iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Plastic Fantastic? explores the history of plastics throughout the 1900s and our changing relationship with them. Artist Ruth Fones created 3D-printed mini replicas of some of the key objects. This tactile interpretation supports our blind and partially sighted visitors. More: wmandc.co/ruth-fones

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Pontefract Museum is now live on Bloomberg Connects! We've launched a new digital guide featuring main gallery and exhibition highlights! It will enrich both on-site and off-site visits, for visitors around the world. Try it and hundreds of other free guides at wmandc.co/bcpm Art UK

$A person holding their smartphone up to an oil painting of Pontefract Castle at Pontefract Museum$

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Can you help us bring a rare #Roman brooch into Wakefield's collection? This ornate, silver-gilt ancient brooch was found locally. It dates from around AD 75 to 175. It is a rare and high quality example of Roman craftsmanship. More info about the brooch and donate: wmandc.co/brooch

Our Curator Dave holding the small t-shaped golden coloured brooch in front of archive boxes

The small t-shaped golden brooch in a gloved hand

Close-up of the side of the t-shaped golden brooch showing how it curves and how detailed it is

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

What a spectacle we were treated to yesterday at Sandal Castle for the #eclipse! 🏰☀️ Photos by our very own John Whitaker, curator

A large crowd of people sat on the grass around Sandal Castle watching the partial eclipse

Sandal Castle in the shadow of the partial eclipse

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National Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 12/08/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: All our sundials will be out of order this evening between about 6pm and 8pm, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Normal service will resume tomorrow. In unrelated news, enjoy the eclipse later... Photos: Mike Selby, Annapurna Mellor, Chris Davies, John Millar

A wall-mounted sundial inside a walled garden. Text on the sundial reads: "fear god, obey ye king"

A traditional sundial on a plinth, formal gardens surround it

The sun beams down on a traditional sundial, with heather visible in the background

A shot of a sundial from above. It's mounted on a stone plinth. Text on the side reads "KEW BRIDGE"

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Today is an amazing day for astronomy! ☀🌠 The Rosse Observatory, Pontefract, opened in 1969. It is still ran today by the West Yorkshire Astronomical Society. According to Sir Patrick Moore (pictured here at the observatory), WYAS was the first amateur astrological society in the world.

Sir Patrick Moore (far right) stood with a man and two women outside the Rosse Observatory building

The Rosse Observatory, with a white observatory dome atop a simple square brick building

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

This year is the 10th Anniversary of Pokémon Go 🤯 Pontefract Castle has 15 pokéstops and 3 gyms within range. Mini Ilbert has been around the grounds to see who he could spot - including one of his heroes! #Pokemon #PokemonGo

$An augmented reality Charizard flying by the ruins of Pontefract Castle with a mini Ilbert the Dragon puppet looking up at him$ Two Pokémon characters being watched by mini Ilbert from the entrance to the sally port

Two Pokémon characters being watched by mini Ilbert from the entrance to the sally port

$Mini Ilbert saying hello to a Pokémon character in front of the ruins of Pontefract Castle$ $A Pikachu with a blue tiara sat in front of the ruins of the Pontefract Castle keep$

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History and Heritage Yorkshire @handhyorkshire.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Sandal Castle: Sandal Alas, thy voice is still, Nor wakes, as erst from grass grown hill, The lute’s soft strain In lady’s bower; Oh for a bard of olden times, To yield thee back thy life in rhyme, And sing afresh thy golden prime. W H Leatham (1840)

Sandal Castle Image: Tim Greenn CC BY-SA 2.0

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

we hereby declare that one of Pontefract's most important institutions, the Pontefract Museum toilets, are back open 🎉

Staff member David cutting a toilet paper ribbon in front of the accessible toilet door

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Our Medieval Herb Gardeners' plant of the week is elecampane 🌼 In #TheOdyssey, Helen of Troy is supposed to have been holding elecampane when she was kidnapped by Paris. The plant was also said to have sprouted wherever her tears fell. More info at wmandc.co/elecampane

Three yellow daisy-like flowers growing on an elecampane plant in the Medieval Herb Garden

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craftyprimrose.bsky.social @craftyprimrose.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I donated, could you?

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Can you help us bring a rare Roman brooch into Wakefield's collection? This ornate, silver-gilt ancient brooch was found locally. It dates from around AD 75 to 175. It is a rare and high quality example of Roman craftsmanship. More info about the brooch and donate: wmandc.co/brooch

Front, reverse, top and bottom views of a t-shaped silver gilt brooch, worn away to a pale red and yellow colour. There are celtic-style swirls along the brooch.

