Wakefield Museums and Castles

Our Collections Development Policy explains how we are developing our collections through acquisitions and disposals.

The policy sets out how sound curatorial reasons must be established before consideration is given to any acquisition to the collection, or the disposal of any objects in our collections.

Name of museum: Wakefield Museums & Castles

Name of governing body: Wakefield Council

Policy review procedure:  This policy will be reviewed at least once every five years.

Deadline for next review: April 2028

Arts Council England will be notified of any changes to the collections development policy, and the implications of any such changes for the future of collections.

1.1.  The Collections Development Policy outlines the framework within which Wakefield Museums & Castles develops its collections, through acquisitions and disposals.

1.2.  Wakefield Museums & Castles collects, safeguards and makes accessible a collection of approximately 112,000 objects that document and record the social and cultural history of the Wakefield district from prehistory to present day. We also safeguard and make accessible two Scheduled Monuments: Pontefract Castle and Sandal Castle.  We want to enable residents and visitors to the district to explore our object collection and historic sites for inspiration, learning, and enjoyment. We are committed to developing our object collection in consultation with our communities and to the exploration of new methods of access and participation, particularly to our stored object collection.

Overall, our mission is to deliver a modern, high quality and valued service that contributes to Wakefield Council’s Corporate Plan – Building a Fairer Future:

• Places to be proud, which includes continual investment in our town centres, improving transport links, cracking down anti-social behaviour and developing our rich cultural and leisure offer.
• An economy that works for everyone with a focus on bringing more well-paid jobs to the district, more affordable housing and ensuring everyone can achieve a decent standard of living.
• Better and healthier lives by helping people live independently in their own homes and tackling abuse or neglect.
• Thriving children and families by creating the best possible learning environment and making sure that children and families receive the right support at the right time.
• A greener Wakefield district by continually investing in parks and open spaces and doing our bit to tackle climate change.

1.3. Wakefield Council (the governing body) will ensure that both acquisition and disposal are carried out openly and with transparency.

1.4. Wakefield Museums & Castles, as a museum service, has by definition a long-term purpose to hold collections in trust for the benefit of the public in relation to its stated objectives. Wakefield Council therefore accepts the principle that sound curatorial reasons must be established before consideration is given to any acquisition to the collection, or the disposal of any items in the museum’s collection.

This policy applies to our collections held at our museum sites (Castleford, Pontefract and Wakefield Museums); Pontefract Castle Visitor Centre; and our Museum Collections Store.

2.1. Wakefield Museums & Castles recognises its responsibility to adhere to all national and international statutes of law when developing collections. These include, but are not limited to:

• the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
• the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act, 2003.
• the Treasure Act, 1996.

2.2. We are committed to carrying out all our activities in an ethical and moral framework, adhering to:

• the ICOM Code of Ethics, 2006
• the Museums Association Code of Ethics, 2007

3.1. Wakefield Museums & Castles manages its collections to the standards as set out in the Accreditation Scheme for Museums, Arts Council England, including Spectrum 5.1.

3.2. Wakefield Museums & Castles holds and intends to acquire archives, particularly photographs and printed ephemera, guided by the Code of Practice on Archives for Museums and Galleries in the United Kingdom (3rd ed., 2002).

As Wakefield Museums & Castles holds and intends to acquire human remains from any period, we will follow the procedures in the ‘Guidance for the care of human remains in museums’ issued by DCMS in 2005.

Wakefield Museums & Castles collects in four general areas: two permanent collections, a handling collection, and a public reference collection:

• Archaeology and Numismatic collection (permanent collection)
• Social History collection, comprising what has historically been referred to as the Wakefield and Castleford Social History collection and the Pontefract Social History collection (permanent collection).
• Handling collection, to be used and handled in sessions for educational purposes.
• Public Reference collection, comprising reference material held at Pontefract Museum and the Print Loan collection.

These collections are described in greater detail below.

4.1. Archaeology & Numismatic collection

Wakefield Museums & Castles collects archaeological material that records and interprets the history of the Wakefield district from prehistoric times to the present day. Together, this material is evidence of the way of life and the development of people living in the district.

Archaeological excavation and other forms of fieldwork are the only sound evidence for the distant past and they provide information that often cannot be provided by documentary or other sources.

