Did you know that part of the ruins of Sandal Castle are named after Richard III?
This week was our annual condition survey of the Sandal Castle ruins 🏰🔍
We check on our stunning site regularly. In addition, each year we spend a day crawling over every single stone. We check for any changes, and go into places we wouldn't normally go.
The first photo shows the side of the tower facing Wakefield city centre. It's known as the Richard III Tower. The second is from the Keep, in the tower.
King Richard III had most of his landholdings in North Yorkshire. He needed a more 'southern' base. So, he chose Sandal. He had spent some of his childhood here.
In 1484, he had one of the towers of the keep renovated - the one we know as the Richard III Tower.
In the second photo, you can see the remains of the fireplace in the ground floor chamber of the tower. This room also contains the Keep's well and one of the many garderobe (toilet) shafts!
We really appreciate your help in keeping our castle site looking splendid. If you ever notice anything you think we should know about, you can:
📧 Email us at [email protected]
📱 Call on the 24-hour line at 03458 506 506
We're sure Richard III would appreciate you looking out for his favourite Yorkshire castle too!
#SandalCastle #Castles #MedievalHistory #Wakefield #RichardIII
“Miss Ellen the herbalist was the first vegetarian I knew!”
For our new display at Castleford Museum exploring the town's market history, local people have been sharing their memories with us and Castleford Civic Society.
Many people recalled the scents coming from the much-loved herbalist stall:
“I remember the lovely smell from the herbalist. My mum would go in and chat to Miss Ellen and then we’d go to the wool shop and chat there. That’s why I love smells and knitting!”
“Loved going in the herbalist for the smell. I never knew what all the medications were for but it was just magical.”
“Miss Ellen the herbalist was the first vegetarian I knew!”
“I regularly went in on behalf of someone I knew who lived in Hemsworth to pick up dandelion roots for him. I thought it was very exotic.”
“I bought dried chamomile flowers to lighten my hair.”
Photos: Inside the herbalists, 1980s and Castleford Market Hall, 1980s (courtesy of the Pontefract & Castleford Express)
There's lots more multisensory memories to browse on our website - search 'Castleford Market'.
#CastlefordMarket #Castleford #SocialHistory #Market #Vegetarian #Herbalist
We've currently got 48 species in flower in the Medieval Herb Garden at Pontefract Castle 🌱
There's also lots of lovely plants for sale on the barrow - including sweetcorn and Welsh onion plants! Have a go at growing your own, while supporting your local castle 💚
Our castle herbs for sale start at just £1.50, all grown here on site by our brilliant volunteers.
#MedievalHerbGarden #Gardening #PontefractCastle #MedievalHistory #GrowYourOwn
Picture Pontefract in a new perspective in our latest exhibition at Pontefract Museum!
Explore the town through the eyes of artists, craftspeople and map makers.
See paintings and plans, maps and models. Admire historic views, lost monuments and beautiful buildings.
Free entry, open Monday to Saturday. No booking or ticket needed.
#PictruingPontefract #ArtExhibition #Museums #Art #Yorkshire
Fix up, look sharp - these tiny little hands on spindly arms are actually ancient Roman hair pins! 👱♀️
The first one is made out of bone, and looks to be holding an egg or die.
The second is made out of bronze, potentially holding a pomegranate.
They were both found in excavations in Castleford in the 1980s. They show the skill of ancient craftspeople, even when working in miniature!
#AncientRome #RomanBritain #RomanCastleford #RomanEmpire #AncientHistory
This stunning cinnabar moth was spotted at Sandal Castle recently!
What wildlife have you seen on your visits? Tag #SandalCastle and #PontefractCastle for your chance to feature on our channels!
📸 photo credit @_me_myself_and_iphone_
#Moth #Wildlife #Wakefield
Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough! 🎉A true national treasure who’s inspired generations.
Did you know Sir David once visited Wakefield Museum?
