What's on

Meet at Shibden Hall to start an adventure through Cunnery Woods to find the magical woodland creatures. Each child will receive a trail sheet to record their findings (The woods are unsuitable for pushchairs).

We are a group of eleven textile artists who live in Kirklees, Calderdale and the surrounding area. We are a diverse and creative group working in a variety of ways in stitch and print to play to our individual strengths.

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. 

A selection of images from this exhibition are available online, please see: Brighouse: A Town Through Time. An exhibition capturing a century of Brighouse, West Yorkshire on canvas and camera.

Showcasing Calderdale Museums’ fashion and textile collections from ancient Egypt to modern day. Calderdale Museums has one of the best but little known textile collections in the country.

Explore the history of photography from the first permanent image made in 1826, to the estimated 14 trillion we take each year across the world today. With a click and a flash, photographs allow us to capture the world around us.

Try your hand at a variety of crafts including puppet making and origami.  Entrance to the museum included. Please note due to limited space we can only admit 1 adult with each child.

We will be exploring the role of an archaeologist and try to find some buried artefacts. Can you work out what they are?

Find out what children played with in the past, you will have an opportunity to play with a range of Victorian toys and create your own toy - perhaps a marble run, a zoetrope or a puppet. Suitable for children aged 5-10 years.

Find out about the clothes on display in our gallery and make your own hat. Calderdale Museums has one of the best but little known textile collections in the country.

Discover toys from the past and create your own toy Find out what children played with in the past, you will have an opportunity to play with a range of Victorian toys and create your own toy - perhaps a marble run, a zoetrope or a puppet. Due to limited space we can only allow 1 adult per child.

Create a mandala using natural materials, followed by a mandala collage to take home. Entry into the museum included.

We will be exploring the role of an archaeologist and try to find some buried artefacts. Can you work out what they are?

Exploring the influence of the West Riding of Yorkshire on contemporary fashion, this exhibition brings together works from a range of fashion designers and creatives who have been inspired by the many elements that make the area unique. Drawing on themes such as landscape, community spirit, wit and humour and the enduring influence of the textile industry, this multi-disciplinary showcase celebrates the distinctive character of the place and the creative people connected to it.

Discover inspiring stories and uplifting poetry in this new exhibition by artist Ian Beesley, designer Martyn Hall, cartoonist Tony Husband and poet Ian McMillan. During lockdown this collective created a series of large scale, colourful banners celebrating the NHS, carers, keyworkers and volunteers.

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.

Join us as we celebrate the opening of the new ‘Fashion in Anne Lister’s Time (1791-1840)’ exhibition, exploring the many different styles of fashion popular in her lifetime. The ‘Shibden 600’ exhibition is also open and tells the story of 600 years of history at Shibden Hall.

Anne Lister had her own unique style that contrasted with what women were expected to wear. This exhibition explores the many different styles of fashion during her lifetime.

Be inspired by famous diarist Anne Lister in this family event where we will be creating our own code, making diaries, and deciphering historic codes around the museum. This activity is aimed at 6-12 year olds.

A new exhibition at Bankfield Museum to mark 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II and her relationship with the people of Calderdale. Featuring some of the most colourful objects in the museum collection; a bright and uplifting celebration of our longest-reigning monarch.

A world exclusive exhibition of costumes by renowned designer Tom Pye for the BBC One TV Series ‘Gentleman Jack’. The programme written by Sally Wainwright tells the story of Anne Lister (1791-1840) of Shibden Hall and her relationship with local landowner Ann Walker (1803-1854).

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.

Shibden Hall has 15 unique oil paintings, that are mostly portraits, on permanent display; some have been on site for centuries. We do not have much information on these paintings and would love to find out more.

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 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.

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'.

Bankfield Museum will be open Sunday 11th September for Heritage Weekend from 10am to 4pm. Bankfield is also open Tuesdays to Saturday each week, 10am to 4pm and is free entry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

To tie in with our new exhibition: Opening the Wardrobe, we're hosting four History Wardrobe evening presentations. Up first is 'The Frock Shop, Fashion Shopping in the Sixties'.

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.

