Wakefield Museums and Castles
@wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social
Wakefield Council Museums and Castles team. Follow us for news about our museums and castles across the district and stories from our collections.
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Happy LGBTQ+ history month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
We'll be flying the Pride Flag at Pontefract Castle throughout February.
You can also explore local LGBTQ+ stories on our website: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/col...
#LGBTQIA #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBTQ
We'll be flying the Pride Flag at Pontefract Castle throughout February.
You can also explore local LGBTQ+ stories on our website: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/col...
#LGBTQIA #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBTQ
Reposted by Wakefield Museums and Castles
📢 Help us spread the word and bring back the #MuseumSuperbowl
On Monday morning let's flood Bluesky with bowl and owls 🍜🦉
@wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social
@maryrosemuseum.bsky.social
@romanpalace.bsky.social
@merchantshallyork.org
@roystonmuseum.bsky.social
@penleehousegallery.bsky.social
On Monday morning let's flood Bluesky with bowl and owls 🍜🦉
@wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social
@maryrosemuseum.bsky.social
@romanpalace.bsky.social
@merchantshallyork.org
@roystonmuseum.bsky.social
@penleehousegallery.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 12:21 PM
📢 Help us spread the word and bring back the #MuseumSuperbowl
On Monday morning let's flood Bluesky with bowl and owls 🍜🦉
@wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social
@maryrosemuseum.bsky.social
@romanpalace.bsky.social
@merchantshallyork.org
@roystonmuseum.bsky.social
@penleehousegallery.bsky.social
On Monday morning let's flood Bluesky with bowl and owls 🍜🦉
@wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social
@maryrosemuseum.bsky.social
@romanpalace.bsky.social
@merchantshallyork.org
@roystonmuseum.bsky.social
@penleehousegallery.bsky.social
Happy LGBTQ+ history month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
We'll be flying the Pride Flag at Pontefract Castle throughout February.
You can also explore local LGBTQ+ stories on our website: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/col...
#LGBTQIA #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBTQ
We'll be flying the Pride Flag at Pontefract Castle throughout February.
You can also explore local LGBTQ+ stories on our website: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/col...
#LGBTQIA #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBTQ
February 2, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Happy LGBTQ+ history month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
We'll be flying the Pride Flag at Pontefract Castle throughout February.
You can also explore local LGBTQ+ stories on our website: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/col...
#LGBTQIA #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBTQ
We'll be flying the Pride Flag at Pontefract Castle throughout February.
You can also explore local LGBTQ+ stories on our website: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/col...
#LGBTQIA #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBTQ
Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is light and dark 💡
We've got the perfect pair of paintings - 'All Saints' Church' [day] (1908) and 'All Saints' Church' [night] (1910).
Both are by H.E. Hebdon, inspired by J.M.W. Turner.
On display in Picturing Pontefract from 2 Feb!
We've got the perfect pair of paintings - 'All Saints' Church' [day] (1908) and 'All Saints' Church' [night] (1910).
Both are by H.E. Hebdon, inspired by J.M.W. Turner.
On display in Picturing Pontefract from 2 Feb!
January 29, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is light and dark 💡
We've got the perfect pair of paintings - 'All Saints' Church' [day] (1908) and 'All Saints' Church' [night] (1910).
Both are by H.E. Hebdon, inspired by J.M.W. Turner.
On display in Picturing Pontefract from 2 Feb!
We've got the perfect pair of paintings - 'All Saints' Church' [day] (1908) and 'All Saints' Church' [night] (1910).
Both are by H.E. Hebdon, inspired by J.M.W. Turner.
On display in Picturing Pontefract from 2 Feb!
Rhubarb lovers rejoice - the Rhubarb Festival is back 20 - 22 Feb! 😋
To celebrate, we've got lots of tasty new content on our website. Dig into the history of the rhubarb industry in Wakefield. Discover the many uses of this powerful pink plant.
Fill your boots at https://wmandc.co/rhubarb
To celebrate, we've got lots of tasty new content on our website. Dig into the history of the rhubarb industry in Wakefield. Discover the many uses of this powerful pink plant.
