoolboy looking at his reflection in the water." border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4629" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPmFMZagHnkwNtQltZiqxO--88MjSAR2rveBMznZH4rbgIU38KZ-9z26r2Xk1SZeauNbNAMuwO5qRIfR3Z8d8g2YK4pb2D2J7g2AR11Q4jUne4fZKNsXbm79eSgf1RLGTlZHAoQVCmJiWQ9svLuBxRYtlAREMQuy-881yu8YPbBgW_Yh_LeY9XqI9MQ/w640-h478/E008049A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sketch by Albert Wainwright, recently acquired by Wakefield Museums & Castles. Features drawings of schoolboys, including a pair where one is reclining on the other.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Albert Wainwright sadly died from meningitis aged just 45 in
1943. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He was living in and teaching in Bridlington at the time and had achieved
a name for himself within his native Yorkshire. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, his artistic achievement
is increasingly recognised and we are proud to celebrate his work in our
displays at Castleford Library & Museum. <o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/search/label/lgbtq">Click here for more LGBTQ+ stories in our collections</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2022/04/finding-alice-gostick.html">Click here to read more about Alice Gostick</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/">Click here for visitor information at Castleford Museum</a> (opens in new page)</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-16796250267394723512023-05-16T11:35:00.002+01:002023-06-02T12:44:48.486+01:00Roman Castleford and RomanFest 2023<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">By Jove! <a href="https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/castleford-roman-festival/">Castleford Roman Festival</a> is back for 2023.</h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday 10 June all roads lead to Castleford for a Roman-themed family fun day.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We've got a whole host of Roman blog articles, activities and videos to explore ahead of the Festival on our <a href="https://bit.ly/RomanCastleford">Roman Castleford landing page</a>!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3BpBbQBt4MpO2tSHdtN80FaXVuLFiPkE8Q4MSjE4MsfZbkHxTar7Ic5vSu95ghwFJsbxoER4Np9ip7VWDv1O7bBv96H1v4BbNnbO75CJH4KmZk9CJNzWd47fI7FRrucJtKxo_1_dHIPuXy89k1ZhzZO9hQEtPBmBrPYCFfuMc56NSelhq0mr_IYohQ/s2700/2%20Welcome%20To%20Castleford%20Museum%20Oct%202019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="A young visitor in replica Roman armour at Castleford Museum - they look pretty fierce!" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3BpBbQBt4MpO2tSHdtN80FaXVuLFiPkE8Q4MSjE4MsfZbkHxTar7Ic5vSu95ghwFJsbxoER4Np9ip7VWDv1O7bBv96H1v4BbNnbO75CJH4KmZk9CJNzWd47fI7FRrucJtKxo_1_dHIPuXy89k1ZhzZO9hQEtPBmBrPYCFfuMc56NSelhq0mr_IYohQ/w640-h426/2%20Welcome%20To%20Castleford%20Museum%20Oct%202019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">March over to the Roman Castleford page to:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2020/06/rome-from-home-discovering-lagentium.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn about how archaeologists discovered Roman Castleford</span></a></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/roman-castleford.html#Videos">Take a virtual tour of Castleford Museum's Roman displays</a> </span></li><li><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2020/06/rome-from-home-bath-house.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Discover how Lagentium embraced the very Roman tradition of bathing</span></a></li><li><a href="http://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/p/roman-castleford.html#Activities"><span style="font-size: medium;">Taste the past with our awesome ancient recipes</span></a></li></ul></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-15786070200398332292023-05-06T08:30:00.001+01:002023-06-02T12:44:55.183+01:00Coronation Medals and Memorabilia<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;">To mark the Coronation of King Charles III, we've been looking through our collection for coins, medals and memorabilia from coronations past.