Staff highlights tour of Wakefield Museum



Some of you may have already had a go at some of the family digitrails in Wakefield Museum - fun quizzes and trails using units which use sound, video and photos to explore the collection.

 

We now have another addition to our digitrail options - our staff highlights trail.

Several of the museum staff, including designer, curator, front-of-house and more have chosen their favourite object on display, and recorded a short film telling you about it in more detail.

 

The trails are very easy to use, and are free.  Just ask one of our Visitor Hosts to set you up with a machine and headphones and discover more about the collection!

Hair Do

What do handlebars, Mexicans, pencils and toothbrushes all have in common? They are all names of moustache styles. A well groomed and super smart exhibition opened recently at Wakefield Museum - ‘Men in the Mirror’ explores men’s hair in all its glory!

In celebration of marvelous moustaches, bushy beards and happening haircuts we are holding a grand Hurrah for hair at our Men in The Mirror Hair-Do.

Drop into Wakefield Museum for an evening of free entertainment including barbershop style music, traditional barbering displays, and plenty of facial hair frolics!  Plus a short play inspired by the exhibition written and performed by Yew Tree Youth Theatre.

There will also be special large screen showings of the ‘Barber’s Boy’ – a specially commissioned film celebrating the life and work of local barber extraordinaire David Grice.

This event forms part of the Wakefield Artwalk.

Free admission to event and activities.

 

Wednesday 27 November

5.00 – 7.30pm
 

Wakefield Museum, Wakefield One, Burton Street, Wakefield, WF1 2DD

“My hair was slicked down with a part. But that was before I discovered the blow-dryer. Now I'm fabulous.” Barry Manilow

Castleford Forum Museum previewed by YACs

Today the Pontefract Branch of the Young Archaeologists' Club came for a special preview of Castleford Forum Museum in order to write a review for December's Young Archaeologist Magazine.

The group of YACs were introduced to the archaeology of Castleford and its surroundings - an area incredibly rich in finds, before handling some Roman objects from our handling collection, and trying out one of our new Roman archaeology quiz sheets.



The Young Archaeologists Club looked at some amazing objects

Using iPods, the YACs then photographed their 3 favourite objects, noting the reasons for their choices.

A wide range of objects were chosen, and for a wide range of reason, including:

 

Roman gaming counters - because 'I like board games', 'It looks like one of our games'

Roman chatelaine - because 'It's really unusual', 'It's amazing!'

Roman sandal - because 'It is in such good condition for how old it is', 'The pattern is really unusual'

Roman tile with paw print - because 'It reminds me of my dog', 'It shows that the Romans may have had pets, like us', 'Because it's amazing to see that a dog left its mark'

By far, the group's most favourite thing was the Iron Age Chariot burial, which amazed everyone ('It is a very dramatic object' 'The person must have been of great importance to have been buried in such a manner' 'It shows great craft skill')



Iron Age Chariot Burial

  

The group were then asked what they wanted to tell other YACs about the new museum, and they said:

• I would recommend this museum to all other YACs
• It has amazing finds and interesting artefacts
• You need to take your time and look carefully to take it all in
• It can teach you lots just by looking - but if you have questions, do ask the staff rather than go away wondering!
• The museum is very beautifully arranged
• The Iron Age Chariot burial is AMAZING!

So we think they liked it!

We then had a go at building replica Iron Age Chariots.  The scaled-down chariots were powered by balloons rather than miniature horses, but the principles remained the same - a fixed axle and spinning wheels...

Building a model chariot!

Adding the fixed axle...

Chariot racing!

Chariot racing!

A huge thanks to the Pontefract Young Archaeologists for coming and trying out the new museum!

The local branch of YACs is based at Pontefract castle, meeting once a month on the second Saturday.   Sessions are all on an archaeological theme, including craft skills, practical archaeological skills, and plenty of fun! There are usually several opportunities each year to take part in real archaeology, either within the club itself or via connected organisations.  

For more information email or call 01924 223373

Hairdressers and museums

We recently visited Wakefield College in Glasshoughton to ask some hairdressing students to help us put together a display for Castleford Forum Museum.  The students were asked to choose a selection of 'beauty' objects and images from our collection - including early curling tongs and hairnets.

Hairdressing students examine equipment of the past!

The students also looked through old hairdressing books for inspiration

The students were asked to create something of their own, to be displayed alongside the museum objects, and they chose to create a Roman hairstyle, inspired by the Roman hairpins that will be on display.



Head of a Roman hairpin from Castleford

An amazing Roman hairstyle by students at Wakefield College



To go on display in Castleford Forum Museum

We are also really excited to announce that a group of the hairdressing students have offered come and take part on our Fabulous Forties Vintage evening at Wakefield Museum on Wednesday 6th November (5-7.30pm). 

So if you like vintage style, or have ever wondered what you would look like with Victory Rolls, come along and get the look!  The event is free.  See previous blog post for more info!

Get into the swing with a 40's style hairdo courtesy of Wakefield College

We seem to be all about hair at the moment!  Our new exhibition in Wakefield Museum - Men in the Mirror - opened on Saturday, in time to get those top lips limbered up ready for Movember!



Fabulous Forties Vintage is coming to Wakefield Museum

We are getting ready for an all-singing, all-dancing event at Wakefield Museum on Wednesday 6th November!

Fabulous Forties Vintage!  Free event 5pm to 7.30pm
Just drop in!

For one night only!

• See a selection of 40s stylish clothing, accessories and patterns from the collection.

• Join in a taster session of 'Jitterbug Zumba'!

• Get yourself a 40s hairdo courtesy of Wakefield College hairdressers

• Close-harmony singers, the Honeybirds will be performing live!

• Vintage-inspired crafts to try - make a paper corsage and some bunting!

This flower brooch is made from a (scanned!) page of a 1940s Magic-Beano

• A talk on Women in War from Dr Phil Judkins 'More Deadly Than the Male" (starts 6.30pm in Learning Zone)

Women have carried out many roles in war - some well-known, some entirely unexpected. Come and see how many of the duties, both civilian and military, described by Dr Phil Judkins, and undertaken by women of many nations and beliefs in the wars of the 20th and 21st centuries, you simply would not believe!

• Knottingley milliner and historic costumier, Deborah Walton will be displaying her beautiful 40s-inspired creations

• Enjoy a special 40s-inspired meal and/or drink in Create Cafe (without rationing!)

So put on your best tea dress, or smartest demob suit and join in the fun!

Because no outfit is complete without a hat, and to get you 'In the Mood' we have chosen a selection of 1940s hats from the collection and are asking you to choose your favourite for the display.

Pick your favourite by ticking the 'funny', 'interesting' or 'cool' reaction boxes under the hat picture you like the best. The hat with the most reactions by Sunday 3 November will go on display at the event.

Fabulous Forties Vintage - Hat 1

Vote on your favourite 1940s hat by clicking on any of the cool / interesting / funny buttons below!

Hat option 1

A silvery-coloured 1940s hat

Fabulous Forties Vintage - Hat 2

Vote on your favourite 1940s hat by clicking on any of the cool / interesting / funny buttons below!

Hat option 2

A knitted 1940s hat