Fill your boots at https://wmandc.co/rhubarb
January 28, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Rhubarb lovers rejoice - the Rhubarb Festival is back 20 - 22 Feb! 😋
To celebrate, we've got lots of tasty new content on our website. Dig into the history of the rhubarb industry in Wakefield. Discover the many uses of this powerful pink plant.
Fill your boots at https://wmandc.co/rhubarb
To celebrate, we've got lots of tasty new content on our website. Dig into the history of the rhubarb industry in Wakefield. Discover the many uses of this powerful pink plant.
Fill your boots at https://wmandc.co/rhubarb
Museum and evaluation specialists - we need you!
We're looking for a #freelance consultant to evaluate the impact of our Museum Hubs and to make recommendations for their future programming and management.
Budget: Up to £10,000
Closing date: midday Mon 9 Feb
More info: wmandc.co/hubs-evaluation
We're looking for a #freelance consultant to evaluate the impact of our Museum Hubs and to make recommendations for their future programming and management.
Budget: Up to £10,000
Closing date: midday Mon 9 Feb
More info: wmandc.co/hubs-evaluation
Freelancer opportunity: Museum Hubs evaluation
Wakefield Museums and Castles are looking for a museum specialist to evaluate the impact of our Museum Hubs.
wmandc.co
January 27, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Museum and evaluation specialists - we need you!
We're looking for a #freelance consultant to evaluate the impact of our Museum Hubs and to make recommendations for their future programming and management.
Budget: Up to £10,000
Closing date: midday Mon 9 Feb
More info: wmandc.co/hubs-evaluation
We're looking for a #freelance consultant to evaluate the impact of our Museum Hubs and to make recommendations for their future programming and management.
Budget: Up to £10,000
Closing date: midday Mon 9 Feb
More info: wmandc.co/hubs-evaluation
Reposted by Wakefield Museums and Castles
Eighty-one years ago today, over 7,000 prisoners of the German Nazi camp #Auschwitz, including some 700 children, were liberated by the soldiers of the Soviet Army.
1,689 days of murder, pain, suffering, and humiliation were over.
Today, we all remember. We must keep remembering.
1,689 days of murder, pain, suffering, and humiliation were over.
Today, we all remember. We must keep remembering.
January 27, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Eighty-one years ago today, over 7,000 prisoners of the German Nazi camp #Auschwitz, including some 700 children, were liberated by the soldiers of the Soviet Army.
1,689 days of murder, pain, suffering, and humiliation were over.
Today, we all remember. We must keep remembering.
1,689 days of murder, pain, suffering, and humiliation were over.
Today, we all remember. We must keep remembering.
What amazingly talented visitors we have! 🤩
Thank you so much to Nanditha for sharing this stunning sketch of Cynthia Kenny in her later years.
It's inspired by Cynthia's own self-portrait and the photo of her on display in Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum.
wmandc.co/cynthia-kenny
Thank you so much to Nanditha for sharing this stunning sketch of Cynthia Kenny in her later years.
It's inspired by Cynthia's own self-portrait and the photo of her on display in Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum.
wmandc.co/cynthia-kenny
January 26, 2026 at 10:40 AM
What amazingly talented visitors we have! 🤩
Thank you so much to Nanditha for sharing this stunning sketch of Cynthia Kenny in her later years.
It's inspired by Cynthia's own self-portrait and the photo of her on display in Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum.
wmandc.co/cynthia-kenny
Thank you so much to Nanditha for sharing this stunning sketch of Cynthia Kenny in her later years.
It's inspired by Cynthia's own self-portrait and the photo of her on display in Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum.
wmandc.co/cynthia-kenny
Reposted by Wakefield Museums and Castles
Thursday we went to Barnsley spent all the time in Asda.
January 24, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Thursday we went to Barnsley spent all the time in Asda.
Reposted by Wakefield Museums and Castles
Good morning 👋
We try our best to be significant, relevant & bring joy to people's lives. Some of our friends from the other place are now here inc @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social @maryrosemuseum.bsky.social @romanpalace.bsky.social @merchantshallyork.org @roystonmuseum.bsky.social
We try our best to be significant, relevant & bring joy to people's lives. Some of our friends from the other place are now here inc @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social @maryrosemuseum.bsky.social @romanpalace.bsky.social @merchantshallyork.org @roystonmuseum.bsky.social
hey, museum people -- the storied @themerl.bsky.social aside, what actual museums have any significant presence here on bluesky?