The Archaeology & Numismatic collection consists of upwards of 50,000 separate artefacts:

• Site archives from large-scale excavations at sites including Roman Castleford, Sandal Castle, Pontefract Castle, Pontefract Priory and Ferrybridge Henge. These include excavated objects and associated site records, plans, drawings, photographs etc. Some of this material is of regional and national importance (e.g. the Ferry Fryston chariot burial and elements of the Roman Castleford archive) and will continue to be used for scientific and historical research work in the future.
• Site archives from all major excavations carried out in the district in the last 50 years.
• Smaller groups and individual objects from local sites produced by excavations, field-walking, building recording and casual finds.
• Individual objects dating from before 1650.
• Approximately 280 items collected in the 1950s and 1960s during the demolition of local buildings ranging in date from the 1300s to the 1800s.
• 1,750 British coins, banknotes, medals and monetary tokens.
• Around 100 items of Egyptology.

4.2. Social History collection

Wakefield Museums & Castles collects social history objects that enhance an extensive collection showing the changing lives of people in the Wakefield district since 1650. Formal collecting first began in the early 1920s. This collection is evidence of the way of life and achievements of people who lived or live in the Wakefield district.

Historically, this collection has been separated into the Wakefield and Castleford Social History collection and the Pontefract Social History collection. However, we now view this as one Social History collection.

The Social History collection aims to reflect the diverse nature of the Wakefield district and its people. Over two thirds of the district comprises rural areas surrounding the main centres of population. These range from the city of Wakefield in the west, which is the largest urban centre, through to the five towns of Castleford, Knottingley, Featherstone, Normanton and Pontefract in the north, and Hemsworth and South Elmsall in the south east. Each area has distinctive histories and traditions.

The social history collection consists of over 80,000 objects:

• 1500 pieces of decorative art, including over 300 pieces of ceramic from Castleford and Ferrybridge and items previously transferred from the former Wakefield Art Gallery collection. 
• A wide range of community, domestic, personal and working life objects, including 1500 pressed glass products and tools from Bagley’s glassworks and 2000 items relating to the liquorice and local confectionary industry
• 20,000 items of ephemera, including 6000 items from the 'Holmes' family printers.
• 25,000 photographs, including 6000 photographs and negatives from Maud's photographers
• A costume collection of about 5000 items
• Approximately 250 items of ethnography.

4.3. Education Handling collection

The Handling collection is a resource for public use and does not contain items from the museum’s permanent collections. It contains objects specially selected to be touched, used or investigated by visitors of all ages. Objects obtained for the Handling collection are not collected in perpetuity and may suffer loss or damage because of public use.

The handling collection contains over 4000 objects (including nearly 450 items from the Clarke Hall Collections):

• a broad range of reproduction objects
• original works of art and archaeology, natural history and social history objects

4.4. Public Reference collection, including the Print Loan collection

A Public Reference collection, including books, newspaper cuttings, pamphlets, and general ephemera relating to the history of the town of Pontefract and the surrounding area, is held at Pontefract Museum. The collection also contains books and catalogues available for public use which relate to local history and general history and archaeological subjects.

This material is for reference and use at the site only and not for external loan. It is not collected in perpetuity and may suffer loss or damage because of public use. The majority of the collection has been built up via gifts and donations from local people and is a popular and well used community resource.

Until 2011, there was a similar resource held at the former Wakefield Museum on Wood Street. This material has been assimilated into the Local Studies collection, managed by Wakefield Libraries.

The Print Loan collection consists of around 400 twentieth century and contemporary original artists’ prints (e.g. etchings, lithographs, and screen prints). It was previously a lending resource for display in public spaces and supported cultural and educational events across the district. Prints obtained for this collection have not been acquired in perpetuity and may have suffered loss or damage because of their intended use.

5.1. Acquisitions Policy

5.1.1.  Wakefield Council will not acquire items simply as assets. All items need to have a long-term purpose and use, and we will acquire items honestly and responsibly. We will recognise the interests of the people who made, used, owned and collected or gave items in the collections and respect human remains in our care.

5.1.2.  As a museum service, we consider the following principles when collecting:

• Connection to the people of Wakefield
• Desirability for display
• Connection with existing collections
• Suitability for use in learning and visitor programmes
• Contribution to research and understanding
• The condition of the item. Items should be in good condition or only require minimal conservation.
• Whether the object would be better placed with another Accredited Museum or organisation.