Come and join Steve Hartley who will be signing copies of his new book The Yorkshire Coiners: The True Story of the Cragg Vale Gang. The Coiners were a powerful local presence in the Eighteenth Century and the dramatic story of their rise and fall has attracted widespread attention.

To celebrate Armed Forces Day 2023, join us for a range of military talks and demonstrations aimed at all ages. This will include a display of Eighteenth Century military drill by historical reenactors, a chance to handle military kit from throughout history, and see modern-day armed vehicles used by the Royal Yorkshire Regiment.

To tie in with our new exhibition: Opening the Wardrobe, we're hosting four History Wardrobe evening presentations. The second evening event is ‘Monday is Washday’, a hilarious new show featuring pinnies, poshers and washtubs galore, as the Two Lucys plunge into the suds and stains of historical laundry and discover how to get your toga, petticoats or collars white-than-white! 

Join writer and historian Lucy Adlington at Bankfield Museum in Halifax where her exhibition ‘Opening the Wardrobe’ is currently on show. Lucy is the author of 7 novels and 5 fascinating history books, including the New York Times bestseller The Dressmakers of Auschwitz - The True Story of the Women who Sewed to Survive.

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

As part of our summer holiday offer for families, we will be holding four object handling opportunities for children on Fridays throughout August. Children will be offered the chance to handle a range of objects from our vast handling collection in the Education Room at Bankfield Museum.

To tie in with our new exhibition: Opening the Wardrobe, we're hosting four History Wardrobe evening presentations. The third evening event is ‘Divine Deco, The Art of the Dressmaker’.

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 Art Exhibition returns for its 10th year, showcasing the best paintings, photos, textiles, and drawings as chosen by our panel of judges, all submitted by artists from the region and beyond.  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, with entries ranging from landscapes of stunning local scenery, to notable buildings and figures from the region.  To see an online exhibition of the works on display, view: The Calderdale Open Art Exhibition 2023.

During October, have a go at our free pumpkin trail. Find ten Halloween themed pumpkins hidden in our galleries at Bankfield Museum and discover their spooky stories.

The watercolours of Jane Austin A special collection from watercolour artist Jane Austin that explores both the famous views and the hidden wonders to be found within three miles of her Halifax home. Jane’s work explores the effects of light and the changing of the seasons on architecture and the natural world, creating a deeply personal celebration of the local area.    Jane will be appearing in Bankfield Museum throughout the exhibition to give demonstrations of her painting.

A unique selling exhibition of vibrant textiles and accessories by Rajinder Ajiz, supporting young people starting up businesses in Rajasthan. The exhibition is within our shop and café space at Bankfield Museum.

This display shows the highlights from Calderdale Museum Service’s country pottery collection from potteries that were established in Halifax and the surrounding areas. 

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin in the Bankfield Museum gallery for a free demonstration observing how animals in the wild can blend into their background using tone. The way that light passes over an animal can describe their bone structure through shadows, which can be simplified in a drawing allowing the eye of the observer to complete the unseen outlines.

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a workshop to learn how to draw animals through shade with lost and found outlines. The way that light passes over an animal can describe their bone structure through shadows, once simplified in a drawing this can allow the eye of the observer to complete the unseen outlines.

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin in the Bankfield Museum gallery for a free demonstration on mark making with both watercolour paint, the freedom of brushstrokes, laying colour on colour and the use of masking fluid – liquid latex used to retain white paper. Using the image of a bird’s nest and the random, circular movement there are multiple painting techniques which can be used to build the construction of the nest, reflecting nature itself.

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a workshop to learn the many ways in which to layer watercolour paint, masking fluid and mark making to create the image of a bird’s nest. Jane will explain the pitfalls commonly experienced with these techniques and provide guidance which will make their application easy and very helpful when painting in the future.

To tie in with our new exhibition: Opening the Wardrobe, we're hosting four History Wardrobe evening presentations. The last of our events for the year is ‘Top of the Frocks - a 1980s Christmas!’ Two Lucys revisit the amazing Eighties for power-dressing, ultra-glamour and even fitness kit for after the festive feasting. Roll up your stonewash jeans, flick your perm and grab your plastic bangles...