January 22, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Good morning 👋
We try our best to be significant, relevant & bring joy to people's lives. Some of our friends from the other place are now here inc @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social @maryrosemuseum.bsky.social @romanpalace.bsky.social @merchantshallyork.org @roystonmuseum.bsky.social
We try our best to be significant, relevant & bring joy to people's lives. Some of our friends from the other place are now here inc @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social @maryrosemuseum.bsky.social @romanpalace.bsky.social @merchantshallyork.org @roystonmuseum.bsky.social
You can see this incredible piece of history for yourself at Castleford Museum!
Whilst we area talking about the Ferrybridge area little can compare with the discovery in 2003 of a rare 2,000-year-old chariot burial. It was found during construction work on the A1 road. Unusually, the chariot was found complete with its wheels upright in the ground – only the second such
January 21, 2026 at 9:01 AM
You can see this incredible piece of history for yourself at Castleford Museum!
We're extinguishing #BlueMonday with this Harden Star Bristol Blue Glass hand grenade!
A warden would have thrown this into a fire. The glass grenade would shatter and release chemicals to put out the flames.
They were first used in the 1800s, but still popular well into the 1900s.
A warden would have thrown this into a fire. The glass grenade would shatter and release chemicals to put out the flames.
They were first used in the 1800s, but still popular well into the 1900s.
January 19, 2026 at 11:51 AM
We're extinguishing #BlueMonday with this Harden Star Bristol Blue Glass hand grenade!
A warden would have thrown this into a fire. The glass grenade would shatter and release chemicals to put out the flames.
They were first used in the 1800s, but still popular well into the 1900s.
A warden would have thrown this into a fire. The glass grenade would shatter and release chemicals to put out the flames.
They were first used in the 1800s, but still popular well into the 1900s.
It's apparently #NationalAppreciateADragonDay!
So we're sharing the love for Pontefract Castle's mascot Ilbert the Dragon 🐉💜
Ilbert is named after Ilbert de Lacy, the founder of Pontefract Castle. Ilbert is yellow and purple to match the coat of arms of John de Lacy.
So we're sharing the love for Pontefract Castle's mascot Ilbert the Dragon 🐉💜
Ilbert is named after Ilbert de Lacy, the founder of Pontefract Castle. Ilbert is yellow and purple to match the coat of arms of John de Lacy.
January 16, 2026 at 12:07 PM
It's apparently #NationalAppreciateADragonDay!
So we're sharing the love for Pontefract Castle's mascot Ilbert the Dragon 🐉💜
Ilbert is named after Ilbert de Lacy, the founder of Pontefract Castle. Ilbert is yellow and purple to match the coat of arms of John de Lacy.
So we're sharing the love for Pontefract Castle's mascot Ilbert the Dragon 🐉💜
Ilbert is named after Ilbert de Lacy, the founder of Pontefract Castle. Ilbert is yellow and purple to match the coat of arms of John de Lacy.
Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is bold and colourful art 🌈
This is 'The Counting House', Helen Briggs (2005).
This is an iconic building in Pontefract, captured in vivid technicolour.
See this and many more in Picturing Pontefract, opening at Pontefract Museum 2 Feb!
This is 'The Counting House', Helen Briggs (2005).
This is an iconic building in Pontefract, captured in vivid technicolour.
See this and many more in Picturing Pontefract, opening at Pontefract Museum 2 Feb!
January 15, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is bold and colourful art 🌈
This is 'The Counting House', Helen Briggs (2005).
This is an iconic building in Pontefract, captured in vivid technicolour.
See this and many more in Picturing Pontefract, opening at Pontefract Museum 2 Feb!
This is 'The Counting House', Helen Briggs (2005).
This is an iconic building in Pontefract, captured in vivid technicolour.
See this and many more in Picturing Pontefract, opening at Pontefract Museum 2 Feb!
Want an easy New Year's resolution you'll actually keep? 👀
Visit more Museums and Castles!
Find your next adventure at Wakefield Museum, Pontefract Castle, Pontefract Museum, Castleford Museum and Sandal Castle.
Free entry all year round.
More info: wmandc.co
Visit more Museums and Castles!
