Happy St George's Day

To celebrate St George's day we present a selection of objects from the collection that feature dragons!

First World War recruitment poster featuring the legend of St George and the Dragon

Roman bronze brooch.  Enamelled dragonesque fibula, found at Castleford.

Bronze Chinese bowl used to burn incense, decorated with dragons and flowers.  This was a gift to the museum by Frank Green.  Frank Green was an avid collector and built up an extensive and important collection. He ran the family business in Wakefield making the 'Green Economiser', that his father had invented.

A large shallow dish, a salver, from 1787.  This was from Frank Green's collection.  The decoration shows St George and the Dragon.

Chinese kylin (dragon) with amber eyes.  Dating from 1750 - 1850. Also from Frank Green's collection. [This dragon is currently on display at Wakefield Museum].

'Dragon Pass' board game from the 1980s.

A cartwheel coin turned into a brooch with the figure of St George and the Dragon cut out.  The coin dates to 1819 and was designed by Pistrucci who designed all of George III coinage

Photograph, probably from 1930s / 1940s showing the Green Dragon Hotel in Pontefract in the background.

Temperance pledge from 1916, showing St George battling the dragon of intemperance! 

Pillowcase from around 1890 embroidered with a Chinese dragon.

Events and Exhibitions

Our new Events and Exhibitions leaflet is here!

We are really excited to have our new leaflet, detailing forthcoming events and exhibitions at all three of our museums.  The leaflet is currently being distributed throughout the region, and is available to download here.  

If you want to be sure of getting your own copy, why not pop into one of our museums to pick one up?

Not only that, but (while stocks last) the museums are offering visiting families a booklet with money-off-vouchers, a fridge magnet, a special Easter Egg Cup Hunt (with prize draw!), and even a template to make your own Easter Card (based on the 1950s egg cups below!).

How amazing are these 1950s egg cups?!  

• At Wakefield Museum make a topsy-turvy animal; try on a wig; make a Tudor building; spot enemy planes and spend some time in the Front Room – an area for children to play and enjoy. 

• Come face-to-face with a roman soldier at CastlefordForum Museum, try on some miners clogs and discover the unique and fascinating Iron Age chariot.

• For those with a sweet tooth Pontefract Museum is a must see - discover the roots of liquorice in the town.  Can you spot the golden lion and a Victorian washing machine?!

There are also free workshops for families 

Find out the full details here! 

Roman fun in Castleford

Saturday 29th March was a day of Roman-inspired fun at Castleford Forum Museum.

Nearly 500 visitors came to 'meet the Romans' during the event - some market visitors, no doubt, intrigued by the rather scary-looking Roman at the door!

Once they made it past the unconventional doorman, visitors young and old were inspired by the decorative metalwork demonstrations, as intricate patterns were stamped onto bronze bracelets.

Our younger visitors had the opportunity to make their own Roman coin, try on Roman armour, play the Roman Messenger game - and add to our display wall of Roman artwork.

A fascinating look at Roman cosmetics, perfumes, medicine and the chance to try a Roman hairstyle completed the experience!

Be sure to keep checking our events listing page to find out about future events - or why not sign up to our mailing list to be among the first to hear about what's happening?

It certainly felt like Spring today at Wakefield Museum!

April's sessions of Crafty Crocs were held today with our group of 2-5 year old visitors to Wakefield Museum.

Youngsters and their grown-ups searched the museum for clues before making Spring inspired creations. 

From funky folded patterned eggs, to fuzzy paper feathered chicks to blooming card tulips our Crafty Crocs created a colourful display to brighten up their homes.

Much fun was had by all!

 

Our next session is ion Tuesday 6^th May – book now to reserve your place.

Crafty Crocs meets on the first Tuesday of each month, at 10 - 11am and 1:15 - 2:15pm, in the Learning Zone.  

Sessions are bookable on 01924 302700 or e-mail  to reserve your place.