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Dream big, little* visitor! 🌳⚽ We've been loving reading the pledges on our A World of Good gallery pledge hedge. This one reads: "Me and Mbappe marrying and then I will plant 10 million trees 🙂" *(not necessarily little, probably a dream shared by some grown-up visitors too...)

A green leaf-shaped piece of card with the handwritten note that says 'me and Mbappe marrying and then I will plant 10 million trees'

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Did you know that liquorice made in Pontefract featured in an iconic Bond film moment? 👀 In 'Moonraker', Jaws is seen biting through a thick electric cable. Yep, that's Pontefract liquorice! Liquorice really has been used for all sorts! 🍬 More tasty #FunFacts in this thread (1 / 5)

$Jaws in a suit with metal teeth grimacing and biting through a thick 'electrical cable' - actually made of Pontefract liqourice$ Liquorice growing in the Medieval Herb Garden - A tall thin green stem with purple flowers on thinner stems sprouting out of it

Liquorice growing in the Medieval Herb Garden - A tall thin green stem with purple flowers on thinner stems sprouting out of it

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

everyone who stayed up to watch the match today

An elderly woman having a nap on a sofa, covered by a blanket. Photo taken in the 1940s or 1950s by Jack Hulme

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

don't mind us, we're manifesting the success of 1966 over here... ⚽ #WorldCup

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Did you know that the football used in the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley was made in Horbury? ⚽️ Discover how local craftsmanship helped shape one of England’s most iconic sporting moments in our latest blog: wmandc.co/football #WorldCup #Football

Ken Schofield at a workbench focusing on hand-stitching a leather football, surrounded by other examples he has already made. He looks up at the camera, but still has a look of concentration.

A bright orange hand-stitched football with some of the tools used to make it

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Lindsay Ship @lindsaycricket.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Horbury, my hometown & location of Slazenger’s. My first tennis racquet came from there & my best friend’s mum was the stringer 😍

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

We’ve joined forces with the Featherstone Rovers Foundation for the first ever museum display celebrating Learning Disability Rugby League! 🏉 See the Featherstone stars in action. Discover what the sport means to the team and their coach. More info: wmandc.co/fev-ldsl

Two Learning Disability Super League tag rugby players in a tackle as another player cheers from the sideline

Twelve people wearing tag rugby belts and posing for the camera under a rugby post on a sunny day

A rugby player jumping in the air to catch the ball

Rugby players stood in a circle listening to their coach, who is holding a rugby ball and explaining tactics

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

today's vibe #heatwave

$An old man carrying paraffin churns at Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby during the 1930s. He is mopping his brow and looks exhausted. Photograph taken by David Gluck of Pontefract.$

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Who knew - turns out robins can't read 🐦 Here's a little feathered fellow paying a visit to Steelbert the Dragon at Pontefract Castle. Steelbert is being very well-behaved and restrained, for now... 🐉

$Steelbert, a dragon sculpture made from steel wire, beside the keep at Pontefract Castle. A robin is perched on top of a sign nearby that says 'beware! Dragon, do not climb!"$

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

"Unbelievable, Jeff!" ⚽ It was lovely to have the legendary Chris Kamara join us for the KOYLI Freedom of the City of Wakefield 80th Anniversary Sounding Retreat at Pontefract Castle. Romeo the castle cat also couldn't miss the occasion. He was being very 'helpful' and patriotic. 🐈‍⬛

Joe and Kammy smiling in a selfie taken inside a gazebo at the event

Romeo, a black cat, sat underneath a Union Jack flag on the grass

$Romeo the cat with one paw on the Union Jack flag as it begins to be hoisted at Pontefract Castle$

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

In honour of the #Taskmaster finale, we've dug out these wax seals. They were part of William Fennell's personal collections. He was a wealthy local wine merchant. His family donated them to the brand-new Wakefield Museum in 1923. He was also the father of Louisa Fennell, an accomplished artist.

A red wax seal featuring a floral design

A red wax seal of a noblewoman holding a shield, along with the stamp used to create it

Two red wax seals showing the same design of a person sat in thought

Three red wax seals, one featuring a lion

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

"They think it's all over... it is now!" We're manifesting #WorldCup success like 60 years ago ⚽️🏆 Did you know that the ball Geoff Hurst scored his championship-winning hattrick with was made in Horbury? It was a Slazenger Challenge 4-star, based on 100 years of refined local craftsmanship.

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Four panels of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt have arrived at Pontefract Castle 💜 Wakefield is the first city to welcome the Quilt outside of London. The Quilt represents over 384 individuals affected by HIV / AIDS. We're proud to be part of the city-wide display across the Wakefield district.

