An exciting time for Wakefield Museum!

Wakefield Museum on Wood Street closed its doors to the public on Saturday 26^th November in preparation for relocation to the new civic building – Wakefield One. 

Wakefield One is under construction now, and once the works have been finalised, the new galleries will display objects in the collection that have never before been on show, as well as returning some old favourites to pride of place.

We are now working flat-out getting the old displays packed up and objects ready for the new museum.  A completely fresh approach is being taken to the new displays, which will be much more integrated with Local Studies. 

Our emphasis is on the settlement of Wakefield and its hinterland since it was first settled in around 950.  We have taken a thematic approach to the displays – focussing on subjects which are at the core of Wakefield’s cultural history.

This approach allows for greater flexibility – without a rigid chronological structure our displays can change without disrupting the displays around them and allowing for increased access to them and react to new research, discoveries or acquisitions. This ability, alongside our temporary exhibition programme will increase the number of changing offers.  The displays will illustrate the different themes through the lives of Wakefield residents past and present.

So, packing up a museum, choosing objects from the store to go on display, cleaning and conserving those objects, designing new displays and interpretation, designing interactive elements etc...

We’re keeping busy!

Looking around our new home back in October!

From left to right: John Whitaker - Curator, Andrew Marsland - Exhibition Designer, Matt Isherwood - Project Manager, Dave Cooper - Design Technician, Mary Macqueen - Conservator, Joanne Hallam - Hanwell Environmental Monitoring

Local Studies area

Education Room area

View of library from Education Room