George Kellett's World War One Diary: March 1918

Throughout 2014 we will be tweeting entries from a World War 1 soldier’s 1918 diary. You can follow George Kellett’s diary entries on Twitter @WW1_Diary.

We will also post the full month’s diary entries on this blog.

For George Kellett's February diary entries please see our previous blog: February 1918

1 March 1918

Gave our pay books in this morning. It is snowing very hard

RSM Phillips asked us to work over for a few days and said he would give us a day off next week.

3 March 1918

Went to the Salvation Army service in the afternoon.  After tea we went to the YMCA hut to hear Mr Rodgers speak.  Sergt was warned for inspection tomorrow

4 March 1918

Sergt and I had our last friendly game at draughts in the SA then we went to the YMCA for supper and a quiet bath after which I left them hoping to see him in dear old Blighty very soon

5 March 1918

Met Arthur Warwick today. He came into the Con Camp this morning.

6 March 1918

Had a fine concert given by the Tank Corps in the Salvation Army Hut.  Received two letters from home

7 March 1918

Wrote letters to Pam, Father, TH Hancock, Harry, Mr Masters, J Pearson and to Connie today in the SA Hut

On 7 March George wrote a letter to Connie.  Connie was a friend of Emma Horner who George married in October 1919.  This is a picture of Emma.

Emma lived above this chocolate shop, 20 Wood Street, Wakefield

Emma and Connie wrote lots of postcards to each other, in this one Connie talks about her boyfriend getting his papers.

8 March 1918

Received a letter from Pam with one enclosed from Mildred telling her that she and Harry were married on Feb 25^th 18. I also had the Express from home

9 March 1918

Went down to Treport tonight. Had my photograph taken just opposite the casino. Had half day off today

10 March 1918

Went on Church Parade this morning. Had a very pleasant Service. Wrote letters to Pam and Father

11 March 1918

Received a letter from Serg. Knife and one from Pam which I answered this evening in the YMCA Hut. I also wrote to Mrs Homes

12 March 1918

Went for a stroll around the camp on the sea cliffs called at EFC [?] for supper

13 March 1918

Received a letter Pam today with a letter enclosed from Mildred which I answered in the YMCA

Mr Rodgers farewell service tonight going on leave

14 March 1918

Making Dining table for the Officers Mess today.  Had a game at billiards in the YMCA Hut.  Received  a pipe and two hand kerchiefs and a letter from Father.  Wrote to thank him for them and also wrote to Pam

George trained as a carpenter and joiner from 1909 - 1915.  This is his apprenticeship indenture.  Throughout his 1918 diary George often refers to tasks carried out that utilise his carpentry skills.   

 These handkerchiefs didn't belong to George Kellett, but are examples from the collection of First World War Handkerchiefs.  They were sent home as tokens of love, bought as souvenirs of travel or in commemoration of an event.  You can see some of the handkerchiefs on display at Pontefract Museum in the Great War Inspires Exhibition The Great War Inspires

16 March 1918

Youngs and Harrison got there photos today and they are fine.  Gunner Lag and mine will be ready for tomorrow

17 March 1918

Started building miniature rifle range in the Red Cross Hut.  Got my photos today.  Wrote letters to Pam Father and Mrs Homes and sent them a photo each.  Had a nice walk on the cliffs tonight

18 March 1918

Went down to town tonight and five of us had our photo taken in a group.  Got my watch today which father sent me from home.  Wrote asking him to send me some money.

This could be the picture George refers to in his 18 March diary entry.



19 March 1918

Wrote letters to Sgt.Knife Bob and to Ada.  Then we had a game at whist and stayed for last of the Services in the SA Hut.

20 March 1918

Played cards with the boys then Sig. Norwich and I played skittles in the canteen.  We afterwards went to the YMCA

21 March 1918

Received the Express from home today.  Went to the concert in the YMCA picture hall this afternoon where there was a very fine show.