5.1.3  All acquisitions must be recommended via a Proposal to Acquire form (including a Significance Assessment) to a Collections Development Meeting and agreed by the Collections and Curatorial teams.

5.1.4  If an acquisition incurs a cost, the following authorisation will be sought:

• Up to £1000 – Museums & Castles Development Manager
• Between £1000 and £5000 – Service Manager: Culture
• Over £5000 – CMB

5.1.5  We will not acquire any object or specimen unless we are satisfied that the object or specimen has not been acquired in, or exported from, its country of origin (or any intermediate country in which it may have been legally owned) in violation of that country’s laws. (For the purposes of this paragraph ‘country of origin’ includes the United Kingdom).

5.1.6  In accordance with the provisions of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, which the UK ratified with effect from November 1 2002, and the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003, we will reject any items that have been illicitly traded. Wakefield Council will be guided by the national guidance on the responsible acquisition of cultural property issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2005.

5.1.7  We will not acquire archaeological objects (including excavated ceramics) when there is reasonable cause to believe that:

• The circumstances of their recovery involved a failure to follow the appropriate legal procedures.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the procedures include reporting finds to the landowner or occupier of the land and to the proper authorities in the case of possible treasure (i.e. the Coroner for Treasure) as set out in the Treasure Act 1996 (as amended by the Coroners & Justice Act 2009).

The circumstances of their recovery involved the recent unscientific or intentional destruction or damage of ancient monuments or other known archaeological sites.

5.1.8  Any exceptions to the above clauses will only be because we are:

• acting as an externally approved repository of last resort for material of local (UK) origin
• acting with the permission of authorities with the requisite jurisdiction in the country of origin.

In these cases, we will be open and transparent in the way we make decisions and will act only with the express consent of an appropriate outside authority. We will document when these exceptions occur.

5.1.9  We recognise our responsibility, when acquiring additions to its collections, to ensure that care of collections, documentation arrangements and use of collections will meet the requirements of the Museum Accreditation Standard. This includes using Spectrum 5.1 primary procedures for collections management. We will consider limitations on collecting imposed by such factors as staffing, storage and care of collection arrangements. All objects collected need to have a long-term purpose and use.

5.1.10  We will undertake due diligence and make every effort not to acquire, whether by purchase, gift or bequest, any object or specimen unless Wakefield Council or responsible officer is satisfied that we can acquire a valid title to the item in question.

5.1.11   Wakefield Museums & Castles will not accept:

• Unsolicited donations
• Any object without provenance
• Any object that cannot be cared for to professional standards
• Any object that can be better housed by other professional public bodies
• Any object without a valid title of ownership
• Any object that has been acquired in or exported from its country of origin in breach of that country’s laws. This includes the UK or any other country where the object may have been legally owned
• Any object in need of extensive remedial conservation, unless extremely significant to the local area.
• Any object that poses a health and safety risk
• Copy photographs and reference books for the permanent collections. These may be accepted for the Public Reference collection
• Geological and biological specimens
• Natural History objects, unless related to Charles Waterton
• Duplicate material, unless it has stronger provenance and is in better condition than those currently held.
• Offers of donation with specific conditions attached.
• ‘Rescue’ material, which is at risk of destruction i.e. local building material (unless significant and displayable) or objects that have no intrinsic museum value and are being offered for storage only.
• We will not usually accept photographs believed to be in copyright without associated reproduction rights as a minimum and preferably assignment of full copyright. On occasion, we may accept orphan works if the risk is considered to be minimal in relation to the significance of the object. In such cases, we will keep a record of due diligence conducted and operate a take-down policy.

5.1.12  Acquisitions outside the current stated policy will only be made in exceptional circumstances.

5.1.13 If we decline to acquire an object that has been offered, we will make every effort to return the object to its owner.

5.2      Themes and priorities for future collecting

5.2.1   Archaeology & Numismatics

It is the policy of Wakefield Museums and Castles to accept complete excavation archives, including primary site records and research archives and finds, from excavations carried out in the district that it serves. However, during the period 2023-2028, we will move the collections to our new collections store and as a result, we have temporarily suspended deposition of archives. We will recommence deposition, and review our deposition policy and charges, following the collections move.

