Kirkleatham Museum & Grounds

14/10/2026

🍂 Wondering what's on at Kirkleatham Museum this autumn?

We've got lots happening over the coming weeks, with spooky half-term fun, family activities and plenty of opportunities to explore the museum!

Take a look at our autumn calendar to see what's coming up and plan your next visit. From Halloween crafts to special activities, there's something to look forward to!

We look forward to welcoming you to Kirkleatham Museum this autumn.

Bookable activities/events can be booked via this link https://www.ticketsource.com/whats-on?q=kirkleatham+museum

12/10/2026

🔎 Have you discovered an archaeological object? 🏺

Found something interesting while out exploring? Bring your archaeological finds along to Kirkleatham Museum and have them identified and recorded by experts from the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to find out more about your discovery and help add to the story of our local history and heritage.

📅 Saturday 17 October
⏰ 10am–2pm
📍 Kirkleatham Museum

This is the last Portable Antiquities Scheme session of the year, so don’t miss your chance to bring along your finds!

Who knows what stories your discovery might tell?

10/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day at Kirkleatham Museum 💚

Today is a reminder to take a little time for yourself. Sometimes, it’s the simple things that can make a difference.

🌿 Take a gentle stroll around our beautiful grounds and enjoy some fresh air.
🖼️ Wander through the galleries at your own pace and take a moment to discover something new.
📚 Pick up a book from our telephone box library and find a quiet spot to read.
☕ Or simply sit down, enjoy a cuppa and give yourself permission to slow down.

There’s no right or wrong way to take some time for yourself. Whether you have five minutes or a whole afternoon, make a little space for you today.

We’ve been lucky enough to receive a small selection of children’s books from the National Literacy Trust, focusing on feelings and emotions. You’ll find them in our Telephone Box Library, ready to be enjoyed and shared.

08/10/2026

There’s just one week to go until our Home Education: Steel Stories Workshop at Kirkleatham Museum!

Join us for a hands-on session exploring the properties and history of steel-making through creativity, problem-solving and plenty of fun!

🎨 Create steel-inspired artwork
📝 Design your own quiz
🌉 Take on our Bridge Building Challenge – can you build a bridge that works?

👧🧒 Suitable for children aged 8–14 years

🎟️ Booking is essential and your ticket includes museum admission for the whole day, so you can make a full day of your visit! There’s just one week to go until our Home Education: Steel Stories Workshop at Kirkleatham Museum! 🏭✨

Join us for a hands-on session exploring the properties and history of steel-making through creativity, problem-solving and plenty of fun!

🎨 Create steel-inspired artwork
📝 Design your own quiz
🌉 Take on our Bridge Building Challenge – can you build a bridge that works?

👧🧒 Suitable for children aged 8–14 years

🎟️ Booking is essential and your ticket includes museum admission for the whole day, so you can make a full day of your visit! https://www.ticketsource.com/whats-on?q=kirkleatham+museum

📅 Just one week to go – book your space now! Don't miss out

📅 Just one week to go – book your space now! Don't miss out

07/10/2026

Our historic Sir James Knott lifeboat will be open for viewing tomorrow from 10.30am–3.30pm here at Kirkleatham Museum.

Take a closer look at this fascinating piece of local maritime history and discover more about the lifeboat and the brave crews who served aboard her.

06/10/2026

Are you a childminder or nursery looking for somewhere to visit?

Why not bring your little ones along to Kirkleatham Museum and grounds for a fun, affordable day out! 🏛️🌳

There’s lots for children to see and do, both inside the museum and outside in our grounds – perfect for exploring, playing and learning together.

🧩 Interactive areas to explore and discover
📚 Reading Den – a cosy space to enjoy a story
🚀 Imagination Playground – a fun space for creative play
🔎 Fascinating museum objects and displays to spark questions and conversations
🌳 Plus, our museum grounds are perfect for a little fresh air and exploring!