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Coins and medals in particular have been an important part of establishing a new leader's rule and presence throughout the world, since ancient times. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All of the following items are from our collection - maybe you have some too?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">William IV (Reigned 1830 to 1837)</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Wcvf6e0nuewo0YhvgCcqkY0dVaJ8FR7yvQ7oJYcqjKyMA991l-XEbyqCvTgbFgrwelC471oUEfqvpdkPJm4JwSgBWLaP5KEn5NhoGvtJ-36o-u1BxRywTn5z_ughtPl7dTFmaN_vZtUEy63xvc1fQZDmHGs0IpjFVjs5DH2t1R7P-NtvkkeOU9XBYA/s1700/William%20IV%20both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Coronation coin for William IV, stylised as 'William IIII' and Queen Adelaide. Their rather crude portraits are on the 'heads' side, and 'Crowned at Westminster Sept 8 1831' on the reverse, with an image of the Crown Jewels" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1700" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Wcvf6e0nuewo0YhvgCcqkY0dVaJ8FR7yvQ7oJYcqjKyMA991l-XEbyqCvTgbFgrwelC471oUEfqvpdkPJm4JwSgBWLaP5KEn5NhoGvtJ-36o-u1BxRywTn5z_ughtPl7dTFmaN_vZtUEy63xvc1fQZDmHGs0IpjFVjs5DH2t1R7P-NtvkkeOU9XBYA/w640-h302/William%20IV%20both.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A medal issued to mark the coronation of King William IV and Queen Adelaide at Westminster, on September 8 1831. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h3 style="text-align: left;">Victoria (Reigned 1837 to 1901)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntPC4th4P_rdYegZhunCycRFfsZvX6kvh9kC52gbDJElmnF3nD4Ld4uoPq5VUCkd58aR8wNJ2Si9F1psEojLB3IMEuuE52Eb1iIiicAosAlCXHVDUf39CqJ1OdQO6hFJUJqWyDalP-KlLQMDP0qKnP6-UASHyAIdQcM4Hskx0vsjdz_AdSiWddRuCjA/s1700/Victoria%20both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Medal commemorating the 1838 coronation of Queen Victoria. The 'heads' side has an image of Victoria in portrait and the 'tails' side has Victoria receiving the crown from representations of Britannia, Scotland and Ireland." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1700" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntPC4th4P_rdYegZhunCycRFfsZvX6kvh9kC52gbDJElmnF3nD4Ld4uoPq5VUCkd58aR8wNJ2Si9F1psEojLB3IMEuuE52Eb1iIiicAosAlCXHVDUf39CqJ1OdQO6hFJUJqWyDalP-KlLQMDP0qKnP6-UASHyAIdQcM4Hskx0vsjdz_AdSiWddRuCjA/w640-h302/Victoria%20both.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A medal issued to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 'heads' side reads 'Victoria D[ei].G[ratia]. Britanniarum Regina F[idei].D[efensatrix].' which translates from Latin as 'Victoria, by the grace of God, Queen of Britain, defender of the faith'.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 'tails' side reads 'Eremis Tibi Nobile Regnum - Inaugurata Die Junii XXVIII MDCCCXXXVIII', which translates from Latin as 'We shall be a noble kingdom to you' and 'Inaugurated 23 June 1838'. It shows Queen Victoria sat on a throne being offered the crown by women representing Britannia, Scotland and Ireland.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.rct.uk/collection/443368/medal-commemorating-the-coronation-of-queen-victoria">(Information from Royal Collection Trust)</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span><!--more--></span><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Edward VII (Reigned 1901 to 1910)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3yeTBRRudMU-Ii__3sb9IDZ868yRr7MUBbrY-RnCBlFOIKn-McbEEIS6YtJNdGiAhjnxF1KGOC4YYWJw6jhXsJs1je6fQoTJzBW2qsJ2AahPpQjOiElkAv3vzBG-D3YOhjoybMhjU99Lb5oTqayPrHFcRAH-8gtm9ArJ7DgOmObPHE3AKRUc-zIUrA/s1700/Edward%20VII%20both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Silver medal issued for Edward VII's coronation in 1902" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1700" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3yeTBRRudMU-Ii__3sb9IDZ868yRr7MUBbrY-RnCBlFOIKn-McbEEIS6YtJNdGiAhjnxF1KGOC4YYWJw6jhXsJs1je6fQoTJzBW2qsJ2AahPpQjOiElkAv3vzBG-D3YOhjoybMhjU99Lb5oTqayPrHFcRAH-8gtm9ArJ7DgOmObPHE3AKRUc-zIUrA/w640-h302/Edward%20VII%20both.