Venue Description

Travel through 15,000 years of history at Castleford Museum! Learn about the Romans and discover what they left behind. Explore local industry. Discover Castleford’s sports stars and artists. Castleford Museum is free entry for all, all year round.

Accessibility

Castleford Museum is on the third floor of the Castleford Forum Library and Museum building. There is a level access entrance along the side of the building, next to the Aire Street car park. This entrance has an accessible entry door with a button at wheelchair height. This door opens outwards. Once inside the building, go through the door on your right to enter the Library. In the centre of the Library is a lift. Go to the top floor to enter the Museum. The lift opens directly into the Museum on the top floor. The Henry Moore space is on the second floor of the building. You can reach this with the same lift. If you need help finding the Museum, you can ask the Library staff on the ground floor. **Information for wheelchair users and mobility impaired visitors: There is one main open plan gallery space in Castleford Museum. It is level access and wheelchair accessible throughout. The floor is made of marmoleum (similar to lino). There are plastic chairs around the museum and at the activity tables at the back of the museum. There is also one wooden chair. You can move the chairs around the museum to wherever you need. ** Information for blind and partially sighted visitors: There is one main open plan gallery space in Castleford Museum. It is level access throughout. The floor is made of marmoleum (similar to lino). This is a matte and non-reflective surface. Most of our Visitor Experience Assistants have attended Visual Impairment Training and Sighted Guided Training. All of our staff will be happy to help you get the most from your visit. Some of our exhibition spaces have low light levels to protect the delicate objects on display. There are magnifying glasses available in our Pick and Mix station by the museum entrance. You can take objects from the Pick and Mix station with you around the galleries. There is a mirror next to the dressing up box in the Roman section and the Reight Neet Aht display. These are fixed to their corresponding walls. The central screen in the museum is currently playing videos about A Reight Neet Aht. There are no headphones attached to this screen and the audio plays openly when started. There are buttons to select which video you want to play. There is also a small AV screen in the Raising Champions display. This plays through headphones. **Hands-on elements There are lots of hands-on elements in Castleford Museum. By the mining display there is a box containing old-fashioned work boots and dressing-up pieces. By the Iron Age chariot there are two mini wooden toy chariots. By the Raising Champions display there is a trophy that you can pick up and thread ribbons around the handles. By the Reight Neet Aht display there are dressing-up outfits. We also have a traditional marbles board and marbles we can get out for you. **Lighting Some of our exhibition spaces have low light levels to protect the delicate objects on display. ** Information for d/Deaf and hard of hearing visitors: Audio elements and subtitling There are audio elements in parts of the exhibition spaces. The central screen in the museum is currently playing videos about A Reight Neet Aht. There are no headphones attached to this screen and the audio plays openly when started. There is also a small AV screen in the Raising Champions display. This plays through headphones. The fire alarms are tested on Saturdays or Mondays by the Castleford Library team. ** Information for neurodivergent visitors: Some of our exhibition spaces have low light levels to protect the delicate objects on display. There are lots of tactile tools and resources available to support your visit in the Pick and Mix station. This is just inside the entrance to the museum. ** Information for Learning Disabled visitors: There are Makaton signs next to some of our star objects. These can help you to communicate about what is on display. Most of our staff have had Makaton Awareness training. ** Quieter times to visit and relaxed openings Generally, the site is quieter during weekdays and school term time. It can be louder at weekends, the late afternoons and in the school holidays. We have weekly Relaxed Opening sessions every Friday morning, 9.30am to 12pm. We sometimes have school groups come to visit. They can be excitable and noisy. Every Tuesday morning, 10am to 11am, is our Toddler Tuesdays session. This can be noisy. The third Tuesday of every month, 1.30pm to 2.30pm, is our Castleford Crafts session. This can be noisier and busier than usual. You can contact us in advance to find out when might be the best time for you to visit. ** Maps: You can download floor plans, sensory maps and visual stories from our website: www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/access-at-castleford-museum/

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/access-at-castleford-museum

Access Statement

Access Statement Link: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums-and-castles/castleford-museum/access-at-castleford-museum

Awards List

Castleford Museum is a fully accredited museum service and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. We are proud to support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme. We are signed up to the Kids in Museums manifesto.

Toilets

There is an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities on the ground floor of the building. Please ask a member of the Library staff for the key. We do not have changing places facilities. The nearest changing places toilet is at Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village. Use WF10 4FR in your sat nav. It is 1.8 miles away. Castleford Museum is a breastfeeding-friendly location. You can breastfeed your baby here.

Staff

Our staff are happy to help you with anything you might need. Our staff wear a black uniform. There will always be a member of staff inside the museum when it is open. Most staff have attended Makaton Awareness training, Visual Impairment training, Sighted Guided training and Autism Awareness training.