Wakefield Museums & Castles acquires the archives of systematic archaeological investigation including excavation, field-walking, surveying monuments and recording buildings. This includes objects and associated records such as plans, photographs and x-rays. This material will only be accepted if it is accompanied by the associated documentary archive, together with the copyright for it, or the right to use it for interpretation and display. It is the responsibility of the archaeological contractor to ensure archives are prepared in accordance the specific requirements of our service before transfer.

We will not accept everything from an excavation archive indiscriminately; unstratified material, large structural pieces and unstable material (e.g. un-conserved organics, ironwork etc.) are all likely to be declined, and bulk material, such as ceramic building material, may be sampled before acquisition.

Wakefield Museums & Castles will:

• Acquire casual finds or finds from responsible metal detectors, but only where the objects are in good condition or have some research potential.
• Acquire British coins, banknotes, medals and tokens up to the present day, especially local and regional examples to enhance the existing numismatics collection.
• Encourage responsible excavations and related work in areas where the collections and/or local archaeological knowledge is poor e.g. prehistoric sites and post Roman sites.
• Encourage community involvement in fieldwork and the collection of archaeological material for the collections.

We will only acquire material from identified sites that lie within the district at the time of donation. Where sites lie across district boundaries, adjoining collecting museums will be consulted.

Exceptionally, unprovenanced material or material from sites outside the district may be collected for specific reasons, for example if it enhances the existing collection or has other associations with the Wakefield district.

We will encourage responsible research on archaeological material in the collections, including destructive testing where the value of potential knowledge gained can be demonstrated.

5.2.2        Social History collection

During the period of 2023-2028, Wakefield Museums & Castles will develop and open new museum galleries in the new Wakefield Library & Museum, due to open in Wakefield city centre in 2025. The museum galleries will tell the story of the whole Wakefield district. As part of this project, we will be carrying out targeted collecting, including contemporary collecting, to fill gaps in our collections, informed by extensive community engagement and consultation.

Wakefield Museums & Castles will acquire objects relating to the history of the city of Wakefield and the towns and villages of the Wakefield district since 1650. This includes contemporary collecting, an area that we will actively pursue in a targeted way.

All objects acquired for the collection will have a clear and significant connection to the Wakefield district.

Priority will be given to objects that have a detailed story about a place, person/people or event in the district and are backed up by contextual information such as a photograph or written testimony.

In particular areas of strength, we will avoid identical duplicates, but will consider filling chronological or material gaps. Particular areas of strength include:

• topographical photographs
• material relating to the liquorice industry
• material relating to Bagley’s glass
• toys and games since the 1960s

Wakefield Museums & Castles has already collected widely in the following areas and it is unlikely that we will acquire further material unless it is exceptional and significantly improves the understanding and appreciation of the existing collection:

• World War One
• royalty 1880-1980
• women’s costume 1860-1990
• rugby league programmes 1960-1990
• cookery books
• sewing machines and knitting/sewing patterns before 1980
• photographic portraits 1860-1960
• christening dresses 1860-1950
• plastic houseware 1940-1970

In particular areas of weakness, Wakefield Museums & Castles will prioritise filling gaps that are important to the district and its people, including (but not limited to):

• objects that reflect the religious and cultural diversity of the district, including migrant communities such as the Polish community and the refugee community.
• coal mining*
• textiles and wool industries
• sport, including women’s rugby and grassroots rugby
• men’s costume 1650 to present
• photographs of domestic and industrial interiors
• LGBTQIA+ objects
• objects relating to disability, including disability sport
• objects relating to the care and treatment of people, including workhouses, asylums and prisons
• born-digital objects, particularly oral history interviews

Coal mining is an area of particular weakness due to the neighbouring National Coal Mining Museum (NCMM). In the past, we have deferred all offers to the NCMM; however, community engagement and consultation has demonstrated a public wish for us to cover these stories in our sites. We will, therefore, seek to acquire mining-related objects that tell a story of local mining in the Wakefield district (as opposed to the national mining story told by the NCMM). We will continue to discuss potential acquisitions with the NCMM.

We will also seek to fill geographical gaps in the collections, particularly:

• Ossett and the west of the district
• Normanton and the north of the district
• South Elmsall and the south-east of the district

We will use a targeted approach to filling gaps through contemporary collecting and community engagement, as well as seeking objects, both historic and contemporary, when developing exhibitions. 

