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Wakefield Museums and Castles
The Victorians
The Victorian era was a time when the Industrial Revolution had made some people very rich. Many others existed in poverty. They lived in terrible, filthy conditions.
This inequality led to the development of charity and philanthropy. Philanthropy means “the love of humanity”.
Kind, wealthy Victorians wanted to make the lives of poor people a little better. They started orphanages and charity schools. They also funded public libraries and museums.
Jeannette Leatham was born Jeannette Cunard in the 1800s.
The Cunards were a family that had become very rich due to their shipping business.
Jeanette married Edmund Leatham in 1883. Leatham was a wealthy man, and a partner in the bank Leatham, Tew and Co.
Jeannette Emmet Leatham, painted by James Archer, 1884. (BBC Your Paintings)
Jeannette used some of her huge wealth to improve Pontefract. She helped to create the pleasure gardens at Pontefract Castle. She was also involved with the museum at the castle.
Jeannette also supported local children's homes.
Find out more on a tour
If you would like to find out more, then come and visit us at Pontefract Castle!
We run two types of guided tour every weekend:
- Our Dungeon Tours explore the eerie underground dungeon. They are at 10:45am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Our Castle Explorer Tours tell stories of the castle's past around the grounds. They are at 2pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.