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A coronation medal issued for King Edward VII on 26 June 1902. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 'heads' side has the profile of King Edward VII with Queen Alexandra beside him, and their names </span><span style="font-size: large;">inscribed above their heads in English.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 'tails' side includes the inscription 'To commemorate the Coronation - June 26 1902', and two crests with 'Windsor and Eton and Neighbourhood' written below.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span><!--more--></span><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">George V (Reigned 1910 to 1936)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCDUnFp96_ZidkKvo97K_HZG3jDvBdqNNGBQJq-A8IHB2S-ZEbBQJ7NDqcwdAdCB65OGlTebCQEYXrO080bPm7o4vB0BGLs2pSgapm-8MASQ5YXsHfrTo930BLniIX5lYvI-4b2GoVNvV06UpeaHcwn35US8zdA82ZXDPwwtyiM0REzxu6U5Ty3vbxA/s1700/George%20V%20both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A commemoration medal for George V's coronation from 1911 'struck by Elect Cocoa'" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1700" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCDUnFp96_ZidkKvo97K_HZG3jDvBdqNNGBQJq-A8IHB2S-ZEbBQJ7NDqcwdAdCB65OGlTebCQEYXrO080bPm7o4vB0BGLs2pSgapm-8MASQ5YXsHfrTo930BLniIX5lYvI-4b2GoVNvV06UpeaHcwn35US8zdA82ZXDPwwtyiM0REzxu6U5Ty3vbxA/w640-h302/George%20V%20both.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A medal issued to commemorate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911 by Elect Cocoa (owned by Rowntree's). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 'heads' side has the profile of George V and Queen Mary, with 'King George V' and 'Queen Mary' above their heads.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 'tails' side reads 'Struck by the makers of Elect Cocoa. To commemorate the coronation of H.M. King George V and H.M. Queen Mary - 1911'.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span><!--more--></span><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Edward VIII* (Reigned 1936)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHR2wGx56CyReiSyOOcuBMKW0R1j_wVgBHOxKNDDz0q02dICwYzC-5-w9_ahN3w70bUZpGPLFFCL4HignKikI5JiJ_qD-3dHEB95Umc0rvD_PED4MTW5tTcFTn3fnRpSaNcwd4tCFOqrq8o17qbT_3l8xbd1f1uc-gn8ljZQ5tMQ-5LCerFepSHzI6g/s1700/Edward%20VIII%20both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1700" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHR2wGx56CyReiSyOOcuBMKW0R1j_wVgBHOxKNDDz0q02dICwYzC-5-w9_ahN3w70bUZpGPLFFCL4HignKikI5JiJ_qD-3dHEB95Umc0rvD_PED4MTW5tTcFTn3fnRpSaNcwd4tCFOqrq8o17qbT_3l8xbd1f1uc-gn8ljZQ5tMQ-5LCerFepSHzI6g/w640-h302/Edward%20VIII%20both.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A medal made to commemorate the coronation of Edward VIII, which was due to take place in 1937. However, this never happened as Edward abdicated in December 1936.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 'heads' side has the profile of Edward VIII, with 'Edward VIII - King & Emperor' above his head.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The 'tails' side is inscribed with 'Struck by the makers of Rowntree's Cocoa, Jellies & Gums' (linking it to the medal above for George V) and 'To commemorate the coronation of H.M. King Edward VIII - 1937'</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span><!--more--></span><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">George VI (Reigned 1936 to 1952)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAM7D_hxcIs84UjD04BnrOoUyRTd8H8nbbELdxkZ0_5qQhdjIuiODK0T-l6JvlK5kLGJCRI6WPNYfOSpzWekm5JgGLZqjZgyUL3ErZQUfw04UOQulGPQ46_Ue6zRBu3ee-eAngpVUy_n_jLRrDwoMofsKqanm-dUaAXNoiYNRKot1ojQXFH4DcP29gpg/s800/George%20VI%20button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A badge made to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAM7D_hxcIs84UjD04BnrOoUyRTd8H8nbbELdxkZ0_5qQhdjIuiODK0T-l6JvlK5kLGJCRI6WPNYfOSpzWekm5JgGLZqjZgyUL3ErZQUfw04UOQulGPQ46_Ue6zRBu3ee-eAngpVUy_n_jLRrDwoMofsKqanm-dUaAXNoiYNRKot1ojQXFH4DcP29gpg/w400-h400/George%20VI%20button.