Wakefield Museums and Castles

Art Nouveau architecture

Admire our wonderful Art Nouveau home!

Take in all the features in the Welcome Space. Cast your eyes over the mosaic floor, the wood panelling and gorgeous green tiles.

Even our door handles are stylish!

Ballot box

In 1872 Pontefract took centre stage in a piece of political history. Explore the eventful story of Britain's first secret ballot - the system we still use for elections today.

See the historic ballot box and the liquorice stamp used to seal it.

Plus follow all the drama in our special comic 'Potwallopers'.

Ackworth Hoard

The Ackworth Hoard was found buried in a garden. It's made up of nearly 600 gold and silver coins and a gold ring, all inside a Wrenthorpe pot.

Discover what this incredible find tells us about Pontefract during the English Civil Wars.

Medieval stonework

Study the intricate detail of carved medieval stonework. It comes from St John's Priory.

The quality of the carving shows the importance of this church in Norman Pontefract.

'Pontefract Castle' by Alexander Keirincx

Immerse yourself in a panoramic painting of Pontefract Castle in 1640.

Be amazed by the scale of the castle in its heyday. Admire the detail of this masterpiece, commissioned by Charles I.

Learn more with our interactive Keirincx painting

(Painting on loan from The Hepworth Wakefield)

Yorkshire kitchen range

Gather round the heart of the home.

From the 1800s to 1960s, most people had coal fired Yorkshire ranges like this one.

See where families would have cooked their meals. It's also where they dried their washing and heated their bathwater!

English Housewifery

Did you know Yorkshire's first published cookery writer came from Pontefract? Elizabeth Moxon published 'English Housewifery' in 1741.

Discover her popular recipes. See some of the tools of her trade.

Pick up a recipe card and cook up a Georgian feast at home.

Pontefract Cakes

Pick your favourite packaging for the famous Pontefract Cake!

Liquorice first put down roots in Pontefract in medieval times. It became a sweet success.

Admire the many products local companies made. They're in 'All Sorts' of shapes and colours.

Bagley's Andromeda bowl

This is a glass statue of Andromeda stood in a bowl. It was made by Bagley and Co Ltd in Knottingley.

Although started as a bottle factory, Bagley's also made deocrative glass. They were especially known for their coloured glass developed in the 1930s.

Discover more gorgeous coloured glass in our dedicated Glass Room.