Wakefield Museum facts for kids
The Wakefield Museum is a fun place to learn about the history of Wakefield, a city in West Yorkshire, north England. It tells the story of the city and its local area, starting from ancient times!
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Discovering Wakefield's Past
The Wakefield Museum shares many interesting stories about the city. You can learn about the Manor of Wakefield during the Tudor period, which was a long time ago! The museum also covers the history of the West Yorkshire Police Headquarters.
You'll find out about the famous Wakefield Trinity Wildcats rugby team. There's even information about the historic Battle of Wakefield. Plus, you can explore the lives of writers and the history of theatres in Wakefield.
Who Was Charles Waterton?
One special part of the museum is all about Charles Waterton. He was a very interesting person from the Victorian era. Think of him as an early "eco-warrior" and explorer from Yorkshire!
Waterton created a nature park at his home, Walton Hall, near Wakefield. Many people believe this was the first nature park in Europe! He loved animals and had a unique collection.
Waterton's Amazing Animals
You can see some of Charles Waterton's preserved animals at the museum. Some of them are quite unusual, made from different animal parts! A very special item is the caiman (a type of reptile, like a small alligator) that Waterton once rode ashore in South America.
This caiman is displayed under the floor, so you get a unique view of it! These amazing animal collections belong to Stonyhurst College. They have been on loan to the museum since 1967.
Other Cool Things to See
The museum has many other cool things to explore. You can see an old post box from 1809. It's thought to be the oldest one still existing in Britain!
There's also a pair of boots that belonged to Rugby league player, Don Fox. And don't miss the medieval posy ring from Sandal Castle. A posy ring is a ring with a short poem or message engraved on it.
Museum's Journey Through Time
The Wakefield Museum has moved homes a few times! From 1955, it was located in the old Wakefield Mechanics' Institute. This was a beautiful building from the 1800s.
Since 2013, the museum has been in its current, modern home. It's now part of the Wakefield One civic building. Sir David Attenborough, a very famous nature presenter, officially opened the new museum in March 2013!
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