Pontefract Museum

03/06/2026

This week is

We have a fantastic team of volunteers who work across our Wakefield Museums and Castles sites; here at Pontefract Museum you might find our volunteers:

- Staffing the Reference Room drop-in (monthly, Wednesdays!)
- Supporting hands-on activities during big events like Pontefract Liquorice Festival
- Becoming our friendly museum elves for our Liquorice Santa event
- Reorganising the files in the Reference Room
- Helping behind-the-scenes and making crafts for our learning activities
- Delving into historical documents to assist with projects

Let's all say a big thank you to our volunteers - without them, things just wouldn't be the same. We appreciate everything that they do to help us care for our visitors, sites and collections 💚

02/06/2026

Thanks to Pontefract in Bloom for keeping the entrance to the museum looking bloomin' lovely! 🌸💚

We’ve been busy replanting this morning - can’t wait to see how quickly the New Guinea Impatiens will grow, they’ve done well in this location before (with a little extra TLC from our friends in the Museum ☺️).
Don’t miss the Picturing Pontefract exhibition currently on show.

27/05/2026

Pop in from 10:30am today, Weds 27 May, and get Puzzling Pontefract with us!

We've got free, drop-in fun running until 3pm. You can:

- Solve riddles and puzzles to learn about Ponte 🕵🏻‍♀️
- Make a jazzy jigsaw puzzle to take away 🧩

Which of the fantastic artworks in our Picturing Pontefract exhibition will you be inspired by?

26/05/2026

"You have a lovely friendly town! Long live Pontefract!"
"New exhibition was awesome, me, brother, grandad and grandma though it was amazing"
"A fully enjoyable visit"
"What an amazing exhibition. I love the variety and skills on show."

Don't just take it from us - that's just a snippet of what our lovely visitors have had to say!

Pontefract Museum and the Picturing Pontefract exhibition are free entry. Open Monday to Friday 10am to 4:30pm and Saturdays 10:30am to 4:30pm.

22/05/2026

May half term is here! We've got something for all the family across our sites.

Plan your next adventure with our handy half term guide: https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/news-and-blog/school-holidays-guide/

Featuring:
🔍 Pontefract pollinators trail at Pontefract Castle (official)
🧩 Puzzling Pontefract here at Pontefract Museum
🌍 Hidden nature worlds and Eco arts at Wakefield Museum
🏺 Roman games and pastimes at Castleford Museum

Tag and share with your fellow adventure seekers and thrifty families!

21/05/2026

⚠ Reminder - closed today Thursday 21 May (all day)

Pontefract Museum will be closed today Thursday 21 May all day.
This is to allow for essential maintenance works.
We will reopen as normal tomorrow Friday 22 May.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Wakefield Council

20/05/2026

We're Puzzling Pontefract next Wednesday! Join us and:

🔎 Solve puzzles and riddles to learn about Pontefract
🧩 Make your own jazzy jigsaw to take away

Experience the beautiful art of our Picturing Pontefract exhibition and be inspired by the paintings to create your own jigsaw masterpiece!

Wednesday 27 May, 10:30am to 3pm, free and drop-in

Video description: A cut up copy of a picture of Pontefract by William Shone. It is cut into various pieces that move around the screen and eventually come together to form the full picture which shows the Buttercross and St Gile's Church. There is jolly music playing in the background.


Experience Wakefield Wakefield Libraries Yorkshire Tots to Teens

14/05/2026

⚠ Closed Thursday 21 May (all day)

Pontefract Museum will be closed on Thursday 21 May all day.
This is to allow for essential maintenance works.
We will reopen as normal on Friday 22 May.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Wakefield Council

12/05/2026

Get Puzzling Pontefract this May half-term!

Join us and solve puzzles and riddles to help you learn all about Pontefract

Take inspiration from our lovely Picturing Pontefract exhibition and make your own jazzy jigsaw to take away

Which Ponte landmarks will you be inspired by?

📅 Wednesday 27 May, 10:30am to 3pm
🎫 Free and drop-in

Video Description: A painting of Pontefract Market Place by William Shone featuring the Buttercross and St Giles' Church on a busy day against a green background. Halfway into the video, a hand-drawn jigsaw of the painting wipes into the frame on top of the painting, accompanied by a 'woosh'. The new image moves up and down slightly.

08/05/2026

Thinking about taking part in Heritage Open Days? Join this free Information Session and get inspired to bring your heritage stories to life!

📍 West Yorkshire History Centre, Wakefield
📅 Thursday 21 May
⏰ 6-8pm

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest community-led heritage festival, and this September, it could include you.

Whether you’re an experienced organiser or just starting out, this session will be packed with ideas, advice, and support to help you get involved.

Hear from the national Heritage Open Days Programme Manager and brilliant local organisations, and connect with other HODs organisers from across the district.

Perfect if you're planning an event for 2026 or looking to build on an existing one.

Free event – booking required: https://www.ticketsource.com/wakefield-council-heritage/heritage-open-days-information-session/e-yzykaz