A cream quilt panel with 'Phillip, you are precious' appliqued on in large letters, and in the circles of the 'p's the name 'Ruth' and 'Love'

A large fabric pale blue quilt panel with the name 'Julio Garcia' appliqued, a ribbon of the Colombian flag and the words 'Colombia, July 1958 to August 1995', an image presumably of Julio, two butterflies, and a heart with 'London' embroidered on it

A blue quilt panel with 'Fiona Johnson' appliqued on it, a photo of a woman in her 40s with brown curly hair and the words 'Our beautiful daughter Fifi', and lots of different panels representing places and things that Fiona liked. There is another panel reading 'You found your way home', and the dates 1953 to 1993.

A white fabric panel with the words 'International Women's Day' painted on in alternating suffragette colours of purple and green, with a border of lots of small red AIDS remembrance ribbons around it

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Barnsley Museums @barnsleymuseums.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Looking to add some culture to your feed? 🏛️ Here are a few must-follow museums on Bluesky: • @themerl.bsky.social (excellent memes & history) • @britishmuseum.org (deep dives & world history) • @vadundee.bsky.social (design & architecture) • @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social (quirky local history)

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

What wild weather - don't worry, we're not on fire! 😶‍🌫️ That huge downpour followed by the sun coming back out has the water steaming off the roof of the Visitor Centre at Pontefract Castle. It's quite the sight! #Thunderstorm

$The Arts and Crafts log cabin style Visitor Centre at Pontefract Castle with water steaming off the roof$

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The ancient Romans loved animals too! These tiny bronze critters were all found in Castleford, during the 1980s excavations. Image 1: a bronze cockerel brooch Image 2: a bronze animal head (possibly a horse? or an aardvark...) Image 3: a bronze cockerel finger ring #archaeology #RomanEmpire

A small corroded copper figurine of a rather long cockerel

A small corroded figurine of an animal's head with tall ears and long nose, probably a horse, but looks more like an aardvark

A corroded copper figurine of a cockerel attached to a ring

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Did you know that ancient Castleford had its own Roman bath house? 🛀 Bathing was an important part of Roman life. The Romans brought this enthusiasm with them to Castleford. The troops had signed up for 25 years’ service and were hundreds of miles from home. Many would never return. (1 / 3)

Artist's impression of inside a Roman bath house, with men (and only men) chatting, playing dice games, having treatments and taking a dip.

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

We recently conducted our annual condition survey of the Sandal Castle ruins 🏰🔍 We check for any changes, and go into places we wouldn't normally go. The first photo shows the side of the 'Richard III Tower' facing Wakefield city centre. The second is from the Keep, in the tower. (1 / 3)

Remains of a stone tower built into a grassy mound known as Richard III's tower

A metre measuring stick next to stone remains of a fireplace at Sandal Castle, with the moat and bridge beyond

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Today's #OnlineArtExchange theme is ‘Urban landscapes’. It's exactly what Cynthia Kenny, local architect and artist, specialised in. Listen to Michelle Duxbury's creative audio description of Kenny's 1971 piece 'Garden Street, Wakefield':

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

We're honouring #SirDavidAttenborough's 100th birthday with free Dungeon Tours at Pontefract Castle for Davids! On Friday 8 May Davids / Daves can book a free ticket (subject to availability) Will you be joining us for David Dungeon Day? 🏰🥳 Advance booking: www.ticketsource.com/wakefield-mu...

$Sir David Attenborough seated and smiling superimposed over an image of the dungeon steps at Pontefract Castle$

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Today's #OnlineArtExchange theme is ‘women artists’. For us, it's got to be proud Wakefieldian artist Cynthia Kenny (1929 – 2021)! Kenny was champion for art and culture in Wakefield from the 1950s. She was a founder member of Wakefield Art Club. More info: wmandc.co/kenny #WomenArtists

An oil painting of a woman in her 40s. She has shoulder-length wavy red strawberry blonde hair, pale skin, olive eyes and red lipstick. She is wearing a quietly determined expression

A watercolour painting of a bright yellow cornfield in the foreground and red brick colliery in the background against a blue sky

A wintry landscape watercolour painting in soft pastel shades of orange, blue and white

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Check out this Queen Bee! 👑🐝 This is a common carder bee queen. She was spotted on the edge of our Medieval Herb Garden at Pontefract Castle. Bees hatch at this time of year. This little lady with her soft, wavy wing edges looks to have just hatched! She's just a baybee 😍 #Bees #Biodiversity

A fuzzy young carder bee with dark orange fuzz and dark, wavy wings, feeding on rosemary flowers in the medieval herb garden

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Tulips have brought colour and joy to April for centuries. These hand-coloured glass plate negatives showcase a variety of tulip displays in the 1920s / 1930s. 🌷🎨 They were donated by the Wakefield Paxton Society in the 1980s. #Tulips #TulipSeason

A hand painted glass negative of red tulips with pale green leaves, the bulbs poking through the soil in a shallow pot

A hand painted glass negative of two pink tulips in flower and a third yet to flower

A hand painted glass negative of a single red and single white tulip

A hand painted glass negative of five red tulips growing in a shallow floral dish

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

One of England's largest castles - and a rather large stalk of rhubarb! 🌱🏰 Find out about the 160 species of plants we grow at Pontefract Castle in our Medieval Herb Garden volunteer blogs: wmandc.co/herbs #MedievalHistory #Gardening

A very tall stalk of rhubarb with large green leaf - as tall as a nearby information panel that reaches waist height!