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A badge made to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It has George VI and Elizabeth in profile, with 'George VI & Elizabeth Crowned 1937' inscribed. It could have been pinned or sewn into clothing or a cap with the hook on the left-hand side.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span><!--more--></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Elizabeth II (Reigned 1952 to 2022)</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTKyEJEvEznV4DwcVhx2PI3m0-bLgcEZG32BqUfqHo-wEBOqDWx1gUaJ9uxtYpP0nKPT3rFzOFAOQNwX4-qozAVipGGINQ5QpjRQwvUuFgU4mm2z-8pg9Jq2thqImqsRMEcz4XD5qJzWyjIN8VWD1ZyojW31fexXvACOqYCXXDwF93Zbi6QHNe1s9nA/s800/Elizabeth%20II%20plate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A glass commemorative plate made for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTKyEJEvEznV4DwcVhx2PI3m0-bLgcEZG32BqUfqHo-wEBOqDWx1gUaJ9uxtYpP0nKPT3rFzOFAOQNwX4-qozAVipGGINQ5QpjRQwvUuFgU4mm2z-8pg9Jq2thqImqsRMEcz4XD5qJzWyjIN8VWD1ZyojW31fexXvACOqYCXXDwF93Zbi6QHNe1s9nA/w400-h400/Elizabeth%20II%20plate.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">A commemorative glass plate made to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, created locally by Bagley & Co in Knottingley. <br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It has 'Queen Elizabeth II Coronation' engraved around the outside of the main dish, with 'June' and '1953' in shield shapes. The crown jewels are engraved in the middle, along with Elizabeth II's royal cipher. </span></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We've got two new displays looking back to Elizabeth II's coronation at Pontefract Museum and Wakefield One! <a href="https://bit.ly/WMCCoronationDisplays">Click here to find out more about the new Coronation Displays</a>. </b></span></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-55667649665578992312023-05-03T17:01:00.003+01:002023-06-02T12:45:01.800+01:00Interactive exhibit design opportunity at Pontefract Castle<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We are looking to appoint a contractor to design, build and fit interactive
elements at the <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-castle/" target="_blank">Pontefract Castle Visitor Centre</a> that will engage, educate and enhance the visitor experience.</span></b></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezrEaaaMDzINOA_VGdyAAX4N6fiV6z79yOXuWlWU7Le3FD3VVD0ZFW22rK7qt0hBt-nyKe7McU_nrv13pzNGrKuSY8clN9xxUTaxKQK9fmNvDXRojP2gshGzetGjGys7JEFSpk2BJAS9ObnMA0RQS4cMx2OhCOnyumrpotqRvGHsiRA8Wd82uFNShcQ/s2700/50%20Pontefract%20Castle%20Aug%202019%20Vistors%20To%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A young visitor and their grownup outside the Visitor Centre at Pontefract Castle" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezrEaaaMDzINOA_VGdyAAX4N6fiV6z79yOXuWlWU7Le3FD3VVD0ZFW22rK7qt0hBt-nyKe7McU_nrv13pzNGrKuSY8clN9xxUTaxKQK9fmNvDXRojP2gshGzetGjGys7JEFSpk2BJAS9ObnMA0RQS4cMx2OhCOnyumrpotqRvGHsiRA8Wd82uFNShcQ/w640-h426/50%20Pontefract%20Castle%20Aug%202019%20Vistors%20To%20Castle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pontefract Castle</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: large;">From its construction in 1070 to its demise following
the Civil Wars, the once-fearsome fortress of Pontefract Castle dominated Yorkshire and beyond,
bearing witness to some of England’s most momentous historical events, earning itself the name of the
Key to the North!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today, the castle is a place of adventure, with wide open spaces to explore and play, and fascinating
ruins to investigate. Family-friendly interpretation boards around the grounds reveal the castle’s
