Wakefield Museums and Castles

A cartoon of a crowd of people carrying a coffin and others holding placards that say 'equal representation' and 'universal suffrage'

The first secret ballot

In the 1800s politics and parliament changed forever.

Reforms changed who could vote and how they cast their vote.

Elections went from rowdy, drunken and corrupt affairs to more modern democratic ballots.

Wakefield and Pontefract took centre stage in the revolution.

Britain's first ever by-election by secret ballot took place in Pontefract on 15 August 1872.

Explore this selection of objects and stories to find out how we got there. 

Find out more

A large yellow banner with illustrations of three men (Lord Brougham, Earl Grey and John Russell MP) with the words 'see the conquering heroes'

'Conquering Heroes' banner, Horbury, 1832

Who were the 'Conquering Heroes'? Find out how they changed British politics.
A thin poll book pamphlet from 1868

Poll book, Richard Holmes, 1868

Before 1872, votes were made publicly. They were published in special books for anyone to check.
A tall thin wooden box with a hole in the top to post ballots, remains of a wax seal and lock

Ballot box, 1872

This unassuming box represents a landmark moment in British political history.
A wooden handled liquorice stamp with a design of the castle and Dunhill's on the stamp

Liquorice stamp, Dunhill's Ltd, 1872

Find out how Pontefract put its own unique stamp on a historic by-election.
A traditional wooden pie cart with Gosnay's handpainted on it

Pork pie cart, Gosnay's, late 1800s

Could a batch of local baked goods sway an election? Possibly!
Cartoon design of five different characters involved in Pontefract's first ever by-election by secret ballot

Potwallopers comic, Jade Sarsons, 2017

Discover the full eventful story of Pontefract’s secret ballot in our special comic.

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