What's on

In 2022 Bankfield Museum in Halifax hosted ‘Costumes from Gentleman Jack’ exhibition. To share the exhibition further, the exhibition and content have been recorded in a film and slideshow.

For Anne Lister's 229th birthday on the 3rd April 2020 we wanted to share her diary entries from her journals 1818 to 1840. Here we have the extracts from Anne's birthdays, with transcriptions kindly provided by members of the #AnneListerCodeBreaker team.

An online exhibition to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo on the 18th June 1815.

Join us on a journey through 600 years of history and discover the secrets of Shibden Hall from the comfort of your home. 

Calderdale Museums is marking the 600th birthday of one of the most important buildings in the region, a building of international renown. The first mention of Shibden Hall was in 1420.

An Exhibition by the Halifax Photographic Society in collaboration with creative writers from the area. Over forty creative writers and photographers have come together to take part in the Calderdale Grid Project.

Join us on The Grand Tour, as we visit some of Europe’s most famous landscapes through paintings in our collection. Artists, aristocrats and the affluent flocked to mainland Europe from England between 1660 and 1840.

This online exhibition has been created to commemorate Victory in Europe Day 2020 (VE Day). John Spencer, Military Curator for Calderdale Museums has curated this exhibition using several objects from the Museums collection.

An online exhibition exploring change in the town of Brighouse over the last century through local art and artists.

Taking highlights from our current Photographic Memories exhibition at Bankfield Museum, this online exhibit takes you on a journey through the history of photography. Using images from our collection, we will tell the story of our love for photos, from the first permanent image made in 1826, to the estimated 14 trillion we take each year across the world today.

Shibden Hall has 15 unique oil paintings, that are mostly portraits, on permanent display; some have been on site for centuries. We have lots of information on these paintings but would love to find out more.

Saturday 16th July marks the beginning of South Asian Heritage Month. A celebration of the ongoing cultural legacy of the region and the lives of the people of South Asian heritage in Britain today, many of whom live in Calderdale.   Bankfield Museum are marking the occasion with a display of some of the highlights of its collection of South Asian art and cultural objects.

An online exhibition exploring the history of Mackintosh toffee, Quality Street and how Halifax became 'Toffee Town'.

During 2023 the main hall at Bankfield will be hung with several works by John Holland (1829-1886), held in Calderdale Museums Service’s collection. Holland was born in Nottingham and painted landscapes and coastal scenes.

A unique exhibition celebrating women’s clothes and the stories they tell. This exclusive exhibition features highlights from the private collection of dress historian Lucy Adlington.

Celebrating all things hats! This new exhibition examines the style, function, and symbolism of headwear in British society. Showcasing highlights from the Museum collection and contemporary examples from Yorkshire milliners, the exhibition traces the evolution of the hat from the bonnet and topper of the Nineteenth Century to Royal Ascot and catwalk showstoppers of the present day.

Wear your best hat to Bankfield Museum to celebrate the launch of our new exhibition “A Hat for all Seasons”. There will be prizes for the best hats and lots of different hats to see and try on, as well as children’s trails, hat designing and other hat-related activities for all the family.

As part of the Hat Day celebrations, our special workshop will teach children to construct their very own classic beret to take home. The workshop teaches children to use simple sewing techniques in an effective way.

Create your own special little piece of luxury making a vintage silk rose headpiece to take home using traditional millinery skills. Perfect for the summer, all you need to bring is enthusiasm! No experience is needed although basic sewing skills are an advantage.

Join costume and textiles curator Elinor Camille-Wood for a closer look at some of the costumes from Gentleman Jack by costume designer Tom Pye. An exclusive chance to get up close to a selection of costumes from the series and see their fabric, construction and inspiration from the 1830s.

An Anne Lister themed Ball with music provided by The Pemberley Players. Experience is not required as all dances will be called.

Both galleries at the Smith Art Gallery in Brighouse will showcase highlights of the art collection of William and Susannah Smith. Alderman William Smith (1839-1922), who was Mayor of Brighouse from 1893-1895 and 1904-1907, and his wife Susannah (1838-1916) began collecting paintings in the 1870s from exhibitions around the UK.

Join Collections Manager Angela Clare in conversation with Anne Lister biographer Helena Whitbread as they discuss Helena’s life and work sharing Anne’s story. The event will take place on Anne Lister’s birthday followed by the launch of a new documentary filmed with Helena at Shibden as part of Anne Lister’s birthday celebrations.

Linked to our new ‘Opening the Wardrobe’ exhibition at Bankfield Museum in 2023, we’ll be hosting four evening presentations by History Wardrobe.

Join Milliner Sherry Richardson to explore the Art of Millinery and the inspiration around our everyday lives when creating headwear. Sherry’s Millinery journey starts from the point of being "hooked" to create hats, to delivering headpieces for the catwalk.

To celebrate Armed Forces Day 2023, join us for a range of military talks and demonstrations aimed at all ages. Visit the Duke of Wellington’s Regimental Museum to explore the regiments long history.

Music provided by The Pemberley Players. Experience is not required as all dances will be called.

*/ Celebrate Heritage Weekend with us with free entry to Shibden Hall on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 2023. Advance booking is required. 

Bankfield Museum will be open especially for Heritage Open Days on Sunday 10th September 2023.

The official launch of the Calderdale Open Art Exhibition 2023. Successful entrants to the Open Art Competition and members of the public are invited to attend the opening ceremony.

The Calderdale Open is returning in 2023! We’re showcasing the best works entered into the Calderdale Open Art Competition (entry open to everyone). To mark Calderdale’s Year of Culture in 2024, the theme of this year’s exhibition is the landscape, people, history, and heritage of Calderdale.

What dark and macabre secrets does Shibden Hall hold? What phantoms and beasts hide in the dark woods?

Shibden Hall’s Winter Craft Fair will be returning for 2023. Join traders from across the region for a weekend of shopping and festive fun.

Bankfield Museum’s Christmas Craft Fair will be returning on Saturday 9th December 2023 with the venue welcoming a range of traders from across the region for a day of shopping and festive fun.  The Museum will be filled with stalls selling a range of local produce including artisan crafts, just in time for buying those special Christmas gifts and treats. No booking required and free admission to the event.