100 Years of Collecting - Facebookers' favourite objects

We've loved seeing how much you have enjoyed our 100 Years of Collecting digital content over the past year!

As we bring our centenary celebrations to a close, we asked our Facebook followers to vote on their favourite of the 100 objects in the online exhibition.

Here's a spotlight on the objects you chose to round things up! The 100 Years of Collecting online exhibition will continue to stay live here on our blog.

Please note: one of the objects described in this article refers to the transatlantic slave trade, which uses an outdated historical term.

Madam Connie's wig

Madam Connie's wig as it was on display in the Moving Stories exhibition

Made in: the 2010s

Collected in: 2019

Associated place: Wakefield

Steven Ogilvie wore this wig as his fabulous drag queen persona, Madam Connie, at performances in Wakefield.

Steven donated the wig to the museum in 2019 along with other outfits after Madam Connie hung her up stilettos for the last time. Steven also recorded an oral history about his experiences performing as Connie. He says performing increased his confidence and helped him through difficult times.

We loved including the wig in our recent Moving Stories exhibition! It's now taking a well-earned rest back at our Museum Store.

It was Madam Connie's friends and followers that got her wig well and truly voted onto this favourites list!

You can read more about Madam Connie's story here.

Sandal Castle ring

The Sandal Castle ring, which is on display at Wakefield Museum

Made in: between 1485 and 1600

Collected in: 1983

Associated place: Sandal / Sandal Castle

This beautiful gold ring was found by archaeologists at Sandal Castle during excavations in the 1960s. It is about 500 years old.

It is called a 'love ring' because it has a lovers’ promise on it. 

The wording on this one says ‘tout le vos’tre’, which means ‘I am all yours’ in medieval French (the language of the upper classes in the Middle Ages). 

It's one of our star objects in the permanent Wakefield Stories display at Wakefield Museum. 

It's perhaps unsurprising that such a beautiful and heartfelt object scored so highly with our Facebook followers!

Britain's oldest post box

Britain's oldest postbox - on display at Wakefield Museum

Made in: 1809

Collected in: 1964

Associated place: Wakefield

Wakefield Museum has some quietly important objects such as this post box, the oldest in Britain! 

It was installed in Wakefield Post Office on Wood Street in 1809 and predates the Victorian Penny Post by 30 years.

Our objects and sites aren't just special because of their history. One Facebook user voted for the post box because "it reminds me of one of my delightful friends I made through the museum"! 

Another said "I'm voting for the post box because they used to be every day street furniture but now... they are little windows into our history."

Ballot Box 

One of the ballot boxes used in Britain's first ever secret ballot in 1872 - on display at Pontefract Museum

Made in: 1870s

Collected in: 1978

Associated place: Pontefract

From one groundbreaking box - to another!

On the 15 August 1872, the first ever secret ballot in Britain to elect an MP was held in Pontefract. 

This was the first time that people had voted in secret by placing an ‘X’ on a ballot paper next to the name of their choice. 

Before this, people voted openly and could be easily pressured and bullied. 

The ballot box was sealed with a liquorice stamp made from Frank Dunhill's factory to ensure it wasn't tampered with. There are still remnants of this seal on our box, which you can see on display at Pontefract Museum.

At this time, only men over the age of 21 who owned property could vote. Women couldn't vote until 1928, and the voting age was lowered to 18 only in 1969. 

It's a piece of national political history of which Pomfretians are rightly very proud!

Nymph Stone

The 'nymph stone' on display at Castleford Museum

Made in: Roman era

Collected in: 1990s

Associated place: Castleford

This carving of two female heads is dedicated ‘to the Nymphs’, nature spirits usually linked to springs and running water. 

Dedications to nymphs are often found near military sites like the Roman fort at Castleford. 

The fort at Castleford was known as 'Lagentium' to the Romans.

One Facebooker said they chose it because "this kind of artefact always benefits from re- examination and interpretation as time passes and knowledge expands".