eventful history. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSOqaU03nNdMqnhI1m6iCkQjsoWjbILBz6q2a79d8M1bmgnszHhbETDgHAyeUZ_XDX6knjX4VDFh-LUWOd3Kt1CIma_EFkBvhnsYBKZcgYwQTbiMhqZw8HeOibKJvX7rYDkLHPgRsSEpQyVLx_KCDv37g1m8RO7ntJvqvS-sARgBvip0tahHfxwtb0Q/s2400/55%20Pontefract%20Castle%20Aug%202019%20Vistors%20To%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A very young visitor running ahead of their grownups, beaming, in the grounds at Pontefract Castle" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSOqaU03nNdMqnhI1m6iCkQjsoWjbILBz6q2a79d8M1bmgnszHhbETDgHAyeUZ_XDX6knjX4VDFh-LUWOd3Kt1CIma_EFkBvhnsYBKZcgYwQTbiMhqZw8HeOibKJvX7rYDkLHPgRsSEpQyVLx_KCDv37g1m8RO7ntJvqvS-sARgBvip0tahHfxwtb0Q/w640-h480/55%20Pontefract%20Castle%20Aug%202019%20Vistors%20To%20Castle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlFSX4nUNLzMqrqxc7ri0CDQj-WeJtE4nYwxKLea2mJj0RwUbRkCfEzibc5Iw4h7l-W1NCjq4Q4H5tsRBcJACrc9G5N6qmDb0-hrXZUZWU9SgtXlZtC01H2RlwYHKDILhgQzqYkpMCXXHGJ-ylcQYhagLGRiMLxvfIb_Bw4QaEDInil06AslK5ig_Zw/s2700/12%20Pontefract%20Castle%20Aug%202019%20Info%20Boards.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two young visitors inspecting an information panel at Pontefract Castle. They are dressed up in medieval-style fancy dress." border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlFSX4nUNLzMqrqxc7ri0CDQj-WeJtE4nYwxKLea2mJj0RwUbRkCfEzibc5Iw4h7l-W1NCjq4Q4H5tsRBcJACrc9G5N6qmDb0-hrXZUZWU9SgtXlZtC01H2RlwYHKDILhgQzqYkpMCXXHGJ-ylcQYhagLGRiMLxvfIb_Bw4QaEDInil06AslK5ig_Zw/w640-h426/12%20Pontefract%20Castle%20Aug%202019%20Info%20Boards.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From the top of the keep, visitors can admire the surrounding Yorkshire countryside.
The children’s playground is the perfect place for young visitors to burn off some energy and create their
own castle adventures.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Visitor Centre includes an Activity Space, Gift Shop, Café, and museum display area. The displays are
located in a glazed link area between the Gift Shop and Cafe.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgOJL_OeVR1kJ21oQRd_AfDhFIXfYJMrQ6y_oomTAAVVTLFUAKIjWzDWZ6CchSoktsHnCoaelLwvJDJUxL6-7GUZJ8Dvczr04c7wLxQeIqdRnRXmZy4qKKY48A79GrcAO6iw4Tgg73nrX4grONLC8bo9t4Uzcp0p3b0xLkYOyGykTcUwfH-UUEkVH_g/s1267/Visitor%20Centre.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Display cases in the current layout of the Visitor Centre at Pontefract Castle" border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1267" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgOJL_OeVR1kJ21oQRd_AfDhFIXfYJMrQ6y_oomTAAVVTLFUAKIjWzDWZ6CchSoktsHnCoaelLwvJDJUxL6-7GUZJ8Dvczr04c7wLxQeIqdRnRXmZy4qKKY48A79GrcAO6iw4Tgg73nrX4grONLC8bo9t4Uzcp0p3b0xLkYOyGykTcUwfH-UUEkVH_g/w640-h426/Visitor%20Centre.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The museum display space in Pontefract Castle Visitor Centre</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Commission brief</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: large;">We are now inviting proposals to design, build and fit interactive elements that
will expand our visitor offer. This should include: </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Hands-on interactive element/s inspired by the collections on display </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">A dressing up area for all ages inspired by the displays and site history </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Design and print of complementary graphic panel/s, incorporating existing content to be
supplied by the client </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Fit out /installation of above elements </span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Factors for consideration:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">The exhibit will not be directly overseen by a member staff so will need to be robust and self-explanatory. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Environmentally-friendly, sustainable materials should be used wherever possible but must
also be long-lasting and fit for purpose.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">This area gets direct sunlight from the adjacent window and can reach high temperatures in
the summer. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Structures should be of a durable finish and easily cleaned. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">The exhibit must be inclusive and meet all physical, sensory and intellectual accessibility