Here are some throwback photos from when he officially opened the new museum at Wakefield One back in 2013. 📸
Sir David is a lifelong admirer of Charles Waterton. Waterton was a Victorian naturalist who lived at Walton Hall in Wakefield. He transformed his home into a haven for local wildlife, creating the world’s first nature park. Among many other stories, Wakefield Museum explores the life and legacy of Charles Waterton.
After the visit, Sir David said "It's been a great privilege to open this spectacular new museum. It's a beautiful design, is beautifully displayed and is full of interesting things.”
Last year, Wakefield Museum opened a beautiful new gallery about Waterton’s wildlife work. ‘A World of Good’ is an immersive, interactive space, featuring voiceover and video from Sir David himself! Waterton’s nature park is recreated in gorgeous paper sculptures by local artist Andy Singleton.🌎
To find out more by clicking the link in our bio.
#SirDavidAttenborough #Attenborough100 #Wakefield #WakefieldMuseum #NaturalHistory
@wakefieldmuseums
Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough! 🥳💚🌍
In this clip from the early 2000s recorded for us, Sir David Attenborough talks about Waterton's life and legacy. Sir David is a life-long admirer of Waterton's work.
Charles Waterton (1782 - 1865) was a Victorian naturalist, explorer and taxidermist. He created the world's first nature reserve at his home, Walton Hall, here in Wakefield. Waterton was also an early environmental campaigner.
Hear Sir David talking about Waterton's life and legacy in this video. Explore in more detail in our A World of Good gallery at Wakefield Museum and on our website.
#DavidAttenborough #SirDavidAttenborough #CharlesWaterton #Waterton #Nature #Biodiversity #Environment
Over the years, excavations at Castleford have produced some real gems! 💎💍
Engraved gems like these were worn on rings by the Romans. They were used to seal important documents and provisions. They were highly valued objects to the people who wore them.
These stones would have travelled thousands of miles to end up in Castleford. Some came from as far away as India and Sri Lanka.
Two of the Castleford gems have engravings unique in Roman Britain!
More info about the gems and their symbols on our website - search 'Roman gems'.
Which is your favourite?
#AncientRome #RomanFest #RomanEmpire #AncientArt #AncientHistory
Today's #OnlineArtExchange theme is ‘Urban landscapes’.
It's exactly what Cynthia Kenny, local architect and artist, specialised in. From the 1960s to 2000s, Cynthia captured Wakefield with her paintbrush and pen.
Her works include rural landscapes, city skylines and studies of backyards and buildings.
Listen to Michelle Duxbury's @alabamathirteen creative audio description of Kenny's 1971 piece 'Garden Street, Wakefield'.
@artukdotorg #UrbanLandscapes #CynthiaKenny #WomenArtists #AudioDescription #Wakefield #Watercolour
Castleford began as an ancient fort built by the Roman Army. The Romans probably knew it as 'Lagentium'.
A civilian town grew up around the fort and continued to prosper even after the army left.
Roman Castleford became an important manufacturing centre making luxury goods. It was also a key stop in the Roman Empire's messaging network.
Dig deeper into Castleford's Roman roots on our website! Go to wmandc.co/roman-cas
You can see awesome ancient finds for yourself at Castleford Museum.
Discover some of the incredible things they left behind.
#RomanCastleford #AncientRome #RomanEmpire #AncientHistory #Castleford
Watercolour sketchbooking today at Pontefract Castle (@wakefieldmuseums ).
Currently undertaking a short artist residency there, working on a new body of work to be shown at @thecastlecoffeeshop gallery space within thr castle grounds October-December 2026.
I spent some time this afternoon painting this on-site.
@kohinoorusa watercolour wheel
@dalerrowney1783 watercolour brushes
@tomnortonwalnutink@tomnortonwalnutdrawingink walnut drawing ink.
@nassaufineart 30x30 sketchbook
#illustration #artistfeature #thecreativeprocess #bookillustration #loosewatercolor