What a brilliant sentiment about this special object! It's on display at Castleford Museum with lots of other ancient objects worthy of a closer look.

Anti-slavery lecture poster

A poster promoting W. Howard Day's anti-slavery lecture in 1860, on display at Wakefield Museum

Made in: 1860

Collected in: 1923

Associated place: Wakefield

This poster advertises a lecture given by William Howard Day from 'Canada West' in the Music Saloon on Wood Street in Wakefield in December 1860. 

The lecture took place at an important moment in the story of slavery, just a few months before the start of the American Civil War, a conflict based on the continued ownership and abuse of enslaved people by the plantation owners of the Southern States of America.

Several celebrated abolitionists such as Day visited this country and resonated with the working people in the North of England. 

Many towns like Wakefield had an active abolitionist campaign movement and invited speakers to venues such as the Music Saloon on Wood Street and the Corn Exchange on Westgate.

One Facebook user said they were voting for this because it is "an important part of the empathetic community spirit of the Wakefield district". Lovely words indeed.

It's also one of the earliest objects added to our collection, as it was collected in 1923!

Battle of Wakefield iron spearhead

An iron spearhead dating to The Battle of Wakefield in 1460 - on display at Wakefield Museum

Made in: 15th Century

Collected in: 1959

Associated place: Sandal / Sandal Castle

This iron spearhead dates to the time of the Battle of Wakefield in 1460. The Battle was a major clash in the Wars of the Roses. 

Richard, Duke of York, leader of the Yorkist faction and his eldest son, Edmund, Earl of Rutland, were both killed along with hundreds or even thousands of their supporters. 

It is this event that likely lead to the rhyme 'Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain', to remember the order of colours in a rainbow.

This spear head was found in the Portobello estate, the site of the battle, and was probably used by an infantryman at the battle.

You can find out more about the Battle of Wakefield in our comic!

Pontefract Castle Keirincx painting

Pontefract Castle painted by Alexander Keirincx in the 1640s - on display at Pontefract Museum

Made in: 1640s

Collected in: 1965

Associated place: Pontefract

This is a large oil painting of Pontefract Castle as it was in about 1640. 

It was painted by the Flemish landscape painter Alexander Keirincx, at the request of Charles I. It shows what a grand site it was, and much larger than the standing remains today might suggest.  

You can explore an interactive version of the Pontefract Castle painting here!

Shared with thanks to The Hepworth Wakefield.

Thanks to everyone who voted! You can continue to explore the 100 objects in our online exhibition. 

Post a comment with what you think we should include in the next 100 objects we collect!

100 Years of Collecting: Amazing Archaeology (Anglo-Saxons to Civil Wars)

We’re picking back up our time-travelling archaeological adventure with the Anglo-Saxons!

It follows on from our previous blog exploring prehistory to the Romans.

Anglo-Saxons and Vikings

In the 5th century AD central Roman rule collapsed and Britain dropped out of the Roman empire. Small kingdoms began to emerge in Britain.

In the Wakefield area the British kingdom of Elmet formed. In turn this was taken over by the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. 

Very few objects survive locally from the Anglo-Saxon and then Viking periods. This makes what we do have even more special! 

We have these two spearheads in Pontefract Museum:

We also have part of an elaborately carved stone cross shaft on display at Wakefield Museum. 

It dates to the 9th century AD, and was found being used as a doorstep in a shop on Westgate 1000 years later!

The Anglo-Saxon cross shaft at Wakefield Museum, completed with reconstructions of the base and cross. These would have been painted in bold colours.

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.

The Stanley Ferry Log Boat at Wakefield Library 

The Norman Conquest

The Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods in Yorkshire ended with the Norman invasion of 1066 by William the Conqueror.

Although we don’t have many objects from the Norman period, we do have two awesome places where their legacy can be seen: Pontefract Castle and Sandal Castle.

Pontefract Castle, built in 1070 by Ilbert de Lacy

The standing stone remains at both these sites today are the reinforced replacements for the original Norman wooden buildings. 