requirements.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Copyright for all text, graphics and images supplied by the client is to be retained by the
client. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: large;">The successful contractor will work closely with Wakefield Museums & Castles staff, particularly the
Curatorial & Exhibitions team, who will retain overall editorial and curatorial control of the display
content. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The successful contractor will be appointed in June 2023. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The exhibit should be installed by end August 2023.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Deadline for proposals is 9am, 30 May 2023. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">For a copy of the full brief, details of how to apply, or for more information, please contact Steph Webb, Senior Officer: Curatorial & Exhibitions on <a href="mailto:swebb@wakefield.gov.uk">swebb@wakefield.gov.uk </a></span></b><p></p>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6638778275915511483.post-14136658566811161972023-04-27T10:45:00.002+01:002023-06-02T12:45:10.993+01:00Knottingley: Fire & Water - Interview with David Appleyard<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>On 23 November 2022, we celebrated the industrial heritage of Knottingley through a commissioned artwork by David Appleyard. </b></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The project was funded by Arts Council England and was designed to celebrate the industrial heritage of Knottingley.</span></b><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><br /><a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2022/11/knottingley-fire-water-23rd-november.html">Knottingley: Fire & Water</a> was an innovative artwork, with illuminations, projections, and local community responses. </b></span><b> It was an evening of wonder, celebration, and community spirit. Over seven months, David immersed himself in the community, working closely with local people to reflect on the Knottingley of the present, as well as the Knottingley of the past. More than 200 people took part. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We've been reflecting on the legacy of the project, and went back to David to capture his thoughts and feelings about Knottingley: Fire & Water, ahead of more digital community resources being released later this year.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Read on to learn about his tips for community engagement and advice to aspiring artists!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLeO8LBVqq1eHtF-I2nKyhxkO6NX2OJAXIMmHz7Fm-AKw3mZsH24SQlZtdb7t7M3KKLWsaEg-vKThwPOz0rEj0maLvYE_ZroaVe4OomD5yWm9X78ydeNkqay8SWzyP01jfszbYjPlynE3gyiMTfvk6_a5d6Ezv2nTkA9mE47_2FUAnG_Nhc9CGKxrkw/s3543/David%20Appleyard%20Studio%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="David Appleyard in his studio, reviewing colourful alternative Knottingley town crests made by local school children under a large panel of glass. There are lots of various pieces of artmaking equipment behind him." border="0" data-original-height="2362" data-original-width="3543" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLeO8LBVqq1eHtF-I2nKyhxkO6NX2OJAXIMmHz7Fm-AKw3mZsH24SQlZtdb7t7M3KKLWsaEg-vKThwPOz0rEj0maLvYE_ZroaVe4OomD5yWm9X78ydeNkqay8SWzyP01jfszbYjPlynE3gyiMTfvk6_a5d6Ezv2nTkA9mE47_2FUAnG_Nhc9CGKxrkw/w640-h426/David%20Appleyard%20Studio%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">David Appleyard in his studio, reviewing alternative Knottingley town crests created by local schoolchildren. </span>Photo by Nick Singleton.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Interview with artist David Appleyard</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Q: How did you become aware of the Knottingley: Fire & Water project? What was the application process like, and do you have any advice on how to succeed at the application stage? </b><br /><br /><b>David:</b> The application process followed an open call that was advertised on various national arts websites. As application processes go it was fairly straight-forward. I sent an initial expression of interest and made the shortlisting. I was then given time to develop my approach before being interviewed. The interview itself was friendly and informal and I was given plenty of opportunity to present ideas and working methods. <br /><br />Advice on applications? <br /><br />The application process is never as daunting as it might sound, it just takes time. You’ve got to be in it to win it - so just give it a go.