Pontefract Museum

Pontefract Museum Step inside our beautiful Art Nouveau building to discover the history of Pontefract and its people Free Admission

Charting the history of Pontefract and the people that have lived, worked and played here. See the world’s first secret ballot box, a golden lion and the sweet history of liquorice!

Please note: we are closed today Bank Holiday Monday 31 August.Looking for a free family day out? Pop over to Pontefract...
31/08/2026

Please note: we are closed today Bank Holiday Monday 31 August.

Looking for a free family day out? Pop over to Pontefract Castle (official), it's open over the bank holiday weekend!

Pontefract Museum will reopen as normal on Tuesday 1 September.

Join in with picture perfect crafts today!Come along from 10:30am and cut, glue and fold with us.Make some Magic picture...
26/08/2026

Join in with picture perfect crafts today!

Come along from 10:30am and cut, glue and fold with us.

Make some Magic pictures of Pontefract, and learn all about optical illusions.

Take inspiration from the artwork in our Picturing Pontefract exhibition, and be amazed by the power of perception.

📆 Wednesday 26 August
🕦 10:30am to 3pm

Free, no booking required

Pontefract Museum is now live on Bloomberg Connects! We've launched a new digital guide featuring main gallery and tempo...
25/08/2026

Pontefract Museum is now live on Bloomberg Connects!

We've launched a new digital guide featuring main gallery and temporary exhibition highlights! It will enrich both on-site and off-site visits, for visitors around the world.

The free guide joins hundreds of cultural institutions around the globe on the Bloomberg Connects app.

Bloomberg Connects makes Pontefract Museum more accessible for either on-site or off-site visits through photo and audio. It offers insights into key objects on display and temporary exhibition highlights.

Find out more and try the guide at https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/news-and-blog/bloomberg-connects/

Wakefield Council Experience Wakefield Wakefield Libraries Pontefract Civic Society

We now have an interactive digital kiosk displaying George Fox's manuscripts from the 1800s!George Fox (1802-1871) was a...
24/08/2026

We now have an interactive digital kiosk displaying George Fox's manuscripts from the 1800s!

George Fox (1802-1871) was a printer and stationer in Market Place. His real passion was local history. He wrote about the history of Pontefract, its people and buildings. He also wrote about the three sieges of Pontefract Castle (official). He filled four handwritten books with notes and his own intricate drawings.

These manuscripts are held by Pontefract Library and have recently been digitised. The digital versions are now available to browse in the Picturing Pontefract exhibition here at Pontefract Museum!

Project in collaboration with Wakefield Libraries

Wakefield Council Pontefract Civic Society

Enter the Lotta and Lola Museum Trail competition from today!Visit us and complete a free trail sheet to be in with a ch...
22/08/2026

Enter the Lotta and Lola Museum Trail competition from today!

Visit us and complete a free trail sheet to be in with a chance to win!

✨ One lucky winner will receive:
• A Double National Art Pass + Kids, courtesy of Art Fund
• A signed book bundle from author Lauren Child

🌐https://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/museum-trails/the-lotta-lola-museum-trail/]

📅 Trail runs Saturday 22 August to Saturday 12 September

The is run by Kids in Museums in partnership with Simon Kids UK

Join in with picture perfect crafts today!Come along from 10:30am and get creative.Make Skyline lanterns with us; be ins...
19/08/2026

Join in with picture perfect crafts today!

Come along from 10:30am and get creative.

Make Skyline lanterns with us; be inspired by local buildings to design your own imagined townscape and illuminate it!

Take inspiration from the artwork in our Picturing Pontefract exhibition.

📆 Wednesday 19 August
🕦 10:30am to 3pm

Free, no booking required

Looking for a fun, free summer holiday activity and planning on visiting us from next Saturday 22 August? ✨Follow the s...
15/08/2026

Looking for a fun, free summer holiday activity and planning on visiting us from next Saturday 22 August? ✨

Follow the spotter trail around the museum to help Lotta and Lola collect kind and useful-ish words that help us all get along. Complete the trail to collect a free sticker!

ℹ More info: https://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/museum-trails/the-lotta-lola-museum-trail/

📅 Trail available from Saturday 22 August to Saturday 12 August

The is run by Kids in Museums in partnership
with Simon Kids UK

Today is an amazing day for astronomy! This evening look to the skies for your chance to see the partial eclipse and Per...
12/08/2026

Today is an amazing day for astronomy! This evening look to the skies for your chance to see the partial eclipse and Perseid meteor shower ☀🌠

The Rosse Observatory is based in Pontefract. It opened in 1969 and is still ran today by the West Yorkshire Astronomical Society.

According to famous astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, WYAS was the first amateur astronomical society in the world. Pictured here is Sir Patrick at the official opening of the Rosse Observatory.

WYAS are running a special event this evening for the eclipse! More info on their website: https://www.wyas.org.uk/

Photo of the observatory opening courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express.

Join in with picture perfect crafts today!Come along from 10:30am and channel your inner artist.Get Memento making and d...
12/08/2026

Join in with picture perfect crafts today!

Come along from 10:30am and channel your inner artist.

Get Memento making and decorate your very own fan or box with a picture of Pontefract!

Take inspiration from the artwork in our Picturing Pontefract exhibition, and explore the various souvenirs and keepsakes in our collection along the way.

📆 Wednesday 12 August
🕦 10:30am to 3pm

Free, no booking required

Please note: we do not have any solar eclipse glasses at the museum. However, our friends at West Yorkshire Astronomical...
10/08/2026

Please note: we do not have any solar eclipse glasses at the museum.

However, our friends at West Yorkshire Astronomical Society are running a free event on Wednesday at the Rosse Observatory, with free glasses available!

See their website for more details https://www.wyas.org.uk/

Address

5 Salter Row
Pontefract
WF81BA

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

01977 722740

Website

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