Is it summer yet?

No matter what the weather is doing to us, we are planning for a fun summer across Wakefield's Museum and Heritage sites.  A varied range of family activities are taking place, including activities using the objects currently on display at Drury Lane Library.

Do email us if you would like to be added to our mailing list, or would like to request a copy of this flyer to be sent to you.  Please note that many of these activities require booking in advance as places are limited. 


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We are delighted to share with you a short piece written by Danielle - a member of the Teenage Readers' Group at Drury Lane Library.  She has written this piece inspired by the 1950s television currently on display.  We look forward to sharing with you some of the artwork and other creative pieces generated through our Summer programme!

 The 1950s TV - by Danielle

“Daddy!”  Elizabeth, my younger sister called as dad stepped through the door, “Where’s the TV?” mum asked as he placed it on the living room floor, “it’s in the living room, come have a look Cath, it’s more modern than we thought!”  as mum came from the kitchen, I had reached the bottom of the stairs. “Look at this Dorothy, it’s great!” mum called. “I know, doesn’t that look modern, mum, why don’t we have a try?” I asked mum, I knew her answer was going to be what I wanted, yes. Mum had been more excited than me and Elizabeth this morning, when dad finally announced that we had enough savings to buy one. We were the only house on the street that could afford one, and mum was pleased she finally had something to show off about.

1950s Television on display at Drury Lane Library

The tele flickered on with an introduction of black and white zig zags, which produced a man and a woman sat at a desk, Elizabeth turned up the volume and was immediately sucked in… She then appeared on the screen moments after. “Liz” mum screamed. I just stared horror stricken at the screen. “What just happened?”  dad asked, me and mum replied in unison, “we don’t know!”

Mum slowly pushed herself up onto her feet, and shuffled to the kitchen. I shared a look with dad as wonder filled my head… What if we turned the volume down, I went to the button that took Elizabeth away but dad pulled me back, “I am going to turn it down, and see what happens” I explained, but he still wouldn’t let go, “Dad just let me try” I was getting no-where “Please!” he loosened his grip but didn’t let go as mum walked in with a hammer. “NO!!!!!” I screamed at mum “If you break it you could trap her in there, think how can we get her out, not how can we destroy the tele!” mum looked at the hammer and then flung it to the side, smashing a vase in the process. Dad had finally let go of me to calm mum down, I flung myself at the tele, I reached for the button and twirled it anti-clockwise…

I waited, but I could still see Elizabeth on the screen, suddenly she disappeared and landed on top of me in the same position she was in before the tele sucked her in. Mum let out a squeak as she dived to hug Elizabeth “Liz, what happened?” she exclaimed “I turned up the volume, or is that not the volume button?” she asked, she had felt nothing… “Just leave the volume there why don’t we, don’t do that again!” I said, she looked at me like I had a bright green face but quietly agreed and snuggled deeper in to my jumper.

An object's story is revealed!

The displays at the new Wakefield Museum will showcase some unexpected new discoveries from the Museum Store, as well as better known iconic objects such as the cayman that naturalist Charles Waterton captured in South America and Wakefield’s Anglo Saxon cross.

Plain-looking wooden box

One new discovery is a plain wooden box which has been in the collections since the 1970s, but may never have been on display. Its significance was only recognised last year when a furniture specialist, Adam Bowett, was brought in to assess the furniture in the museum collections. 

The box looks unassuming inside too...

A hidden drawer is found!

Inside the box a handwritten document was found explaining that the box was made to hold the papers of a Society of Wakefield Cabinet Makers newly formed in 1790. The purpose of the Society was to regulate the prices paid to cabinet makers for each piece of furniture, to stop the poor economic situation driving down their wages.  

Document found inside hidden compartment which sheds new light on Wakefield's trade.

The existence of the Society was previously totally unknown and adds Wakefield to only one or two other towns where cabinet makers joined together this early to protect their livelihood. Cabinet makers in Leeds published a printed book with the costs for making different pieces of furniture: no similar book seems to have survived in Wakefield although the handwritten text suggests a Wakefield price book was printed.

"this Society was made on purpose

to regulate Cabenet prises

so a Book was printed at Time

Liveing was then very deear

Corn was 23 shillings a Loade

and Beef at 7 pens a pound"

An article about the box has recently been published in the journal Regional Furniture.

The discovery highlighted how little was known about cabinet makers in Wakefield in the late 18th century. Stimulated by the discovery of the box, local historian Lesley Taylor has done original research on the subject and found that Wakefield almost rivalled Leeds in the size of the trade locally. The results of her work will be published shortly in the next journal of the Wakefield Historical Society.