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a workshop creating your own Christmas image of a natural wreath, either as a painting or small personal cards. Jane will show you several watercolour techniques which suit the different elements of a Christmas wreath including the use of shadow to bring depth.

Calderdale is celebrating its Year of Culture in 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of its founding as a Borough, a period which has seen a profound transformation of the area from a major manufacturing centre unto a thriving, multicultural area. As part of these celebrations, Bankfield Museum is launching a new exhibition which explores the history of the Borough, from archaeological discoveries that have cast new light on the region’s prehistoric past, to the repurposing of former industrial buildings by businesses, filmmakers, and cultural bodies to create a dynamic future.    

Join watercolor artist Jane Austin in the Bankfield Museum gallery for a free demonstration of the watercolour techniques she applies to painting feathers. Birds of prey are particularly wonderful to observe closely as the complex layers can be seen clearly to give depth to a painting.

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a full-day workshop painting the detailed head and body of a hawk. Learn how to work with layers of colour over fine detail with masking fluid to build the body of feathers, using different sizes of brush and implement as needed.

This exciting new exhibition showcases fashion makers from across the country who design and make clothing based on historical dress. It explores the process of how you go from a museum garment or fashion plate to producing an item of historically inspired dress that is ready to wear.

For two months Bankfield Museum will be home to some key archives of Anne Lister’s past, exploring themes of her travels, study, relationships, family and managing Shibden Hall. The exhibition is based on the 2022 exhibition at Wakefield’s West Yorkshire History Centre, but is expanded to feature even more items, including Anne’s first and last diary entries and never displayed before collections.

A behind the scenes discussion with Ruth Cummins and Shirley Jones from Calderdale Archives and Angela Clare from Calderdale Museums. They will discuss putting the ‘Anne Lister, In Her Words’ exhibition together and their work sharing Anne’s legacy through her home and archives.

Join Paul and Alison Bartram, owners of the Yorkshire Gallery and the Heart Gallery, for an insight into the process of applying to galleries, and what they are looking for in the artworks they select for display. This event will also see the awarding of the People’s Prize for the most popular work of art in the 2023-24 Calderdale Open Art Exhibition, as voted for by members of the public.

For Calderdale’s Year of Culture 2024, this exhibition will showcase some of the Museum Service’s collections of art across different media and ages. Featuring some of the best-known artists from the region and beyond, alongside hidden gems from within the museum collection.

A celebration of all things fun in this family friendly exhibition showcasing a wide range of Museum Collections including teddy bears, trains, boardgames and rocking horses. This exhibition will be filled with nostalgia and have something for all ages to enjoy.

The iconic ‘wet shirt’ worn by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen will be on display. The classic 1995 television scene saw Mr. Darcy dive into a lake and emerge with his shirt wet and clinging to him, only to be unexpectedly confronted by the presence of Miss Elizabeth Bennet; the lady who had rejected his marriage proposal.

Founded in 1994 and meeting monthly in Bankfield Museum, the Textile Art Group celebrates its 30th anniversary with the exhibition Colours of Calderdale. This links in with Calderdale’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, Culturedale, which celebrates the huge diversity of cultural attractions, diverse groups and many celebratory events being held throughout the Calder Valley during the year.

A celebration of Calderdale. The hills and architecture, and the people that shaped it, by local artist Kate Lycett.

The Two Lucys take you on a journey into historical motherhood, from maternity clothes to baby layettes. With one Lucy in the family way (only acting, don’t worry) the other Lucy plays Expert, giving sound advice from bygone times on what to wear with a bun in the oven and how to dress your little darlings.

Free Childrens Workshops every Tuesday at Bankfield Museum. There will be a mix of history, heritage and art with activities suitable for children to take part in. Sessions last about an hour starting at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 2.30pm.

A Regency Summer Ball at Bankfield Museum, 7pm - 11pm. No dancing experience required, all dances will be called.

Celebrate Heritage Weekend with us with free entry to Shibden Hall on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September 2024. Advance booking is required.

Bankfield Museum will be open especially for Heritage Open Days on Sunday 8th September 2024.

Can you find TEN spooky pumpkins hidden in the Hall? Explore the house to locate them all and read about what spooky story each one represents.

