About
The Friends of Waterton’s Wall invite you to visit Wakefield’s Mental Health Museum as part of WallFest!
Charles Waterton promoted the idea that being outside is good for you. He himself invited the patients of Stanley Royd to visit and enjoy his grounds in Walton. Therefore, as part of Wallfest, the Mental Health Museum Wakefield is opening its doors for us to discover and explore the history of mental health care from the early 19th Century to the present day. A guided tour will be provided so you can explore their remarkable collection of objects, hear the stories and challenge beliefs and perspectives regarding mental health.
Charles Waterton transformed his ancestral estate, Walton Hall, into the world’s first nature reserve. Motivated by the “merciless slaughter” of wildlife by gamekeepers and poachers, he constructed a three-mile boundary wall to exclude hunters and foxes. The wall was built in three stages and completed in 1826. In May 2026 it celebrates its 200th birthday: WallFest 26. WallFest 26 is a celebration of the completion of the wall and its heritage.
This sanctuary allowed birds to “perform their daily functions without fear and trembling”.
Waterton recorded 123 bird species at the hall, including substantial populations of wild ducks and herons. He was a pioneer in habitat creation, building nesting towers for starlings, hollowed sycamore sites for owls, and “bird hides” where people could observe wildlife undisturbed. He was particularly protective of the barn owl, despite local prejudices, providing it with a safe haven in his “ivy tower”.
His letters reveal a man deeply attuned to his “living Fauna,” noting the arrival of sand martins or the return of the green woodpecker to the Grotto. Conversely, he lamented the “pestiferous” industrial smoke from nearby factories that drove species like rooks away. Ultimately, Waterton believed a connection to nature was essential for human well-being, financing his conservation efforts through personal austerity and the “wine I do not drink”.
Venue opening hours
Monday : Closed
Tuesday : 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Wednesday : 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thursday : 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Friday : Closed
Saturday : Closed
Sunday : Closed
Access facilities
- Accessible Toilet
- Assistance Dogs Welcome
- Baby Changing Facilities
- Changing Places Facility
- Step Free Access
- Wheelchair Accessible
Book your tickets
Mental Health Museum
Venue Details
Find us at
Fieldhead Hospital, Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield, WF1 3SP
Phone
01924316360
museum@swyt.nhs.uk