Find your next adventure at Wakefield Museum, Pontefract Castle, Pontefract Museum, Castleford Museum and Sandal Castle.
Free entry all year round.
More info: wmandc.co
January 8, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Want an easy New Year's resolution you'll actually keep? 👀
Visit more Museums and Castles!
Find your next adventure at Wakefield Museum, Pontefract Castle, Pontefract Museum, Castleford Museum and Sandal Castle.
Free entry all year round.
More info: wmandc.co
Visit more Museums and Castles!
Find your next adventure at Wakefield Museum, Pontefract Castle, Pontefract Museum, Castleford Museum and Sandal Castle.
Free entry all year round.
More info: wmandc.co
Everywhere seems to have #snow apart from Wakefield... ❄🌨
So don't mind us, we'll be sulking in the winter wonderland of Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum.
Can we be invited to Snow Day next time please? 😭
So don't mind us, we'll be sulking in the winter wonderland of Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum.
Can we be invited to Snow Day next time please? 😭
January 7, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Everywhere seems to have #snow apart from Wakefield... ❄🌨
So don't mind us, we'll be sulking in the winter wonderland of Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum.
Can we be invited to Snow Day next time please? 😭
So don't mind us, we'll be sulking in the winter wonderland of Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum.
Can we be invited to Snow Day next time please? 😭
Rise and shine 🌄
This stunning sunrise was captured by our Site Officer Joe at Pontefract Castle!
It's a lovely reminder that the days are slowly starting to get longer.
Have you seen any spectacular sunrises or sunsets recently?
#Sunrise #PontefractCastle
This stunning sunrise was captured by our Site Officer Joe at Pontefract Castle!
It's a lovely reminder that the days are slowly starting to get longer.
Have you seen any spectacular sunrises or sunsets recently?
#Sunrise #PontefractCastle
January 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Rise and shine 🌄
This stunning sunrise was captured by our Site Officer Joe at Pontefract Castle!
It's a lovely reminder that the days are slowly starting to get longer.
Have you seen any spectacular sunrises or sunsets recently?
#Sunrise #PontefractCastle
This stunning sunrise was captured by our Site Officer Joe at Pontefract Castle!
It's a lovely reminder that the days are slowly starting to get longer.
Have you seen any spectacular sunrises or sunsets recently?
#Sunrise #PontefractCastle
Our incredible #Medieval Herb Garden volunteers have done it - they've published a whole year of blogs! 🌱🏰
Discover a different plant of the week for a whole year.
Explore handy gardening tips, facts and folklore about our fantastic flora.
Browse them all at wmandc.co/herbs
#MedievalHistory
Discover a different plant of the week for a whole year.
Explore handy gardening tips, facts and folklore about our fantastic flora.
Browse them all at wmandc.co/herbs
#MedievalHistory
January 6, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Our incredible #Medieval Herb Garden volunteers have done it - they've published a whole year of blogs! 🌱🏰
Discover a different plant of the week for a whole year.
Explore handy gardening tips, facts and folklore about our fantastic flora.
Browse them all at wmandc.co/herbs
#MedievalHistory
Discover a different plant of the week for a whole year.
Explore handy gardening tips, facts and folklore about our fantastic flora.
Browse them all at wmandc.co/herbs
#MedievalHistory
Fancy some fun festive facts about holly from our Medieval Herb Garden volunteers?
Of course you do!
1) Did you know that this big, beautiful plant overlooking the Medieval Herb Garden at Pontefract Castle is our holly tree?
Holly can grow as tall as 25 m / 80 ft!
(1 / 5)
Of course you do!
1) Did you know that this big, beautiful plant overlooking the Medieval Herb Garden at Pontefract Castle is our holly tree?
Holly can grow as tall as 25 m / 80 ft!
(1 / 5)
December 19, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Fancy some fun festive facts about holly from our Medieval Herb Garden volunteers?
Of course you do!
1) Did you know that this big, beautiful plant overlooking the Medieval Herb Garden at Pontefract Castle is our holly tree?
Holly can grow as tall as 25 m / 80 ft!
(1 / 5)
Of course you do!
1) Did you know that this big, beautiful plant overlooking the Medieval Herb Garden at Pontefract Castle is our holly tree?