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b>Q: The Knottingley: Fire & Water project was rooted in the local community – how did you get to know the community and build up trust with different individuals and groups? </b><br /><br /><b>David:</b> I made a lot of visits to Knottingley and worked with specific groups to make sure that a broad range of people knew about the project. <br /><br />I was visiting every two to three weeks so I got to know people quite well. The only way to build trust is to maintain communication with them, whether it be in person or online.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b>Q: What research did you carry out to understand the history and industrial heritage of the town? </b><br /><br /><b>David:</b> Initially, I spent time researching Knottingley’s history using various web sources. However, this quickly progressed into the archives at <a href="https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/pontefract-museum/">Pontefract Museum</a> where a fantastic collection of archive photographs are held. From the archives I moved out into the community to show people what I had found and to gain feedback.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQTcBbd1N72XaWJDPa1JNIdwrqBGth_DVivVFf3GouiU6m3_Us_or9JM7g_pe2_BbhyqVcrg-Btbx7UnjHdK0-ZP_XW6HqWP_bCfxB1GS0TcXRVB_G7GUD-4uJ3Pp4rZrk-RwngOQc59Q9iulEraaumi7XSpW614deda8kAVP4VXokJusyqxKu7Vf6A/s2705/P04427_High%20Res.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black and white photo of two workers at Bagley's Glassworks pouring molten glass from a gathering rod into a large mould" border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="2705" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQTcBbd1N72XaWJDPa1JNIdwrqBGth_DVivVFf3GouiU6m3_Us_or9JM7g_pe2_BbhyqVcrg-Btbx7UnjHdK0-ZP_XW6HqWP_bCfxB1GS0TcXRVB_G7GUD-4uJ3Pp4rZrk-RwngOQc59Q9iulEraaumi7XSpW614deda8kAVP4VXokJusyqxKu7Vf6A/w640-h476/P04427_High%20Res.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the archive photographs held by Wakefield Museums and Castles, showing two Bagley & Co workers pouring molten glass from a gathering rod into a mould. </span><br />Copyright Wakefield Museums and Castles.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Q: How did your artwork evolve throughout the process? How did your community engagement work shape the final piece? </b><br /><br /><b>David:</b> The project developed quite a lot from my initial proposal and was entirely shaped by the stories that were shared, the comments that people added to response cards and the many conversations I had with people living locally. <br /><br />The most important part of the project was to bring people together in the same way that the glass industry had done years before.<br /><br /><br /><b>Q: What is the most important element to you: the process, the final outcome, the medium? Or something else? </b><br /><br /><b>David:</b> Definitely the process, I never know what I’m going to get as a response and its exciting to work with unknowns. Most of the projects I’ve worked on in the last 15 years have been very different in terms of the outcome and medium. Everything has been driven by research and community involvement.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrtK9fu3IWMPc3_sJreI4OaH7UWLBiH_vTTle4axXv_IbcFlaCuNtilO1FDpnSTfKhsTANNLExYYBx3U-zlMur97eBTcZpn_xcn-QBz4uvu2pQE0-6fi39jp_ngoaYB00UfbTdQGUZAe-70o9IRkkh7fGUmMiCubiNDZirsVzoH_eCfvEWiw9fYdfFg/s3543/Knottingley%20St%20Botolph's%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="David Appleyard in a primary school classroom, showing an old photo of a barge on the canal to pupils watching on." border="0" data-original-height="2362" data-original-width="3543" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrtK9fu3IWMPc3_sJreI4OaH7UWLBiH_vTTle4axXv_IbcFlaCuNtilO1FDpnSTfKhsTANNLExYYBx3U-zlMur97eBTcZpn_xcn-QBz4uvu2pQE0-6fi39jp_ngoaYB00UfbTdQGUZAe-70o9IRkkh7fGUmMiCubiNDZirsVzoH_eCfvEWiw9fYdfFg/w640-h426/Knottingley%20St%20Botolph's%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">David at St Botolph's School in Knottingley, working with local schoolchildren to design their own Knottingley town crests. <br /></span>Photo by Nick Singleton.