Can you find TEN missing potion ingredients for the witches’ Bankfield Brew recipe? Look out for the potion bottles containing the missing ingredients and write down the recipe as you find each one.  Don’t forget to claim your prize from the reception desk when you’ve found them all! Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 4pm.

Mary Edith Durham (1863-1944) was a British explorer and collector who extensively documented the Balkans from 1900 to 1921. Her journeys took her through present-day Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Macedonia, where she navigated challenging landscapes and harsh weather.

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

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

Come along to our Free Creepy Crafts session:  make your own peg monster, create Halloween decorations and have a go at wrapping a Mummy to get yourself in the spooky spirit! Our craft activities are suitable for ages 4 and upwards and children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Holocaust saw thousands of survivors seek refuge in England. Many of those found a home in Calderdale, where they were able to build new lives and contribute to the redevelopment of the region following the end of the Second World War.

Join us for packed children’s craft session with a Halloween twist! We’ll make fizzing potions and spooky slime for you to take home as well as painting and printing your own decorations just in time for Halloween night. Fancy dress is welcome but beware you might get a bit messy! Suitable for children from 4 to 12 years.

West Yorkshire has been the birthplace of some of the finest British poets of the last century and is home to a thriving poetic community. This event brings together over a dozen poets from across the region for readings of their works.

Shibden Hall’s Winter Craft Fair will be returning for 2024. Join traders from across the region for a weekend of shopping and festive fun.

Ted Hughes and the Poetry of Calderdale The rugged and beautiful landscape of Calderdale has inspired poets for generations, most famously, the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes (1930-1998). This new exhibition celebrates the poets and poetry of the region, including rare examples of Hughes’ work from the archives of the University of Huddersfield, and photographs from Fay Godwin (1931-2005), whose images accompanied Hughes’ words in Remains of Elmet.   The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of poetry workshops and live events by current Calder poets.

Can you find the naughty elves hiding on the ground floor at Bankfield? Some of Santa’s elves have been causing mischief in the museum. Find them all and collect your chocolate reward from the reception desk at the end.

An event celebrating the amazing makers who have contributed to our exhibition: INSPIRED The Art of Making Historical Fashion. Come and meet our makers; Clarissa Quartermaine, Serena Dyer, Jennifer Garside, James Graves and Rob Cooper.   

Bankfield Museum’s Christmas Craft Fair will be returning on Saturday 7th 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.

Join us for a festive children’s craft session at Bankfield Museum and enjoy an hour-long workshop creating your own Christmas decorations that will add a lovely, homemade feel to your tree! Suitable for children from 4 to 12 years. One ticket per child.

Marking the 40th anniversary of Ted Hughes becoming Poet Laureate, Dr David Rudrum, Senior Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield and Secretary of the Elmet Trust, and Ruth Crossley, Head of Geography at Stoneyhurst College, explore his Mytholmroyd roots and trace the origins of his poems within the Upper Calder Valley.  This talk accompanies the Wild Words exhibition, celebrating Ted Hughes and the poetry of Calderdale, on display in Bankfield Museum from 7th September 2024.

Take some time out to get creative with some festive spirit! Explore the tools and techniques of lino printing, get inspired, make marks and create your own hand-printed designs on greetings cards or papers, creating artworks to treasure and gift.  No experience necessary, just come along and have a go. Ages 16+.

A Celebration of the Borough, by Roger Davies This exhibition of new paintings is a celebration of locality, community and culture as seen through Roger’s idiosyncratic vision and informed by his love of life in Calderdale. As seen on the BBC One TV programme Home Is Where the Art Is, Roger Davies is a modern British painter from Brighouse, West Yorkshire. His unique paintings have delighted art lovers since his first sold-out exhibition at the Harrison Lord Gallery in 2018.  In his work, perspectives, colours, shapes, and situations are exaggerated, resulting in dynamic compositions populated by figures which animate the paintings. As he explains: “There should be something of visual interest in every part of the picture, from top to bottom, side to side and in all four corners. My job is to make your eyes dance!”   Roger will be carrying out a number of workshops to accompany the exhibition.

Graphic art from the illustrator of The Iron Man and War of the Worlds. Chris Mould is an award-winning illustrator from West Yorkshire who has worked on some of the best-known works in the English language.