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.

Sandal Castle, probably built in the 12th century by the de Warenne family.

The Normans didn’t just build castles, however. They also built religious houses such as St John’s Priory in Pontefract. 

When this site was excavated in the 1950s and 1960s, some of the most interesting finds came from graves in and around the church.

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.

The jet cross found at St John's Priory, Pontefract

You can see it for yourself at Pontefract Museum! It also features in the 100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition.

Lost and Found

Most archaeological finds weren't originally as carefully placed in the ground. 

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 Battle of Wakefield in 1460.

An iron spearhead, probably from the Battle of Wakefield in 1460

Other items were broken and thrown away, like these pottery fragments.

Pottery fragments found at Sandal Castle

Although these fragments may not look impressive at first, when reassembled they from a portable urinal decorated with a boar’s head! 

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’?

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.

We don’t know where the urinal was made but only a few miles away a major pottery industry was just beginning. 

Pottery making in Wrenthorpe became so important that the village became known as ‘Potovens’ after the kilns the pots were fired in.

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.

A Wrenthorpe jug, on display at Wakefield Museum and in the 100 Years of Collecting Online Exhibition

The English Civil Wars

A second Wrenthorpe pot also makes our 100 Years of Collecting list - but this time because of its contents!

The Ackworth Hoard consists of nearly 600 gold and silver coins, all buried in a Wrenthorpe pot, along with a gold ring.

The Ackworth Hoard

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. 

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.

The hoard remained untouched in the pot for over 350 years – until it was discovered in someone’s garden in the 20th century! 

You can see it for yourself on display at Pontefract Museum.

Even in the middle of a siege, the soldiers in Pontefract Castle needed paying. Being cut off from the outside world made this difficult. Their answer was to create their own home-made coins from reused silver.

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. 

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!

One of the siege coins produced at Pontefract Castle

This example of a Pontefract Castle siege coin is in the Online Exhibition and on display in the Visitor Centre at Pontefract Castle. 

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.

It also has a morale boosting inscription, which translates as "while I breathe I hope".

Reverse side of the siege coin, featuring Charles I's royal cipher.

That brings us to the end of our amazing archaeology 100 Years of Collecting highlights!

There’s lots more objects exploring the many and varied stories of the Wakefield district in our Online Exhibition.

More 100 Years of Collecting blogs:

Amazing Archaeology (Prehistoric to Romans)

100 Years and Counting

Wakefield’s Sporting Heritage

A trip to the Seaside

100 Years and Counting!

2023 marks the centenary of the Wakefield Museums & Castles collection. We have been collecting objects and telling stories for 100 years!

We are celebrating our centenary throughout 2023 and into 2024 with new displays, digital content and events. 

We're launching the celebrations with a new Online Exhibition showcasing 100 objects that represent our 100 years of collecting. Click here to explore! 

But first, let's go back to the the very beginning...

10 July 1923 - Our first official objects 

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'. 

An eclectic selection that paved the way for the 100 years of wonderful and weird objects to come!

The first ever entry in our accession books on 10 July 1923

The mahogany cabinet in question, our first ever officially accessioned object

Wakefield's first civic museum and art gallery

The doors of Wakefield’s first civic museum and art gallery opened at Holmfield House in Thornes Park in 1923. 

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.

More on the first Wakefield Museum

Holmfield House, circa 1940s.

Visitors to a photography exhibition at Holmfield House in the 1930s - we do things a bit differently today!

From then - to now

Since then, our collection has grown and grown! We’ve opened new museums and moved between different sites. 

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. 

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. 

In 2012, we moved to the city’s newest civic building, Wakefield One, where you can find us today!

The beautiful art nouveau building housing Pontefract Museum

Pontefract and Castleford

In 1974 Wakefield Council began caring for and developing the collections from Pontefract Museum and Castleford Library. 

Pontefract Museum 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. 

In 2013, we opened Castleford Forum Library & Museum, sharing the history of the town’s origins as Roman Lagentium, its proud industrial past and present, as well as changing displays produced with our local communities.

