Our newest exhibition at Cliffe Castle has just opened to visitors. In this blog Lowri, our Collections curator gives us an insight into the exhibition.
One of our wonderful volunteers, Ian, has been busy reading and transcribing elements of the Butterfield archive – most recently he’s been piecing together some of the stories that the receipts and other documents can tell us. Here’s a timely one for the festive period…
I must apologise to our visitors at Cliffe Castle for the hammering and banging of late but rest assured, it isn’t anything paranormal and just me using a nail gun for the first time!
Since the late-19th century, several Bradford Council museum and art gallery sites have been established around the Bradford District. Assistant Curator of Collections Dr Lauren Padgett has researched Bradford District Museums and Galleries’ history for a new display at Bradford Industrial Museum and tells us more about it here.
If you’ve visited Cliffe Castle in the last 4-5 years, you will probably have noticed the rather lovely painting in the Bracewell Smith Hall, of a lady in a pink dress, sat by the side of a stream. It’s one of my favourite pieces in the collections of Bradford Museums and Galleries, and I’ve been meaning to write up the story behind it for some time.
You may not immediately spot the newest addition to Cliffe Castle’s rich and fascinating collections, but it’s taken two craftspeople many hours to create. Strange as it might sound, however, they would be very pleased to know their work is so easily overlooked.
You may remember last year, when we were pleased to announce the return of the portrait of Queen Victoria by Lowes Cato Dickinson to Cliffe Castle after it left us over half a century ago.
In 1884 Cliffe Castle’s owner Henry Isaac Butterfield held a grand ball at his home. The event was described in several newspapers at the time. Guests were expected to wear white at the event. It was described in the French style as a Bal Blanc.
Learning & Outreach Team
learning@bradford.gov.uk
Museums & Galleries Manager
James.Steward@bradford.gov.uk
Volunteering
07976 747341
bmgvolunteers@bradford.gov.uk
Events
01274 436027
events@bradford.gov.uk
Collections
collections@bradford.gov.uk
registry@bradford.gov.uk
Community Engagement & Programming
programming@bradford.gov.uk
Copyright © 2024 Bradford District Museums & Galleries
Website Design and Build by Out of Place Studio Ltd