5.2.3  Education Handling Collection

Wakefield Museums & Castles collects handling objects that will strengthen the service provided by our Learning team, through both formal and informal learning programmes.  These objects are specially selected to be handled, used or investigated by visitors of all ages and are not collected in perpetuity. They may suffer loss or damage because of public use. 

We will acquire objects for the handling collection through gift, bequest and purchase.  Objects being disposed of from the permanent collection due to duplication or those that do not meet the Collections Development Policy may be transferred to the handling collection.

If, exceptionally, objects are transferred from the handling collection to the permanent collection, they will then be governed by the appropriate acquisition, disposal and collection management policies.

5.2.4 Public Reference collection, including the Print Loan collection

Wakefield Museums & Castles will collect resource material that strengthens the depth and quality of the Public Reference collection at Pontefract Museum as a public resource.

We will acquire new material for the Public Reference collection through gift, bequest and on occasion via purchase.  We do not accept loan material for this collection. All material once donated by individuals or groups is thereafter retained in the ownership of Wakefield Museums & Castles. As this material is intended for public use it may suffer loss or damage and is not collected in perpetuity.

We will not be adding to the Print Loan collection.

5.2.5  Biological and geological material

The museum will not acquire any biological or geological material.

6.1.        Disposal Policy and Procedures

6.1.1.      Wakefield Council will ensure that the disposal process is carried out openly and with transparency.

6.1.2.      All disposals will be undertaken with reference to the Museums Association’s Disposals Toolkit and the Spectrum 5.1 primary procedures on disposal.

6.1.3.      Wakefield Council will confirm that it is legally free to dispose of an item. Agreements on disposal made with donors will also be taken into account.

6.1.4.      When disposal of a museum object is being considered, we will establish if it was acquired with the aid of an external funding organisation. In such cases, any conditions attached to the original grant will be followed. This may include repayment of the original grant and a proportion of the proceeds if the item is disposed of by sale.

6.1.5.      We will not undertake disposal motivated principally for financial reasons, or to generate short term revenue for the Council.

6.1.6.      When disposal is motivated by curatorial reasons, the procedures outlined below will be followed and the method of disposal may be by gift or sale or, as a last resort, destruction.

6.1.7.      The decision to dispose of material from the collections will be taken by Wakefield Council only after full consideration of the reasons for disposal. Other factors including public benefit, the implications for the museum’s collections and collections held by museums and other organisations collecting the same material or in related fields will be considered. Expert advice will be obtained and the views of stakeholders such as donors, researchers, local and source communities, and others served by the museum, will also be sought as appropriate.

6.1.8.      A decision to dispose of a specimen or object, whether by gift, sale or destruction (in the case of an item too badly damaged or deteriorated to be of any use for the purposes of the collections or for reasons of health and safety), will be the responsibility of Wakefield Council acting on the advice of professional curatorial staff, and not the responsibility of members of staff acting alone.

6.1.9.      Once a decision to dispose of material in the collection has been taken, priority will be given to retaining it within the public domain. It will therefore be offered in the first instance, by gift or sale, directly to other Accredited Museums likely to be interested in its acquisition.

6.1.10.      If the material is not acquired by any Accredited Museum to which it was offered as a gift or for sale, then the museum community at large will be advised of the intention to dispose of the material normally through a notice on the MA’s Find an Object web listing service, an announcement in the Museums Association’s Museums Journal or in other specialist publications and websites (if appropriate).

6.1.11.      The announcement relating to gift or sale will indicate the number and nature of specimens or objects involved, and the basis on which the material will be transferred to another institution. Preference will be given to expressions of interest from other Accredited Museums. A period of at least two months will be allowed for an interest in acquiring the material to be expressed. At the end of this period, if no expressions of interest have been received, we will consider disposing of the material to other interested individuals and organisations giving priority to organisations in the public domain.

6.1.12.      Any monies received by Wakefield Council from the disposal of items will be applied solely and directly for the benefit of the collections. This normally means the purchase of further acquisitions. In exceptional cases, improvements relating to the care of collections in order to meet or exceed Accreditation requirements relating to the risk of damage to and deterioration of the collections may be justifiable. Any monies received in compensation for the damage, loss or destruction of items will be applied in the same way. Advice on those cases where the monies are intended to be used for the care of collections will be sought from the Arts Council England.

