In the Fashion Gallery at York Castle Museum, our new section York Makers celebrates some of the York-based creators represented in the museum’s collections. The museum has a wonderful selection of outfits by York-based entrepreneur and fashion designer Vivien Smith, two of which are now on display.   Vivien was born in Colchester in 1947 and …

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Imagine you went shopping in Georgian York – over 200 years ago. What could you buy?  If you went to Minster Yard, you could visit the shop of Mr Joseph Doughty. In 1790, he took out an advertisement in local newspaper the York Herald, promoting a wide range of novelties. He sold:  ‘angling equipment… ink stands, canes, whips, …

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When I retired and was looking at ways to keep busy I became a volunteer for York Castle Museum. At school history had never engaged me but I had an interest in the history of York, and had been researching my family history for some time. Initially I chose public facing roles but was interested …

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Today, we would like to introduce you to a hidden gem from York Castle Museum’s collections: a sewing sampler made by a little girl in York 130 years ago. In February 2025, it went on display for the first time, as part of the York Makers section of the redisplayed Fashion Gallery.   Sewing a sampler was …

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Francesca Infantino volunteered on the York Makers project, helping gather information about dress and textile collections objects which came from York. Here, Francesca tells us how she discovered the story behind a very special object.     Over the summer months, I spent my spare time amongst archives, digging around in libraries and ceaselessly searching online in …

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Buckle, Anglo-Scandinavian, 866-1066 CE, bone. Have you ever wondered how people in the past prepared for their day? Did they use buckles to fasten their clothing and bags or paring knives to slice fruit for breakfast? And in the evenings, how did they spend their free time? Did they enjoy games and activities with family …

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Humans have a long-held fascination with butterflies. Their story is one that we can connect with, a story of rebirth, hope, and natural beauty. Our connection exists throughout time and in many different cultures.  Lepidoptera, the order of insects that includes butterflies and moths, first appeared in the fossil record in the late Triassic period, …

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This blog post was written and researched by Kate Whiteway, a Science Communication (Msc) student from the University of Sheffield who is currently undertaking a placement with us here at the Yorkshire Museum.  Two Great Auks sit in the archives here at The Yorkshire Museum. These specimens and those like them are the only remaining …

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This blog post was written and researched by Kate Whiteway, a Science Communication (Msc) student from the University of Sheffield who is currently undertaking a placement with us here at the Yorkshire Museum. When the first plesiosaur was found, what did people think it was? At this Year’s Yorkshire Fossil Festival, our team from …

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17 June 2024 York Museum Garden Team has created a new wildflower meadow behind York Art Gallery, which is now in full flower and perfect for a summer visit. Steve Williams, Garden Manager, provides an insight into how and why the meadow was created.    We have been delivering projects to support wildlife for some time, including a …

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