The Bagshaw Museum has a little bit of everything! There are two galleries on the history of the Batley area, including a look at some of the famous industry names that grew up around Batley. Lear about Fox's Biscuits, and trace the history of the Batley Variety Club.
Permanent exhibits include a South Asia gallery, an Egyptology display that recreates the interior of an historic tomb, and a gallery displaying decorative arts from the Orient. Look for a display on the life of local scientist Joseph Priestly, known for his role in identifying oxygen.
The museum is set in a Victorian Gothic house built for mill owner George Sheard in 1875. The house cost £25,000 to complete; a staggering figure for the time. In 1909 the Batley Corporation purchased the house at auction for a token £5.
Local businessman Walter Bagshaw created a one-room museum inside the decaying mansion, then in 1911 it opened to the public as the Wilton Park Museum, with 3 rooms of exhibits. The museum was renamed in Bagshaw's honour after his death in 1927.
The mansion interiors are as much an attraction here as the actual museum displays; polished wood panelling covers the walls, the original painted shutters cover the Drawing Room windows, while a gilded ceiling looks down from above.
The exhibition cases have been made to reflect the Victorian Gothic decor, and Bagshaw family portraits hang upon the walls. There is a picture gallery housed in the former billiard room, decorated with a painted frieze and still featuring a pair of ornate, original fireplaces.
Surrounding the museum are 36 acres of park and ancient woodland, with attractive walking trails to enjoy.