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><b>Q: Would you have done anything differently? </b><br /><br /><b>David:</b> I’m happy with the way the project evolved. There were a couple of technical hitches on the night but other than that the research and engagement evolved neatly into the final work.<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b>Q: What was the highlight of the project for you, as the artist? </b><br /><br /><b>David:</b> There were a number of highlights to the project: <br /><br /></span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Witnessing the passion and belief that people can have towards the place where they live.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Seeing people come out on a cold November night to celebrate their local community.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">The Silver Band performing Ultra Vox's <i>Vienna</i>!</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Having the privilege of working with a really committed team!</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwkX7Ys3xxehZuU4GJXzOmuerEDMJrN99DUynXEnPOY_Ja_rPIOp8UEngP-b-gBG6mBNliusswqC3DNzDyHdvXo5b-v7p1fBw5ivG1v9pWB68ZA_XTP24oGI0_AofG3kPQxbyQwp46cnI3K1x5iv8u15LIrdbpziJ56a3auG1ZYvmGMuxFDJS8HoTyg/s1779/316818217_650842263183204_1178844337408214390_n%20edit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Part of the Stoelzle Flaconnage glassworks lit up in blue, green and pink against the dark November night's sky. Steam is coming out of the large chimney." border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1779" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwkX7Ys3xxehZuU4GJXzOmuerEDMJrN99DUynXEnPOY_Ja_rPIOp8UEngP-b-gBG6mBNliusswqC3DNzDyHdvXo5b-v7p1fBw5ivG1v9pWB68ZA_XTP24oGI0_AofG3kPQxbyQwp46cnI3K1x5iv8u15LIrdbpziJ56a3auG1ZYvmGMuxFDJS8HoTyg/w640-h480/316818217_650842263183204_1178844337408214390_n%20edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stoelzle Flaconnage glassworks in Knottingley on the night of the Knottingley: Fire & Water event</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ACdAUlDKsTlmsTtwopOWf0m4NolJOVBt-ABO18CyXJvxcu3MSm9uwMLOsS1CyP_vCCuxEkDF8fgxiCTY83VvbAeY8dH_l4kFZ0WgaPvqRgy6alp_KDv75VgqISaN60A1_HFxKyv2uJqjPvh-eoREwbMSzXstSAHODnx_OA_O-cCbEne2CSrbQnDpgw/s2048/_T3A6505-Light%20Up%20Wakefield-Knottingley_Andrew%20Benge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Part of the Allied Glass site lit up in red, orange and yellow against the dark November night's sky. Archive photos from Knottingley's heritage are projected onto one of the large square walls, this one is of a canal barge taking off." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ACdAUlDKsTlmsTtwopOWf0m4NolJOVBt-ABO18CyXJvxcu3MSm9uwMLOsS1CyP_vCCuxEkDF8fgxiCTY83VvbAeY8dH_l4kFZ0WgaPvqRgy6alp_KDv75VgqISaN60A1_HFxKyv2uJqjPvh-eoREwbMSzXstSAHODnx_OA_O-cCbEne2CSrbQnDpgw/w640-h426/_T3A6505-Light%20Up%20Wakefield-Knottingley_Andrew%20Benge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An Allied Glass building in Knottingley on the night of the Knottingley: Fire & Water event. </span><br />Copyright Andrew Benge.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>You can <a href="https://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.com/2022/11/knottingley-fire-water-23rd-november.html">find out more about the Knottingley: Fire and Water project here</a>.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://www.davidappleyard.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Click here for more of David's work.</b></span></a></div></div>Wakefield Museums and Castleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977114960716102763noreply@blogger.com0