The proceeds of a sale will be allocated so it can be demonstrated that they are spent in a manner compatible with the requirements of the Accreditation standard. Money must be restricted to the long-term sustainability, use and development of the collection.

6.1.13.      Full records will be kept of all decisions on disposals and the items involved and proper arrangements made for the preservation and/or transfer, as appropriate, of the documentation relating to the items concerned, including photographic records where practicable in accordance with the Spectrum 5.1 Procedure on deaccession and disposal.

6.1.14.      We will not dispose of items by exchange

6.1.15.      If it is not possible to dispose of an object through transfer or sale, Wakefield Council may decide to destroy it.

It is acceptable to destroy material of low intrinsic significance (duplicate mass-produced articles or common specimens which lack significant provenance) where no alternative method of disposal can be found.

6.1.16.      Destruction is also an acceptable method of disposal in cases where an object is in extremely poor condition, has high associated health and safety risks or is part of an approved destructive testing request identified in an organisation’s research policy.

6.1.17.      Where necessary, specialist advice will be sought to establish the appropriate method of destruction. Health and safety risk assessments will be carried out by trained staff where required.

The destruction of objects should be witnessed by an appropriate member of the museum workforce. In circumstances where this is not possible, e.g. the destruction of controlled substances, a police certificate should be obtained and kept in the relevant object history file.

6.2.            Themes and priorities for rationalisation

6.2.1.      Wakefield Museums & Castles recognises that the principles on which priorities for rationalisation and disposal are determined will be through a formal review process that identifies which collections are included and excluded from the review. The outcome of review and any subsequent rationalisation will not reduce the quality or significance of the collection and will result in a more useable, well managed and sustainable collection.

6.2.2.      The procedures we use for rationalisation and disposal will meet professional standards. The process will be documented, open and transparent. There will be clear communication with key stakeholders about the outcomes and process.

6.2.3.      During the period 2023-2028, Wakefield Museum & Castles will continue with a programme of Collections Review and Rationalisation, which was started in 2018. This programme supports our Business Plan Aim 1: “Develop, document and care for our collections and historic sites, ensuring they are sustainable, representative of our district, and preserved for the future, in line with the Wakefield Heritage Framework.”

The Collections Review and Rationalisation programme will improve the efficiency of our collections management by refining the information that we hold about our objects and creating a collection that is ‘fit for purpose’ and that fully supports this Collections Development Policy.

Priority areas for review and rationalisation in this period are:

• Architectural salvage - unprovenanced building material and fixtures and fittings e.g. bricks, fire surrounds, windows, ranges, beams etc.
• Social history objects, including toys and games, kitchenware, glass and ceramics, clocks etc
• Material previously used at Clarke Hall.
• Costume, where we have multiples of similar items, e.g. aprons, christening gowns, parasols
• Archaeology, including bulk archaeological material with no research worth or display value; deteriorated archaeology (un-conserved excavated material); and unprovenanced archaeology or archaeological finds from other areas of the UK or abroad.
• Books as reference material
• Education Handling collection
• Ethnography, which is not related to Charles Waterton.
• Hazardous material which is detrimental to the collections and the health of staff.
• Historic Loans and untraced finds where the owner cannot be traced.

7.1.   Wakefield Museums & Castles will take account of the collecting policies of other museums and other organisations collecting in the same or related areas or subject fields. It will consult with these organisations where conflicts of interest may arise or to define areas of specialism, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication and waste of resources.

Specific reference is made to the following organisations:

• West Yorkshire Archive Service
• Wakefield Libraries’ Local Studies collection
• The Hepworth Wakefield
• Barnsley Museum Service
• Bradford Museums and Galleries
• Calderdale Museums Service
• Doncaster Museum Service (including the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regimental Museum)
• East Riding Museum Service
• Harrogate Museums and Galleries
• Kirklees Museums and Galleries Service
• Leeds Museum Service
• National Coal Mining Museum for England
• Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust
• York Museums Trust
• Rotherham Museum Service (including the York and Lancaster Regimental Museum)

Wakefield Museums & Castles will use the statement of principles ‘Spoliation of Works of Art during the Nazi, Holocaust and World War II period’, issued for non-national museums in 1999 by the Museums and Galleries Commission.

