Stewart Museum
Museum in Burnby Hall Gardens showing the world-travel collection of Major Percy Stewart and his wife Katharine, with cultural objects from every continent.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Percy and Katharine Stewart bought the house that became Burnby Hall in 1901 and turned it into an Edwardian residence with lakes and gardens. Between 1906 and 1926 they made eight world tours that took them to every continent. On these journeys they collected curiosities, statues and tribal objects, which now form the Stewart Museum Collection.
Percy Stewart died in 1962. The Stewarts had no children and had decided to leave their estate in trust for the people of Pocklington, and the Stewarts Trust was set up in 1964 to look after the gardens and the collection. The museum was updated in 2007 with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and is an Arts Council accredited museum.
The collection is shown in modern display cases with interactive stations. It includes a Maori cloak made of kiwi feathers, a diary kept by Percy's brother Herbert while he taught the Tsar's nephews in Russia, a ceremonial mask from Papua New Guinea, a Chinese snuff bottle painted on the inside and a carved figure from the Solomon Islands. Five of these objects were chosen for the Yorkshire Museums project "Precious Cargo" in 2012.
Highlights
- Maori feather cloak made of kiwi feathers
- Diary of Herbert Stewart, tutor to the Tsar's nephews
- Ceremonial mask from Papua New Guinea
- Chinese snuff bottle painted on the inside
- Interactive stations in modern display cases
Permanent exhibition
- The Stewart Collection – Objects collected by Major Percy Stewart on eight world tours between 1906 and 1926, shown in modern cases with interactive stations.
- Founded
- 1968
- Operated by
- Stewarts Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £9.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £7Main season price. |
| Groups (20+ people) | £9 per personPer person for groups of 20 or more, booked in advance and paid with one payment. |
| Families | £30Main season price for 2 adults and 2 children. |
| Winter season, adult | £4.50Winter prices published for 3 November 2025 to 15 March 2026. |
| Winter season, child | £3.50Winter prices published for 3 November 2025 to 15 March 2026. |
| Annual membership, adult | £50 |
| Annual membership, child (5 to 15) | £20 |
| Annual membership, family (2 adults, 2 children) | £120 |
The ticket is for the gardens, which include the museum; no separate museum ticket is listed. Prices shown are for the main season. Schools in the YO42 area enter free, and other schools pay £3 per child, with teachers and helpers free. Under-5s are free for annual memberships.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The gardens have accessible pathways and most areas are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are disabled parking spaces next to the Visitor Centre and accessible toilets in the on-site learning zone. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £30 · Main season price for 2 adults and 2 children. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
The museum has interactive stations, and the gardens offer a Hazel the Hedgehog trail for young children and summer children's event days. Schools can use a handling collection of original and replica objects.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Pocklington Bus Station
Several East Riding of Yorkshire bus routes stop at Pocklington Bus Station, near the gardens.
By car
Parking available
Visitor car park for up to 90 vehicles, with disabled spaces next to the Visitor Centre. Supermarket car parks nearby enforce a two-hour limit; a free public car park on Robertson Close, behind the old railway station, is across the road.
- Accessible parking
Satnav postcode YO42 2QF. On busy event days, visitors are asked to arrive early because of high traffic.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Lilypad Café serves light meals, cakes and hot and cold drinks, with vegan and gluten-free options. The gift shop is called Burnby Cards and Gifts.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Schools can use a self-led handling collection for Key Stages 1 and 2 based on objects from the museum, a teacher information pack and an on-site learning zone. Dogs are not allowed in the gardens, except registered assistance dogs. |
