Collections and stories - Wakefield Museums and Castles

Two long rows of shelves filled with boxes stretching into the distance

Collections and stories

Since 1923, Wakefield Museums and Castles has collected over 111,000 fascinating objects. Our collection is a treasure trove of fascinating objects and stories. They tell the amazing story of life in the Wakefield district over thousands of years. Browse some of the highlights of our collection.

Donate an object

Have you got an object that tells a story about the Wakefield district? Spotted a gap in our collection that you can fill? We'd love to hear from you!

Donate an object

People

Alice Gostick and a group of her art students seated, holding their pottery pieces, in the early 1900s

Alice Gostick

Find out about Castleford’s pioneering art teacher and her famous students. Explore hand-painted pottery pieces in her 'Peasant Pottery' style.

Jack Hulme as an older man smiling and sat in his armchair at home

Jack Hulme

Meet Fryston’s much-loved village photographer Jack Hulme. Admire his fascinating photos of life in industrial Yorkshire.

An oil self-portrait of Cynthia Kenny in her trademark oranges, browns, blues and greens

Cynthia Kenny

Cynthia Kenny (1929 – 2021) is one of Wakefield’s most important artists. She was a cultural champion and proud Wakefieldian.

The Cribs EP cover, with monochrome image of the three band members

The Cribs

Discover memorabilia from Wakefield’s very own rockstars, The Cribs. The band formed in our city in 2002.

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Social history

A mum sat stroking the face of her baby, who is sat on her knee

BaBi Wakefield

Meet the mums and babies taking part in the Born and Bred in Wakefield project. Find out what it’s like to have a baby in Wakefield in the 2020s.

Charlie Williams dressed in a royal robe and crown, and is holding a spear decorated with insignia of a tribe, as opposed to a sceptre similar to the Crown Jewels. He is seated, and looks quite bashful! There are people playing trumpets behind him

Black history

Our Black History section pays tribute to Black lives and stories from the Wakefield district.

A display case containing rainbow pride memorabilia

LGBTQ+

Discover drag superstars and inspirational artists. Explore the history of Wakefield Pride told by the people who made it happen.

A young person smiling and looking at a table containing objects relating to South Asian heritage

South Asian heritage

Our South Asian communities make an important contribution to life in the Wakefield district.

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Industry

$Vintage liquorice allsorts packaging with sweets design on a bold blue background and a simplified image of Pontefract Castle$

Liquorice and sweets

Pontefract is famous for liquorice. Find out how the plant took root here. It grew into a thriving local confectionery industry.

A photograph from the 1980s of a person crouched over picking bright pink rhubarb stalks out of the ground in a low-roofed rhubarb shed

Rhubarb

Wakefield is famous for growing forced rhubarb. Every year the popular Rhubarb Festival is held in the city centre.

Steam billowing from a tall colliery tower in the 1950s

Coal mining

For 200 years coal mining was a central part of the Wakefield district. The industry changed the local landscape.

Black and white photograph of two workers pouring molten glass in a factory

Glass making

The Wakefield district has a proud heritage of glass making. Find out about historic factories in Castleford and Knottingley.

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Archaeology

Artist's impression of people gathering in ancient Ferrybridge

Ancient Ferrybridge

Find out why Ferrybridge was once a sacred and ceremonial place. See the incredible finds that have taught us about prehistoric rituals.

A mannequin in replica ancient Roman armour and ancient Roman amphorae and statues at Castleford Museum

Roman Castleford

Castleford was an important fort for the ancient Romans. They knew it as Lagentium. Discover objects and stories from Roman Castleford.

A pile of gold and silver coins from the 1600s

The Ackworth Hoard

Discover the mystery of the Ackworth Hoard, a remarkable piece of treasure from the English Civil Wars.

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Photography

A group of smiling miners in uniform posing in front of their colliery, taken in the 1940s or 1950s

Online photography collections

Browse our online collection of 20,000 photographs from around the Wakefield district.

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