Wakefield Museums and Castles

You can download our visual story for Pontefract Museum before you visit.

You can download a floor plan of the museum.

You can download a sensory map of the main galleries before you visit.

We also have a sensory map of the Oh yes it is! feature exhibition.

Copies of both sensory maps are available in the Pick and Mix station in the entrance foyer.

Some of our exhibition spaces have low light levels to protect the delicate objects on display. 

There are lots of tactile tools and resources available to support your visit in the Pick and Mix station. This is just inside the entrance to the museum.

There are lots of hands-on elements in Pontefract Museum.

In the main gallery space there is a mini puppet theatre, hand puppets and story books.

There is a dressing up box near the Civil Wars display.

There is a raised impression of a Civil War coin from the Ackworth Hoard that you can touch and make a rubbing of.

There is a rocking horse that you can touch and ride if you are able.

There is also a toy market stall.

In the Oh yes it is! temporary exhibition, there are pantomime themed dressing up costumes in a box.

There are audio elements in parts of the exhibition spaces. These are not connected to headphones.

Main gallery: There is a film about the Hermitage in the medieval display. There is a screen with 5 short films in the ‘No place like home’ section.

Glass room: There is an AV screen with 3 films. All of these films are operated by push buttons. There are no headphones and audio plays out into the gallery. All films subtitled and there are handheld transcription sheets.

Oh yes it is! exhibition: There is a small AV screen in the foyer window playing archive clips from past pantomime performances. This is touchscreen. There are headphones. The clips are subtitled but as the footage is old, the audio quality is sometimes lower than usual. The pantomime song is operated by a large yellow button near the small AV screen. There is a brief pause then the audio plays out into the gallery. The song will play twice.

There are a further three short films on the large AV screen near the toilet door. These are operated by push button. There are no headphones and the audio plays out into the gallery. The films are all subtitled.

The fire alarm at Pontefract Museum is tested at 10:30am on Tuesdays.

Generally, the site is quieter during weekdays and school opening hours.

It can be louder at weekends, the late afternoons and in the school holidays.

We have weekly Relaxed Opening sessions every Tuesday afternoon, 2pm to 4pm.

You can contact us in advance to find out when might be the best time for you to visit.