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Wakefield Museums and Castles
Pontefract Workhouse
Explore what life was like in the Pontefract Workhouse through a range of museum objects, photographs and documents.
Browse a selection of highlights, and download our full resource packs for more:
These resources are for upper Key Stage 2 onwards.
Photograph of Pontefract Workhouse (1900)
What is it? This is a scan of a black and white photograph.
How old is it? It dates to around 1900.
What does the image show us? It shows us the large brick workhouse, with central tower; trees partially obscuring the front. There is a figure on the steps.
Why is this source important? It helps us to know what the workhouse looked like when it was in use, how big the main building was, how the grounds were landscaped and how well-kept it was.
Where was it found / discovered / made? This image was published by F. Marshall.
Dimensions: Height 192mm, Width 140mm.
Transcription of text: Caption on bottom left says '3146 Union Workhouse Pontefract'.
Where is it now? This image is used by Wakefield Museums on the historic photograph online catalogue.
Photograph of a nurses' tea party (1914)
What is it? This is a black and white photograph.
How old is it? It dates from 1914.
What does the image show us? This is a photograph of a nurses' tea party. The nurses are on a tennis court by the Pontefract Workhouse hospital buildings on Headlands Lane, Pontefract.
Why is this source important? This source is important as it shows the uniform worn by nurses at the workhouse in the early 20th century. It also shows the nurses participating in an enjoyable group activity at their place of work.
Dimensions: Height 135mm, Width 85mm.
Where is it now? It is part of the Wakefield Museums' collection.
Photograph of inmates cutting logs (1910 to 1915)
What is it? It is a scanned copy of a black and white photograph.
How old is it? It dates to between 1910 and 1915.
What does the image show us? The image shows inmates cutting logs at Pontefract Workhouse.
Why is this source important? It is one of a series of rare photographs illustrating life in the Pontefract Poor Law Union Workhouse.
Where was it found / discovered / made? This source was transferred to Wakefield Museums from Wakefield Council Social Services Department in the 1980s.
Dimensions: Height 165mm, Width 165mm.
Where is it now? This image is used by Wakefield Museums on the historic photograph online catalogue.
Photograph of inmate breaking stones (1910 to 1915)
What is it? It is a scanned copy of a black and white photograph.
How old is it? It dates to between 1910 and 1915.
What does the image show us? This photograph shows a person labouring at Pontefract Workhouse. The man is breaking large stones into fragments for road building. The grills ensured that the fragments were small enough.
Why is this source important? It is one of a series of rare photographs illustrating life in the Pontefract Poor Law Union Workhouse.
Where was it found / discovered / made? This source was transferred to Wakefield Museums from Wakefield Council Social Services Department in the 1980s.
Dimensions: Height 165mm, Width 165mm.
Where is it now? This image is used by Wakefield Museums on the historic photograph online catalogue.
Photograph of a ward in the Workhouse Infirmary (1910 to 1915)
What is it? It is a scanned copy of a black and white photograph.
How old is it? It dates to between 1910 and 1915.
What does the image show us? This is a photograph of a ward in the Pontefract Workhouse Infirmary on Headlands Lane.
Why is this source important? It is one of a series of rare photographs illustrating life in the Pontefract Poor Law Union Workhouse.
Where was it found / discovered / made? This source was transferred to Wakefield Museums from Wakefield Council Social Services Department in the 1980s.
Dimensions: Height 165mm, Width 165mm.
Where is it now? This image is used by Wakefield Museums on the historic photograph online catalogue.
Photograph of Pontefract Workhouse staff (1935)
What is it? It is a black and white photograph.
How old is it? It has been dated to 1935.
Why is this source important? It is important as it is a formal image showing a selection of people associated with Pontefract Workhouse.
What does the image show us? The photograph shows Pontefract Workhouse in the background and, in the foreground, a group of staff of the 'Osgoldcross Guardians Committee, Assessment Committee and Pontefract Registration District', also known as The Workhouse.
Where was it found / discovered / made? This image was donated to Wakefield Museums in 2005.
Dimensions: Height 300mm, Width 250mm.
Where is it now? This image is used by Wakefield Museums on the historic photograph online catalogue.