Join us for a special concert with the Calderdale based songwriter and painter Roger Davies where he will be performing the best of his back catalogue, along with a selection of brand-new songs. The writer of Brighouse On Saturday Night, The Ghost Of Lily Fogg, Peter Brook’s Paintings, Into The Sun, Judy Woods and Time Goes By, Roger has been recording his music and performing live since 2004.

Bankfield Museum Fashion Gallery brings together a host of costumes from the world of TV and film costume drama. This is your chance to see iconic screen costumes from Pride and Prejudice (1995), Emma (2020), The King’s Speech (2010), Downton Abbey (Season 1, 2010), Gentleman Jack (2019-22) and many others.

Take the path less travelled with Story-telling photography from local creative Mirko Jovanovic and discover hidden landscapes, unknown history, and tales from the wood. Uncover pastoral views and stories forgotten.

A fantastic opportunity for keen artists of all levels. Come and join artist Roger Davies for a hands-on, creative workshop where you will learn all about the techniques he uses in his work and be guided step by step to create your own colourful creation that celebrates life in Calderdale As seen on the BBC One TV programme Home Is Where the Art Is, Roger Davies is a modern British painter from Brighouse.

Come and join The Iron Man illustrator, Chris Mould, in this sketch along session where you’ll be taken step by step through his drawing process. Learn to fill your empty blank pages with magic and adventure and take away all of his scribbling secrets and short cuts.

Discover the magic of felting in these family workshops and learn how to make your own handmade felt picture using an array of colourful sheep’s wool. These wet felting sessions will let you get wet and woolly to create a masterpiece to take home to dry.

Explore the exciting world of mask making in these creative half-term workshops.  Be inspired by examples from our fabulous collection of masks, then get creative with beads, feathers, sequins and bright colours! What sort of mask will you create? Suitable for children from 4 to 12 years.

The outstanding literature and tragically short lives of the Brontë sisters have made them an iconic part of the culture of West Yorkshire. To accompany Bankfield Museum’s Wild Words poetry exhibition, this event brings together some of the leading local poets for recitations of their works inspired by the sisters.

Discover your inner artist by joining our learning team for some creative family fun and produce your own masterpiece to take home each time. Our artists will be running creative making sessions on the first Saturday of the month, using a range of materials and techniques - every session will be different! Suitable for children from 5 to 12 years.

Come along and explore parts of historic Shibden Hall that so may visitors rarely get to see. This exclusive tour allows us to show you the ornate wall paintings hidden behind the wood panelling in the Dining Room, you can marvel at the craftsmanship of the Tower Library and enjoy a venture underground along the Gardener’s Tunnel.

Step back in time with Vintage Sewing Machines! Have you ever wanted to learn more about the charm of sewing in the 1900s? Now's your chance! Join us for a dedicated free session to showcase a range of vintage sewing machines and demonstrate how these wonderful machines can still stitch beautiful creations.

A nostalgic look at the Halifax shopping streets of yesteryear for the whole family to enjoy. Reminisce about some of your favourite shops and products, with a selection of photos and objects from the Museum collection and a pop-up mini market for children to enjoy.

After making your own way to Anne Lister’s former home of Shibden Hall, you will have private entry into the Hall with exclusive, rare access to go up to the Library Tower that Anne Lister had designed before she went on her ill-fated trip to Russia. A visit to the gardener’s tunnel outside in the Hall’s grounds will be included exclusively in the 2025 tour! This area is not normally accessible to the general public.

Join Bankfield Museum’s Curator and Collections & Exhibitions Manager for a talk about 1830s fashion and textiles. This will include a demonstration of how a lady got dressed in the 1830s and original garments from the Bankfield collection to view.

Once all the visitors have gone and as night begins to fall, we invite you to visit Shibden Hall after hours. See the costumes from Gentleman Jack on display, wander around the rooms that Anne Lister and Ann Walker once lived in and join us in the barn for food.

Can you find the missing chicks hiding on the ground floor at Bankfield? A flock of cheeky chicks have escaped around the museum, and we need your help to find them! Find them all and learn the meaning behind common Easter symbols as you go.