🎟️ Admission prices:
👩 Adult – £3
🧒 Child (4–16 years) – £2.50
👶 Under 4s – FREE
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family (2 adults + 2 children OR 1 adult + 3 children) – £6

Tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, so you can return and discover something new each time!

05/10/2026

Today we’re celebrating the incredible teachers who inspire, encourage and support children and young people every single day.

At Kirkleatham Museum, we’re proud to work alongside teachers and schools, helping bring learning to life through our collections, exhibitions, workshops and hands-on activities.

Museums provide a wonderful opportunity for children to explore, question, discover and learn beyond the classroom – and none of this would be possible without the enthusiasm and dedication of the teachers who bring their pupils through our doors. 🏛

So, to all the teachers, teaching assistants and education staff we have the pleasure of working with – thank you for everything you do! 👏

We look forward to welcoming many more schools to Kirkleatham and continuing to support teachers in creating memorable learning experiences for their pupils.

Happy World Teachers’ Day!

If you're a teacher and interested in the workshops we offer, please take a look here:

Tees Valley Museums schools workshops cover a huge range of topics and are designed to meet the needs of teachers and children.

03/10/2026

📖 Happy National Poetry Day! 📖

Today we’re celebrating National Poetry Day – and what better place to find inspiration than Kirkleatham Museum?

From the stories of the people who lived and worked in our local area, to the objects, artworks and historic buildings around us, there are stories everywhere you look.

🍂 Take a wander through our grounds and let the changing season inspire you.
🏛️ Explore our galleries and collections.
✍️ Choose an object that catches your eye and imagine the story it could tell.

Your challenge: Pick your favourite object in the museum and write a short poem about it! It could be funny, mysterious, historical or completely imaginative.

Who knows… perhaps we have some future poets visiting us today!

02/10/2026

📚 FREE Teaching Resources: Black and Asian Soldiers in World War I and II

With October marking Black History Month, we are pleased to highlight this comprehensive collection of films and teaching resources exploring critical issues around colonialism and racism, through a sensitive and age-appropriate focus on the contribution of Black and Asian soldiers during the First and Second World Wars.

Developed for Key Stage 2 pupils by local anti-racism educator Marsha Garratt, these resources provide teachers with valuable material for exploring the often-overlooked stories and experiences of Black and Asian servicemen and women.

The resources will be particularly useful for Year 5 and Year 6, although teachers working with lower Key Stage 2 or Key Stage 1 may also find the content valuable for their own knowledge and may be able to adapt elements for use within their teaching.

✅ All of the resources are completely FREE for teachers.

As we approach Black History Month, this is an opportunity to introduce pupils to important stories that can broaden their understanding of the World Wars and the diverse communities who contributed to them.

For further information and to access the resources, please visit:

🔗 Black and Asian Soldiers – Tees Valley Museums
https://teesvalleymuseums.org/arts-award-new-black-and-asian-soldiers/

For further enquiries, please email Liz Vine on [email protected]

This hugely comprehensive set of films and teaching resources tackle critical issues around colonialism and racism through a sensitive and age-appropriate focus on the contribution of Black and Asian Soldiers in World War I and II.

01/10/2026

This Month’s Object is the Death Mask of Oliver Cromwell. These masks were a popular custom as it was the only way to preserve the accurate likeness of an important figure, Such as Cromwell.

Oliver Cromwell was an important political figure, playing a key role in the civil war and the removal of Charles I as king. After which, he ruled as Lord Protector from December 1653 to September 1658 when he died.

Upon death a wax mould was taken of Cromwell’s face, after which various replicas were made. These replicas were then used for painters and sculptors for reference as was the custom for these masks. In the 1800s death masks were valued for their scientific purposes, such forensics, nowadays they are seen as an important object in their own right.

Ours is a replica made from plaster that was made from the original mould in the 1990s, and many other museums across the country also have their own versions. Our mask can be viewed in the case located in the Kirkleatham Story exhibition.