Earlier this year, Ancient Egypt rose again, this time in the heart of East Yorkshire. As the newly renovated Champney Treasure House in Beverley opened its doors to visitors, it unveiled its inaugural exhibition — “Resurrecting Ancient Egypt: A Monumental Yorkshire Journey”. It presented a captivating blend of archaeology, architecture, and local history curated by renowned Egyptologist Professor Joann Fletcher.
Originally developed by Barnsley Museums and making its way across the region, the exhibition offered a fresh and surprising perspective on Yorkshire’s long-standing fascination with Egypt. At its heart was a striking collection of black and white photographs by Huddersfield-based Kyte Photography, capturing the unexpected echoes of Ancient Egypt hidden across Yorkshire’s landscape.
From the dramatic columns of Temple Mill in Leeds to the exotic follies of Castle Howard, the exhibition took visitors on a visual journey through Yorkshire’s surprising Egyptian-inspired architecture, including a reservoir valve house above Hebden Bridge styled as a mausoleum. Complementing the striking photographs were Egyptian-themed everyday items on loan from the Egyptomania Museum, such as Georgian ceramics, Art Deco jewellery, and vintage advertisements promoting everything from whisky to motorbikes.
The exhibition arrived following a £3.3 million refurbishment of Beverley’s cultural hub, which has been renamed in honour of early 20th-century benefactor John Edward Champney. The revamped building now includes a museum, art gallery, archives, register office, customer service point and tourism centre. By bringing essential services and heritage together under one roof, the space has been designed for learning, celebration and community connection.
From Pharaohs to Pop Culture: How Egypt Still Captivates Today
The exhibition highlighted how Ancient Egypt’s enduring mystique continues to captivate modern culture. From blockbuster films to documentaries like the 2025 Apple TV series Bradley Walsh: Egypt’s Cosmic Code, in which the small-screen entertainer attempts to answer questions like why were these gargantuan structures built in the first place. A former Rolls-Royce engineer before beginning a TV career, Walsh has long held a fascination with ancient buildings and construction. His easy charm and genuine interest made the three-art series both interesting and entertaining.
There are also influences in fashion too, with designers drawing on Egyptian motifs such as draped linens, layered jewellery, and bold kohl eyeliner, while Rebecca Stark’s book – Ancient Egypt Bingo – cleverly used the numbers game to illuminate players on the period’s history and mythology. Additionally, the digital world embraces Egypt’s allure. For example, Buzz bingo casino games like Links of Ra bring to life pyramids, bejewelled idols, and sun-covered deserts on the spinning reels of popular slots. Similar iGaming favourites like Queen of the Pyramids have also caught the attention of casino gamers.
An Ancient Legacy Reimagined in Yorkshire
Professor Joann Fletcher expressed pride in having Resurrecting Ancient Egypt launch the newly refurbished Champney Treasure House, highlighting the rewarding collaboration with local museum staff and the opportunity to uncover Yorkshire’s surprising ties to Ancient Egypt, including connections to Beverley dating back nearly two millennia.
The exhibition captured Britain’s long-standing fascination with the period, blending evocative photography with decorative arts and everyday objects that revealed how Egyptian imagery once permeated everything from industry to advertising. It was a vivid reminder that Egyptomania shaped not only national culture but also left a lasting legacy on Yorkshire’s own architectural and historical landscape.