A fantastic opportunity for keen artists of all levels. Come and join artist Roger Davies for a hands-on, creative workshop where you will learn all about the techniques he uses in his work and be guided step by step to create your own colourful creation that celebrates life in Calderdale.

Hop into creativity this Easter with our craft workshops! Perfect for young artists, these hour-long session are filled with Easter-themed crafts. In each session, all materials are provided for you to make 3 different decorations to take home.

Have a go at making your own ‘rag rug’ badge! Rag rugging is an old British craft using recycled fabrics pushed in small pieces through hessian backing to create a shaggy or loop pile effect. Traditionally used to make rugs, it can be used to make wearable jewellery and art.

Join us for a special concert with the Calderdale based songwriter and painter Roger Davies where he will be performing the best of his back catalogue, along with a selection of brand-new songs. The writer of Brighouse On Saturday Night, The Ghost Of Lily Fogg, Peter Brook’s Paintings, Into The Sun, Judy Woods and Time Goes By, Roger has been recording his music and performing live since 2004.

Come along to our free Easter-themed colouring sessions and unleash your creativity, perfect for little artists to enjoy a moment of calm. Open to all ages, all resources provided! Please note, all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Explore the exciting world of puppets in these creative workshops and be inspired by examples from our fabulous collection of puppets from around the world. Design and create your own hand puppets using a variety of materials and your imagination to bring a character to life.

Get up close to fashions of the 1910s to 1920s from Bankfield Museum’s collection. This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Bankfield Museum.

Immerse yourself in colour and creativity at our acrylic painting workshop, inspired by the wonderful gardens around Shibden Hall. We’ll experiment with paint application, tone and colour, explore our beautiful, natural surroundings through sketch and use everything we’ve learned to create a painting inspired by the garden’s seasonal beauty.

Join us for a fun and hands-on book-making workshop, where your child can explore items from our shopping past and craft their very own catalogue book design to celebrate our new ‘Let’s Go Shopping!’ exhibition. We will use items from our handling collections to take a closer look at peoples’ favourite shops and products from the past, before creating your own backed catalogue book to take home.

Following the success of our Vintage Sewing Machine Demonstration in March, we are delighted to offer you this follow on event. Have you wondered what those interesting looking attachments that came with your vintage sewing machine can do?

In this full day workshop, you will learn the art of rag rugging, a traditional technique that turns rags into beautiful, textural homewares. With a rich history, rag rugging is a skill that allows you to upcycle scraps into tactile pieces of art.

Be inspired in our Kite Making Workshop! In this arty session, participants will create their own colourful kites with guidance from our workshop leaders to take home. Whether you’re an art lover or enjoy flying kites, this workshop offers the perfect opportunity to get creative.

Come and join award-winning children’s author and illustrator, Chris Mould, in this creative draw-along session. From playful pets to moody monsters, learn how to draw your own fantastic creature in this exciting workshop.

Come and enjoy an hour of printing fun! Children will try out a range of different printing techniques during the session to create wonderful unique prints. They will use stencils to create their own design onto a canvas pencil case to take home, and make their very own new print stamp that can be used again and again.

Join David Glover, President of the Halifax Antiquarian Society, on a journey exploring the gone but not forgotten shops of Halifax. Taking in the old outdoor markets through to famous names like Modelle and Fred Moore.

Discover a selection of hats, bonnets and fascinators from across the centuries. This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Bankfield Museum.

Join us for a fun and creative, wet felting workshop, where you’ll learn how to transform soft, natural wool fibres into a beautiful and functional 3D bowl! Using an array of colourful fibres, we’ll get hands-on (and a little soapy!) as we explore the magic of this traditional craft and how it can be adapted for modern home décor. Whether you’re a total beginner or have some felting experience, you’ll be guided in a friendly environment to create a unique, handmade piece to use, gift, or display with pride.

Marking the 75th Anniversary of the Korean War Dr Robert Barnes, Senior Lecturer in History at York St John University, explores Britain's role in the Korean War: a tragic conflict which has long been overshadowed by the Second World War but in which over 1000 British soldiers died.  As well as the wider conflict, he will examine the role played by the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment that played a memorable part in some of the most significant actions in the final year of fighting.