From 1 to over 100,000 objects

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. 

Any objects that are not currently on display are cared for at our Museum Store, ready for future exhibitions and research. 

Online Exhibition - 100 Years of Collecting

We're launching the celebrations with a new Online Exhibition showcasing 100 objects that represent our 100 years of collecting. Click here to explore!

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! 

You can also follow the project on social media with the hashtag #WMC100.

Artist Commission - Healthy Hedgerows: Sandal Castle Environmental Project

We've got an exciting new opportunity for artists who love nature and community engagement! 

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 Sandal Castle through the planned management and replanting of the hedgerows around the site.

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.

Apply by: 21 July 2023
Fee: £7000

Click here for full brief and how to apply

Sandal Castle: From noble beginnings to picturesque ruins

In recent years, over £700,000 has been invested in Sandal Castle as part of a project to share and preserve its fascinating heritage for current and future visitors. Essential conservation work on the ruins has helped to stabilise the stonework and protect it from the elements, whilst maintenance on the wooden walkways and bridges has improved access. Last year, we also installed new interpretation panels. Vibrant illustrations commissioned from Yorkshire based artists bring the castle's turbulent past and picturesque present to life. 

A brief history by Nick Ellwood

First built in the early 12th century, Sandal Castle has a long history. Award-winning York based illustrator, Nick Ellwood, introduces the key eras in this comic book style panel. The artwork takes us from noble beginnings under the de Warenne family, when the castle developed from a wooden motte and bailey style to a stone keep and courtyard design; through trouble in both the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil Wars; to a space for exploring and relaxing today. 

Nick's other work can be seen in newspapers, on book jackets and across the museum and heritage sector. In his work Nick celebrates and explores both stories from today and from the past, observing and questioning people’s behaviour, actions, characteristics and quirks. Clients include The Guardian, English Heritage, Random House Publishing, The National Coal Mining Museum England, The Thackray Medical Museum Leeds, Arts Council England and the BBC.  Nick currently teaches illustration at York St John University and regularly exhibits across the UK.
www.nickellwood.co.uk

The Battle of Wakefield by Tomekah George

This board looks out towards the scene of the Battle of Wakefield, a crucial part of the War of the Roses. Whilst today the scene is peaceful, on 30th December 1460, this was the site of a brutal battle in which Richard Duke of York was defeated and killed by the Lancastrians. Illustrator, designer and animator Tomekah George has captured the carnage of the battle.

Tomekah specialises in bold collage and colourful illustration. She creates content for clients all over the world, from the USA to London, Manchester and more. Since graduating from an illustration degree in 2018, she’s worked on books, animations, digital illustrations and products, as well as being shortlisted in nationwide competitions and regularly taking part in exhibitions. She’s particularly interested in working on stories that promote a positive message or draw attention to sensitive topics such as inequality and representation, an interest that develops from a working-class upbringing, which influences her style and approach. Her work is emotive, colourful & warm at heart.

tomekahgeorge.com

You can follow the full story of the Battle of Wakefield in our comic book, with artwork by John Welding.

A day in the life of a medieval castle by Liz Kay

In the early 1480s, Richard III ordered improvement work at Sandal Castle to make it more comfortable and defensible as a permanent base in the north of England. This was a rare period of investment in the castle, which was largely left to decline from the mid 14th century. Liz Kay's illustration depicts the castle in 1485 after the improvements were completed. It offers visitors a glimpse into the bustling castle courtyard, kitchens, gatehouse and Great Hall. 

