Category: Projects and research

When you stand in Nidd Gorge, imagine being in the midst of an equatorial forest or on the edge of a vast sea. This project looks at how the gorge was formed and what prehistoric artefacts tell us about the animals, plants and early humans that were here in Knaresborough thousands of years ago.  Our…

Knaresborough has had more than its fair share of festivals over the years and by exploring newspapers, archives, and conducting local interviews, we plan to showcase 150 years of fun, games and frolics in the town.

Chronicler Matthew Paris considered Saint Robert the third most important saint in Europe in the 13th century. We explore why a Trinitarian Priory was built in his name, and the museum will bring to life how the Trinitarians lived, the work they did, the buildings they inhabited.  Archival research, results of our geophysical survey, and analysis…

Church and pilgrimage dominated medieval life in Knaresborough. Knaresborough was also a busy market town and royal residence. We are exploring life in medieval Knaresborough and looking at the history of Knaresborough’s many medieval and Tudor buildings.   Saint Robert’s Cave, Knaresborough Priory and the Chapel of the Lady of the Crag were nationally important…

The Second World War had a huge impact on Knaresborough’s residents. There was a large influx of people into the town, including child evacuees, city office workers, military personnel and POWs.  Our WW2 displays are a tale of two halves: life at home as Knaresborough’s population doubled, and local girl Winifred Jacob Smith managed the…

The clacking of looms used to be heard all over Knaresborough. What was life like for the handloom weavers compared to that of the mill owners and manufacturers? Why did Queen Victoria play an important part in Knaresborough’s story of the linen industry? How was linen produced? What caused the rise and fall of the…

Over the past 3 years, we have been interviewing local residents about life in Knaresborough during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. From overcrowded gas lit housing to acts of incredible heroism during WW2, the project aims to record these powerful stories before they are lost forever. The Memories Project covers childhood, living conditions, school days…

Leprosy . . . Plague . . . Cholera; pandemics from bygone ages that wreaked havoc on unprotected populations. By delving into archives, studying artefacts, interviewing hospital staff and patients, and undertaking archaeological research, we have been building up a picture of historical diseases and health provision from medieval times to the mid 20th century.  Our…

In 2023 a grant from the Lottery Heritage Fund enabled KMA to undertake a geophysical survey of two fields on Abbey Road that had been part of the priory precinct. The results showed a huge amount of archaeology, including a probable dovecote and other medieval buildings, as well as a possible prehistoric round house.  Only…

KMA joined forces with two local archaeology groups to excavate a tunnel in Spitalcroft. We discovered a 1.2m circular basin which academic experts believe was used for bathing lepers in medieval times.