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

We are looking to commission tactile accessible interpretation for our upcoming special exhibition at Wakefield Museum! Fee: around £2,000 (plus VAT) Closing date: 9am Monday 27 April More info and apply: wmandc.co/tactile-comm... #TactileInterpretation #Accessibility #MuseumJobs

A moodboard based on colourful plastic objects from around the home from the 1900s, with shads of yellow, blue, green, pink and red drawn out

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

our collection records the passing of time 🕰️

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Today's #OnlineArtExchange theme is ‘ancient art’. We're sharing these gorgeous Roman engraved gemstones found in Castleford. Tiny gems like these show just how skilled ancient craftspeople were. More info: wmandc.co/roman-gems @artukdotorg.bsky.social @tulliecarlisle.bsky.social #archaeology

Six assorted Roman gemstones featuring designs of animals and deities. They are different shapes and made of a variety of materials including red jasper, amber and pale blue chalcedony

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Journey to (and back from) the Moon? We've got a jigsaw for that 🧩🌕 This commemorative 'jig-saw' was produced by Life Magazine for the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing mission. #ArtemisII #Moon

A slightly weathered black cardboard box with 'Life puzzles - Journery to the moon; 400-piece interlocking jig-saw puzzle' and photo of the moon on the front, and a pile of jigsaw pieces in front of the box

A partially complete jigsaw puzzle of a close-up detailed image of the moon from 1969

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

April is #AutismAcceptanceMonth. We'll be flying the rainbow infinity sign flag for the month of April at Pontefract Castle 🌈💜 Everyone is welcome to be their full selves on a visit to our sites. Baby Ilbert is showing his support too. More info: www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

$A baby Ilbert the Dragon toy next to a flag pole flying the rainbow infinity flag for Autism Acceptance Month at Pontefract Castle$

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Horace Simpson's family photographs are a charming insight into everyday life for a mining family in the early 1900s. Horace's photos celebrate the birth of their sons and family outings. We hope you enjoy these photos as much as we do. More info and photos at wmandc.co/simpson

Glass plate negative showing a couple (Horace and Louisa Simpson) posing on bicycles on a tree lined lane. Both wear straw hats.

Portrait, showing a baby in a frilly white dress (David Greenwood Simpson), on a chair upholstered with patterned fabric. Painted backdrop of trees and a wall behind.

Showing a family group at the seaside in Scarborough. Five adults and two children. They all wear large hats and are very well dressed. One of the children carries a bucket and spade.

A young boy on a donkey on the beach at Scarborough, with a large crowd on the sand behind and buildings on the promenade

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

We've got a special sundial at Pontefract Castle. It both tells you the time and transports you through history! We've got a handy guide to what each of the stones mean at wmandc.co/sundial (Disclaimer: we can't guarantee the sun in West Yorkshire...)

$An adult stood on the 'months' stone with their shadow being cast towards one of the points on the sundial at Pontefract Castle$ The installation of the sundial, with stones being places in square holes dug into the ground

The installation of the sundial, with stones being places in square holes dug into the ground

$The sundial stones for 6 to 10 with icons representing different parts of Pontefract's heritage$ $The stones for 12, 1 and 2 with different icons representing Pontefract's heritage$

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Wakefield Libraries @wflibraries.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Did you know Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 3 has an act set at Sandal Castle! As it is Shakespeare Week we wanted to share an image from our Twixt, Aire and Calder website. It is an etching by local artist WH Milnes Junior! #Wakefield #History ##ShakespeareWeek @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social

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Wakefield Museums and Castles @wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Pauline got in touch to share with us this photo of her late mother Mary. Mary worked at the Castleford Picture House. She modelled items in our costume collection. Mary was born in 1931, this photo was taken c. 1950. Pauline's enquiry has added something really special to our collections info!

A young woman with dark curly hair in an updo, wearing a shoulderless white dress, holding an open white satin and black lace parasol over her shoulder. She looks into the distance away from us. The photo is in black and white and probably taken in the 1950s.

The same parasol as in Mary's picture, a little beaten by time. It is white satin, with black overhanging lace, on the end of a short bamboo handle

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