Liz Kay has been working for over ten years as an illustrator whose work has been used across children’s books, murals, maps, animation, magazines & newspapers. Liz lives and works in Wakefield, and loves to work on projects that involve aspects of her hometown. This project to show a snapshot of Sandal Castle in 1485 allowed her to explore her interest in the everyday lives of people throughout history and incorporate her passion for maps, architecture, calligraphy and period costume.  

https://lizkay.co.uk/ 

A castle in ruins by Richard Bell

From October 1645, having been besieged three times during the English Civil Wars, Sandal Castle lay in ruins. Over the centuries, it became a place to take in spectacular panoramic views over the Calder Valley and towards Wakefield city centre. The castle has been excavated by archaeologists several times since 1893. Natural history illustrator, Richard Bell, here turns his hand to depicting the castle ruins as we can enjoy them today and gives a taste of what the different remains would have looked like in their heyday. The panel also highlights some of the key archaeological discoveries.

The Keep would once have stood four storeys high.

The discovery of ointment pots suggests that the kitchen was used as a field hospital during the English Civil Wars.

Richard Bell studied natural history illustration at the Royal College of Art. He writes a nature diary for The Dalesman magazine and his local publications include Walks in Robin Hood’s Yorkshire, All Sorts of Walks in Liquorice Country and a guide to Sandal Castle. His work features in the permanent collections of The Hepworth Wakefield and The National Coal Mining Museum for England.

http://wildyorkshire.blog/ 

See for yourself

If you live locally and would like to see the fabulous illustrations in person and tread in the footsteps of kings, you can find the latest visitor information for Sandal Castle at Experience Wakefield.

What a packed summer!

Over the last 6 weeks we have been delivering summer holiday family workshops.

From making butter at Sandal Castle, to squeezing oranges at Wakefield Museum (with our under 5 visitors) to looking at what amazing, curious and even eccentric people have come from the district - our teams have provided activities to keep our younger visitors busy over the summer months.

Family workshops have given us the chance to delve into the wonderful past events that make Wakefield the city it is today.  Providing a mix of interesting facts with hands on activities has allowed children to connect with the past in fun and varied ways.

As well as booked sessions, there were drop-in activities at both castles and museums, giving families the opportunity to create leather bookmarks, design a coat of arms or take part in a holiday trail.  

There's more to come! 

We are already looking ahead and planning sessions for the October half term, so if you would like to be added to the family activities mailing list please send us your e-mail address.

Wakefield Museum provides children’s activity sheets and digital trails on a daily basis for families to enjoy.  Just ask a member of the museums front of house staff for more information.

Bug Hunt!

Bugs and other creepy crawlies are usually something to be avoided in museums - they can cause damage to collections - but last week, some intrepid adventurers explored the grounds and ruins of Sandal Castle to discover what creepy crawlie creatures are living there!

The explorers donned magnifying glasses and bug pots, before setting out to explore a variety of habitats.

Cadence looks very carefully, searching for tiny creatures!

We discovered a whole colony of crickets, some fantastic stripey caterpillars, lots of woodlice, slugs and snails, some beautiful butterflies - and even a fabulous frog!

The children were all fantastic at looking really closely for wildlife and being careful and kind with the creatures that they found, with many of them keen to explore the miniature habitats in their own gardens or parks. 

 

Creatures are examined before carefully returning them to the wild!

 

If you would like to explore the grounds of Sandal Castle yourself, admission is free and pedestrians can access the grounds all day. The car park is open 9.30am – 7.30pm in summer and till dusk in winter, and the Visitors' Centre is  open to the public Wednesday to Sunday 11am – 4:30pm. See here for more information.

Some fabulous drawings!

Last week we received a lovely package in the post...

In early June a group of pupils from Silcoates School visited Sandal Castle as part of their school project work.  Pupils were taken around the castle site by one of the Museums' Learning  Officers and told the history of the site along with information about the castle's surviving features.

Pupils asked thoughtful questions to further their understanding and worked on site collating evidence for their project work.

Along with this lovely letter, were some pupils' drawings, and they were all so fantastic, we had to share a few!

What a lovely letter to receive!

What we can remember about our trip to Sandal Castle:

A pupil's drawing of Sandal Castle done back at school - all the features are there!

This picture shows an aerial view of Sandal Castle, showing impressive visualisation skills!

We love this image of a knight at the Battle of Wakefield!