Local hero remembered

Every now and again a relative of someone who has donated an object, or was involved in a historic event gets in touch with us and last week Paul Miziewicz, on holiday from Australia, came to see us.

His Great Grandfather, George William Beaman was a coal miner at South Kirkby Colliery. Following a series of explosions in August  1935, Beaman risked his life as part of rescue parties to recover trapped and injured miners.  10 men were killed but it would have been more if it wasn’t for the bravery of Beaman and his fellow rescue team.

Beaman and two other rescuers, Norman Baster and James Pollitt were awarded the Edward Medal (the civilian equivalent to the George Cross which recognises military bravery) and the medal is now in the museum collections.  It was displayed as part of the '50' exhibition at Wakefield Museum and at Pontefract Museum in 2010/11.

Curator John Whitaker (left) and Paul Miziewicz (right) looking at Paul's Great Grandfather's Edward Medal last week

Dress to Impress!

Last week Nicola Townend, the manager of the Wakefield branch of Accessorize came to museum HQ (our stores) to help us put together a fashionable display of costume and accessories.

One of our new museum displays is called Dress to Impress and will use a piece of going out clothing to highlight Wakefield’s social scene at different times. The time periods will change over the coming years and to start it off Nicola picked out a nice frock from the 1820s – worn perhaps for a show at Wakefield Theatre, a dance at the new Music Saloon on Wood Street or maybe a wedding.

Nicola's chosen 1820s dress with padded hem

Nicola is very passionate about historic clothing, she makes her own Victorian style dresses and has a keen eye for historical detail.

Nicola choosing a butterfly hairpin
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Nicola looking at accessories
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Nicola said “I felt like I was putting a prom outfit together. It’s amazing that many of the accessories worn in the 1820s wouldn’t look out of place now.”

Matching shoes to the 1820s dress
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Historic Wakefield Photo Challenge!

We thought we would set you a challenge.

We received a collection of glass slide photographs a couple of years ago that were originally used by Sandal Endowed School. They show landmarks, landscapes and people in Sandal and Walton, (as well as a few other places) as they were around 100 years ago. You can see them all by clicking here.

Can you tell what they show, what places, what landmarks?

Start the debate, put your answers in as comments. We will post up the answers in a couple of weeks.

Some are easier than others, but there are one or two we don't know!

Good luck!

Mystery photos - what can you recognise?  Join the debate!  See them all here!

Don’t Sweat! The Cribs are in Wakefield Museum, along with England cricket bats and groundbreaking record labels

Wakefield Museum celebrates indie band’s Wakefield beginnings.  The museum has acquired The Cribs first record “Baby Don’t Sweat”.  Recorded at Springtime Studios near Wakefield waterfront in 2002 the record is a reminder of the band’s formative years playing gigs at venues around Leeds and Wakefield before commercial success, Hollywood videos, Johnny Marr and international cult status.

The Cribs first single - Baby Don't Sweat - recorded in Wakefield

 The record was acquired by the Friends of Wakefield Art Galleries and Museums for Wakefield Museum and will be in the Welcome to Wakefield section of the new museum at Wakefield One.

The museum is looking to celebrate Wakefield’s musical history and it has also recently acquired material related to Holyground Records, an independent record label (possibly the first in England) which started off Kirkgate in the 1960s by the late Mike Levon.

Recorded and produced in Wakefield during the 1960s and 1970s!



The Friends of Wakefield Art Galleries and Museums have also acquired an England cricket bat for Wakefield Museum.  The bat was made by William Sykes Ltd of Horbury.  Sykes’ sporting goods were high quality and world renowned, making products which were used in test matches and cup finals.

The museum only has its collections thanks to the donations it has received from residents, members of the public and organisations like the Friends. We are always grateful.

Update from the Museum Store

The conservation team continue to be busy cleaning and preparing objects for the new displays.  

Some objects are composite, meaning that they are made from more than one type of material.   

This bell is made from metal and leather.   Care is needed to ensure that the treatment given to one type of material doesn't cause a problem to the other type of material making up the object.

Cleaning Grain Wagon Bell - care must be taken not to get any metal polish on the leather strap

This bell announced the arrival of a grain wagon which travelled Wakefield’s streets collecting sacks of grain to take to the Soke Mill. 

Until the 1850s all grain in Wakefield had to be milled at the Soke Mill (the Kings Mill) which was down by Chantry bridge until the road bridge was built in the 1930s. If it was milled elsewhere a fine had to be paid to the Lord of the Manor. This was one of the many rights and privileges held by the Lord, who since medieval times controlled the courts and the official weights and measures used in the markets. 

It will be displayed in the Manor of Wakefield section of the new museum which looks at the ways that Wakefield has controlled our lives.