Join us for a talk with BAFTA and EMMY award-winning costume designer, Susannah Buxton. Hear about her extensive career, including being the costume designer for the first season of the TV series Downton Abbey.

On Saturday 5th July, our museum is celebrating the opening of its new exhibition on THE HERDS project with a range of free family fun activities, including: Help create a life size Pangolin puppet, which will be added to our exhibition Make your own flying butterfly to take home Make a moth to add our hanging display Make a wildflower seed bomb to take home Create your own nature mandalas Explore the crafty animal displays made by pupils from Lee Mount Primary Academy and St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary Academy. Learn all about the HERDS and their journey from the Congo to the Arctic Circle.

The Calderdale Open Art Exhibition returns, showcasing the best paintings, photos, textiles, digital art and drawings on the theme of nature, all submitted by artists from the region and beyond.

This exhibition showcases the animal puppets crafted by pupils from Lee Mount Academy and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Academy with Calderdale artist Sue Walpole. Created in response to The Herds, an international project of life-size animal puppets journeying across the world to highlight climate change and its effect on animal habitats.

Jewellery, hat pins, thimbles and buttons! Discover Bankfield Museum's collection of Charles Horner pieces This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Bankfield Museum. Please note this event will be held in our Education Room, which is located on the first floor of Bankfield Museum.

Have you wanted to create a nature journal but don’t know where to start or how to do it? Join artist Sue Cordingley for an introduction to nature journalling using pencil and watercolour paints.

Come along to our free hands-on history workshops throughout the summer holidays, led by the inspirational Lives of the Past. Book your place to secure a spot.

In this workshop, Chris will take you on a sketching journey that will help you to create imaginary worlds of your very own. If you want to tell stories and conjure up crazy adventures there is nothing more inspiring (or useful), than inventing a suitable home where your tales can live.

Get ready for the Bankfield Museum regency ball with a talk all about Regency fashions! Join Museums Manager, Richard MacFarlane and Curator, Gemma Esvelt for a talk about men’s and women’s fashions from the Regency period plus a chance to look at some original pieces from the collection.

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

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? Look no further! We have a range of activities during the summer holidays to get involved in.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? Look no further! We have a range of activities during the summer holidays to get involved in.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? Look no further! We have a range of activities during the summer holidays to get involved in.

Commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with this free 1940s-themed fun day for all the family. There will be military displays and re-enactors to enjoy, as well as live 1940s music, swing dance workshops, a fashion show, community stalls and food.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? Look no further! We have a range of activities during the summer holidays to get involved in.

Get an up close to a selection of shoes from across the centuries. This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Bankfield Museum.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? Look no further! We have a range of activities during the summer holidays to get involved in.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? Look no further! We have a range of activities during the summer holidays to get involved in.

Look closely at mourning clothes and jewellery plus a sneak peek at our new exhibition ‘In Loving Memory’. This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Bankfield Museum.

Death is something that affects us all, and the need to remember those we have lost is an important part of being human. Featuring displays of mourning wear, jewellery and imagery, this exhibition explores our changing attitudes towards death and the ways in which we cope with loss.

Examine the costumes from the hit TV series Gentleman Jack. This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Shibden Hall.

Discover a selection of Victorian corsets and 20th century undergarments. This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Bankfield Museum.

Discover part of the Edith Durham collection and learn about our ongoing auditing project. This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Bankfield Museum.

Book onto this extra special event to explore Shibden by candlelight, meet some of our resident friendly ghosts and hear their tales of Shibden in days gone by! Tours begin at the Lister Lion next to Shibden Hall and end at the barn. Suitable for children, those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

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

Get up close in this handling session to fashions from the 1830s to the 1860s. This session will allow you to get up close to view collections will include the opportunity to carefully handle objects with our curator at Bankfield Museum.

Join us to celebrate the spirit of Christmas at Shibden Hall. Explore the Hall by candlelight and enjoy storytelling and traditional festive decorations on the way.

For one very special weekend you can come and see the Hall decked out with traditional Christmas decorations and learn about how Christmas was celebrated in past times.

Join us on Jane Austen’s 250th birthday for a talk with Collections and Exhibitions Manager, Rachel Terry.