22 March 1918

Signaler Roberts, Gunner Lag and Pte Young were warned for draft this morning and will be going tomorrow.  We had a good game in the skittle alley this evening and then a four hand at Billiards.  S[ignaller] Hornet also warned for draft

23 March 1918

Left all on my own today.  Started working on the rifle range again in the BRCS hut which is being built in the camp.  Wrote letters to father and Pam

24 March 1918

Con Camp nearly full up again another inspection this morning but I have been lucky once more.

29 March 1918 (Good Friday)

Making table for the Officers Mess. Playing billiards in the YMCA

30 March 1918

Medical inspection today. Marked out for the Base

31 March 1918 (Easter Day)

Left Treport this morning.  Had about three hours in Dieppe then came down to Rouen where we landed about 4:30.  Then we had to walk to camp

An insight into chariot burials

Castleford Forum Museum is the home to a display on The Ferry Fryston Iron Age Chariot burial.  This chariot was a stunning discovery - being the best (but not only!) example of a chariot which was assembled for a funeral.

To celebrate this important local find Dr Melanie Giles, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Manchester, will be giving a fascinating talk on this and other Iron Age chariot burial sites. 

Chariot burials are rare in Britain.  Most of them have been found in the East Riding of Yorkshire, the land of the Parasi tribe.  The one found at Fryston Park is not only a long way to the west of these, but is also unusual in being whole as they were normally dismantled before burial.

The talk will take place on Thursday 10 April, 1.00 – 3.00pm at Castleford Forum Museum, Carlton Street, Castleford, WF10 1BB.


The talk is free but seats are limited, so first come first seated!

Dr Melanie Giles specialises in the Iron Age of northern Europe, particularly aspects of funerary archaeology, Celtic art and weaponry, and the phenomenon of 'bog bodies'. Her first monograph - A Forged Glamour: landscape, identity and material culture - was published by Windgather Press in 2012, and is a detailed study of the lives and deaths of Iron Age communities in Yorkshire.

Charles Waterton's Creations #MuseumWeek #MuseumMastermind

As part of Twitter's #MuseumWeek #MuseumMastermind we have been asking what Charles Waterton's creations are made from.

Here are the answers, plus some more information about Charles Waterton's taxidermy methods.

The Creations

Waterton was keen on preserving wildlife as 'stuffed' specimens, but he would also construct his own creations using bits from a variety of birds and animals and then give them very odd titles that often had a satirical motive.

John Bull and the National Debt

A porcupine in a tortoiseshell with an almost human face is so weighed down by the National Debt of £800 million that it is overcome by six devils.

The six devils include an angler fish augmented with snake skin; a small caiman with spines made from either bird claws or spurs from the legs of cockerels or pheasants; spiny finned fish mixed with a toads lower half.

The Nondescript

Made from the skin of a howler monkey Waterton sometimes pretended this was a new species of animal he had discovered or a caricature of a customs officer who had charged him import duty on the animal skins.

Charles Waterton's Taxidermy

"Allow me to inform you that there are no stuffed animals in this house" Waterton declared to a visitor to his museum in 1856.

  

He went on to demonstrate that his specimens were all hollow by pulling off the head of a preserved polecat and revealing that there was nothing inside.

Waterton's unusual method relied on the use of the chemical Mercuric Chloride which both prevented insect attack and set the skin hard.

He began the process by scraping away much of the inside of the skin. He then set up the animal roughly into the correct position.

Progressively he returned to the specimen each day, making minor adjustments until he considered that it was sufficiently lifelike.

As far as it is possible to judge, Waterton's specimens do appear to have been better than others preserved in the nineteenth century.

He certainly believed it to be so.  He particularly stressed that you should observe the live bird carefully to ensure the stance or form of the museum specimen was correct. Unfortunately his method was difficult and slow and it has seldom been copied.

For more information about the man himself see Charles Waterton