Bagshaw Museum
Museum | Batley | England | United Kingdom
Bagshaw Museum historical collections
The Bagshaw Museum in Batley, West Yorkshire, is a historic building in the Victorian neo-Gothic style, which today houses a diverse museum. It was founded in 1911 by Walter Bagshaw and renamed in his honor after his death in 1927.
Egyptian artifacts at Bagshaw Museum
The museum's collections are wide-ranging and include:
Asian textiles Batley Museum
Egyptian artifacts: A remarkable collection, including a life-size replica of a mummy reconstructed in 1969 by curator John Lidster using an authentic Egyptian death mask.
Natural history exhibitions Bagshaw Museum
Asian textiles: An extensive collection of Japanese and Chinese textiles reflecting Batley's historical connections to the textile industry and significant South Asian community.
Local history discover Batley
Natural history: Exhibits showcasing local flora and fauna, as well as geological finds.
Local history: Collections documenting the history of Batley and its surroundings.
A standout piece in the collection is Francis Bacon's painting "Figure Study II," gifted to the museum in the 1950s by the Contemporary Art Society. Today, this work is estimated to be worth between £19.5 and £60 million. After the transfer of ownership to Kirklees Council in 1974, the painting was moved to Huddersfield Art Gallery, where it is permanently displayed unless on loan to other institutions.
The museum is located in Wilton Park, an award-winning park with woodland and lake walks, a children's playground, and a café. Admission is free.