9.1.  Wakefield Council, acting on the advice of the museum’s professional staff, may take a decision to return human remains (unless covered by the ‘Guidance for the care of human remains in museums’ issued by DCMS in 2005) objects or specimens to a country or people of origin. We will take such decisions on a case by case basis; within our legal position and taking into account all ethical implications and available guidance. This will mean that the procedures described in 6.1.1-6.1.6 will be followed but the remaining procedures are not appropriate.

9.2.  The disposal of human remains from museums in England, Northern Ireland and Wales will follow the procedures in the ‘Guidance for the care of human remains in museums’.

Wakefield Corporation opened Wakefield Museum and Art Gallery at Holmfield House in Clarence Park in 1923. The collections included social history objects, ethnographic material, archaeological finds from the local area and ancient Egypt, a small natural history collection and local prints and paintings. The museum relied on donations for the collections to grow, in the early years this included a significant collection of decorative art, pottery and furniture from local industrialist Frank Green.

Following the establishment of a separate Wakefield Art Gallery in 1934, Wakefield Museum continued to collect social, archaeological, ethnographic and natural history objects until the museum moved premises to a former Georgian music saloon and Mechanics Institute in Wakefield city centre in 1956. The museum followed national trends in museum collecting by creating period room settings using locally sourced building fixtures and fittings. From the 1960s, the museum borrowed the Charles Waterton collection of natural history from Stonyhurst College on a long-term basis, until its return in 2022.

With the advent of local government reorganisation in 1974, the collection became the responsibility of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and was amalgamated with other museum and library collections within the Wakefield district, particularly those originating in Pontefract and Castleford.

A small voluntary run museum was established at Pontefract Castle in the nineteenth century. The objects collected during this period were transferred to the newly formed Wakefield Council’s museum service at local government re-organisation in 1974 and eventually redisplayed in the Art Nouveau Carnegie library building which was converted into a museum in 1978.

Castleford Library began collecting museum objects in the 1930s and again this material transferred at local government re-organisation in 1974. Objects with a Castleford provenance are readily identifiable within the museum’s collection. For a number of years. Castleford related objects were displayed within a room in the library, in 2013 a new purpose-built museum opened within the newly extended and refurbished Castleford Forum Library and Museum.

During the 1970s, the Service stopped collecting Natural History and focussed mainly on the social history and archaeology of the Wakefield district.

From the late 1970s until 2012, Wakefield Council managed Clarke Hall as an educational museum collection. It is no longer part of the Council’s museums portfolio and as a consequence, Wakefield Museums & Castles no longer collects items specifically for use at that site. All the objects that were used to dress the Hall have been assessed in accordance with the Collections Development Policy. About 40% of these objects have been identified for future use within the museums, with the remaining items being transferred or disposed of in accordance with procedure outlined in section 16 of this document. 

The fine art collection, which was originally housed in a Victorian town house on Wentworth Terrace, was transferred to The Hepworth Wakefield on completion of the new gallery project in 2009. This collection is now governed by that organisation’s Collections Development Policy but, along with any relevant supporting material, remains in the ownership of Wakefield Council.

In 2012, Wakefield Museum moved from its previous location at the Mechanics’ Institute on Wood Street to its current site at Wakefield One, the council’s newest civic building.

In 2017, the Service opened a new visitor centre at Pontefract Castle, with a display area telling the history of the castle.

In 2021, Wakefield Council was awarded £12 million from the Levelling Up Fund for Culture, towards a £16 million project to create a new Wakefield Library & Museum in the former British Homes Stores department store on Upper Kirkgate, Wakefield. This new site will house museum galleries telling the story of the whole of the Wakefield district. It is due to open in 2025, at which point the current Wakefield Museum, in Wakefield One, will close.

Wakefield Museums & Castles is committed to increasing access to collections, and to representing the diverse communities in the Wakefield district. To enable this work, a programme of collections in the community has been developed, which includes the development of small touring exhibitions, and museum hubs in targeted areas of the district (currently South Elmsall and Featherstone, with a further hub in Ossett due to open in 2023). Targeted contemporary collecting has also been developed, which seeks to address gaps in the museum collections and ensure the collections are representative of, and relevant to, Wakefield’s communities today.