Holly can grow as tall as 25 m / 80 ft!
(1 / 5)
Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange is Christmas!
We've just updated Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum with new wonderful wintry scenes.
It includes stunning seasonal pieces like this one - 'Winter Morning, Landscape, Crofton' (1979).
We've just updated Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum with new wonderful wintry scenes.
It includes stunning seasonal pieces like this one - 'Winter Morning, Landscape, Crofton' (1979).
December 18, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange is Christmas!
We've just updated Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum with new wonderful wintry scenes.
It includes stunning seasonal pieces like this one - 'Winter Morning, Landscape, Crofton' (1979).
We've just updated Cynthia Kenny: a city framed at Wakefield Museum with new wonderful wintry scenes.
It includes stunning seasonal pieces like this one - 'Winter Morning, Landscape, Crofton' (1979).
Reposted by Wakefield Museums and Castles
What's in our Collections Christmas stocking? 🎁👀
We've had a festive frolic around our collections to find some traditional stocking fillers!
We've had a festive frolic around our collections to find some traditional stocking fillers!
December 16, 2025 at 11:32 AM
What's in our Collections Christmas stocking? 🎁👀
We've had a festive frolic around our collections to find some traditional stocking fillers!
We've had a festive frolic around our collections to find some traditional stocking fillers!
What's in our Collections Christmas stocking? 🎁👀
We've had a festive frolic around our collections to find some traditional stocking fillers!
We've had a festive frolic around our collections to find some traditional stocking fillers!
December 16, 2025 at 11:32 AM
What's in our Collections Christmas stocking? 🎁👀
We've had a festive frolic around our collections to find some traditional stocking fillers!
We've had a festive frolic around our collections to find some traditional stocking fillers!
Enjoying some chocolate in the run up to Christmas?
Ever tried it mixed with wine? 👀
In the Georgian period chocolate was a luxury. It was often mixed with water, wine, port or milk.
Try our recipe: https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/learn/activities-at-home/christmas/chocolate-wine/
Ever tried it mixed with wine? 👀
In the Georgian period chocolate was a luxury. It was often mixed with water, wine, port or milk.
Try our recipe: https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/learn/activities-at-home/christmas/chocolate-wine/
Georgian chocolate wine
Try a taste of gorgeous Georgian luxury with our chocolate wine recipe.
museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk
December 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Enjoying some chocolate in the run up to Christmas?
Ever tried it mixed with wine? 👀
In the Georgian period chocolate was a luxury. It was often mixed with water, wine, port or milk.
Try our recipe: https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/learn/activities-at-home/christmas/chocolate-wine/
Ever tried it mixed with wine? 👀
In the Georgian period chocolate was a luxury. It was often mixed with water, wine, port or milk.
Try our recipe: https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/learn/activities-at-home/christmas/chocolate-wine/
We do love a weird Victorian Christmas card!
We recently had a look around our collection for quirky Victorian cards - here's a round-up of some we found: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/new...
We recently had a look around our collection for quirky Victorian cards - here's a round-up of some we found: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/new...
December 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
We do love a weird Victorian Christmas card!
We recently had a look around our collection for quirky Victorian cards - here's a round-up of some we found: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/new...
We recently had a look around our collection for quirky Victorian cards - here's a round-up of some we found: museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/new...
Mix up some tasty festive treats with our medieval-style, no-cook gingerbread recipe! 😋
It’s inspired by a recipe that might have been made at the Pontefract Castle in medieval times.
Recipe at https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/learn/activities-at-home/christmas/gingerbread/
It’s inspired by a recipe that might have been made at the Pontefract Castle in medieval times.
Recipe at https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/learn/activities-at-home/christmas/gingerbread/
Medieval-style gingerbread
Get a taste of the festive spirit with our recipe for no-cook, medieval-style gingerbread!
museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk
December 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Mix up some tasty festive treats with our medieval-style, no-cook gingerbread recipe! 😋
It’s inspired by a recipe that might have been made at the Pontefract Castle in medieval times.
Recipe at https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/learn/activities-at-home/christmas/gingerbread/
It’s inspired by a recipe that might have been made at the Pontefract Castle in medieval times.
Recipe at https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/learn/activities-at-home/christmas/gingerbread/
December 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM