THE GREAT-great-grandson of the founder of the York Castle Museum has travelled from Australia to visit the attraction.

Jeremy Hands decided to visit England for a month to see family friends and research his family tree, and witness the legacy of Dr John Lamplugh Kirk.

John Kirk was born in Hull in 1869 and was educated in North Yorkshire before studying at Cambridge University.

After working in hospitals in London, including Great Ormond Street, he moved with his wife Norah and three children, John Cedric, Franklin and Joan to Pickering in 1898.

Dr Kirk was a collector, among other hobbies including fancy dress, travel, archaeology, photography and motoring.

It was Dr Kirk’s vast collection of bygones, including everything from prams to antique weapons and Victorian hypodermic needles, that became the York Castle Museum when it opened in 1938, and Kirkgate, the museum’s Victorian street was named after Dr Kirk.

Jeremy’s grandfather John, who was the son of Dr Kirk’s son Franklin, moved to Perth, Australia and most of Dr Kirk’s direct descendents now live abroad.

The museum curators said it was a rare chance to talk to a relative and help fill in some of the gaps in Dr Kirk’s family tree, providing Jeremy with information and photos of Dr Kirk.

Jeremy said: “From my point of view it is great that his museum is still as popular today to a new generation. It is great that people can come and see a way of life that has gone.

“It has been really interesting talking to people here as many people have their own tale from Dr Kirk’s life.

“It is great for me because when I put it all together I am able to create an image of what he was like and how he lived.”