Welcome to the new Wakefield District Heritage Network newsletter. This is a regular update on heritage news and events taking place across the Wakefield District, including the Our Heritage Our Stories project. If you have news or events that you would like us to share in future newsletters please let us know at: heritage@wakefield.gov.uk
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A Heritage Framework for Wakefield District |
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Cllr Natalie Walton, Deputy Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, with Richard Butterfield, Partnerships Team Leader, Historic England - at the launch of the Heritage Framework
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Our Heritage, Our Stories - A Heritage Framework for Wakefield District
As you may know, Wakefield Council recently launched a new heritage framework for Wakefield district as part of Our Year - Wakefield District 2024.
The framework was developed through discussions with a wide range of local partners including heritage and community groups, local councillors, funders and people who manage heritage sites across Wakefield district.
It sets out our shared principles, themes and objectives for heritage across the district and marks the start of an exciting, shared journey.
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Watch the film of the Heritage Framework launch event earlier this year:
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Our Heritage, Our Stories - National Lottery Heritage Fund |
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Over the next two years, supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we will be delivering a range of exciting activities to help support the heritage sector across Wakefield District through the Our Heritage Our Stories project.
Make sure you’re subscribed to this newsletter for regular updates!
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Wakefield District Heritage Network |
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A new Heritage Network
As part of Our Heritage Our Stories, we are supporting a new heritage network for groups and organisations who are involved with heritage – in all its forms – across Wakefield district.
From collecting local stories and hosting events, to researching and looking after local historical sites, we would love you to tell us more about what you do, and how the new network could support you. We are planning some in-person events later this year.
More news on this soon!
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Share your stories!
As part of the Heritage Network we want to make sure that everybody has a chance to tell their stories, and that we are able to celebrate all aspects of Wakefield district's diverse heritage.
If you have a story that you think needs to be told, or you know of a local group who are working to share stories that may have been overlooked in the past, please let us know. We would love to hear more about it, and hopefully help to highlight that work in a future newsletter.
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Heritage Open Days is the biggest annual heritage festival in England. It has been running for over 25 years and takes place over two weeks in September. All events are free, and most are run by local groups and societies. Wakefield District had a great Heritage Open Days programme in 2024.
We've spoken to lots of community groups and venues across the district who hosted events as part of Heritage Open Days. The number of events and people that engaged with heritage was just phenomenal!
Over in Pontefract, Pontefract Civic Society have taken the lead on coordinating a full programme of events for Pontefract and surrounding areas for a number of years. Of the 63 in person and online Heritage Open Days events around Pontefract, Paul Cartwright (Chair, Pontefract Civic Society), said that "26 events and activities were brand new, and we actually engaged with many partner organisations and places which were new to the festival," showing the strong interest that is growing in the events year on year.
Other groups like Wakefield Civic Society, also found that they had increased their membership as a direct result of the Heritage Open Days events they held in Wakefield.
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We would love more people to get involved with Heritage Open Days next year. If you would like our help in doing that or would just like to talk to us about your plans or your thoughts on the festival this year, please get in touch at heritage@wakefield.gov.uk |
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Are you interested in historic buildings in your local area?
We're encouraging local groups to get involved in the Historic England Missing Pieces project (previously enhancing the list) by uploading their stories and photographs of protected historic sites and buildings to the national database. Read our new blog article to find out more! |
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Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People's new Heritage Display
Originally starting in 1901 and one of the oldest charities in Wakefield, the Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People were keen to share and celebrate their history and make it more accessible to both their members and visitors.
The charity were supported with a Culture Grant by Wakefield Council as part of Our Year - Wakefield District 2024, to engage their members and all who have been involved with the organisation, and collected stories, archives and objects to form a permanent display of their long history.
Their mini museum showcases significant past members, links with sports such as the British Deaf Cricket Team, and indoor games leagues held by the Yorkshire and Humberside Deaf Sports Council, along with items connected to their history with the church when the society was led by missionaries.
Members of the public are very welcome to visit and see the display Monday to Wednesday, between 9am and 12 noon.
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Funding for creative heritage projectsIf you're a constituted community group or VCSE organisation based in Wakefield district and have an idea for a creative heritage project with your local community, you may be interested in Wakefield Council's Culture Everywhere grants which offer support of up to £1,500. Remaining deadlines for the grants are at 5pm on the following dates:
- 21 October 2024
- 18 November 2024
- 16 December 2024
For more information and to apply, visit the Culture Everywhere webpage:
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Wakefield Historical Society Talks
Joseph Aspdin’s patent for Portland Cement
Wakefield Historical Society are hosting a special talk by Professor Ian Richardson, celebrating the 200-year anniversary of Joseph Aspdin’s patent for Portland Cement. His invention changed the World, but its early history in Wakefield has been shrouded in mystery, until now. Come along to find out more. The talk is at 7pm on Wednesday 23 October in the Kingswood Suite at Wakefield Town Hall. FREE entry. Please contact the Wakefield Historical Society at: info@wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk to book a ticket.
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Sausages, Smoked Ham and Streaky Bacon Spelled Success for 19th century immigrants to WakefieldThis talk will look particularly at the German butcher immigrants who settled in Wakefield and the surrounding area, researched for many years by Dr Wüstner. Everyone is welcome. There is no need to book, but it would be helpful for numbers if you could email info@wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk to let them know you're going. There will be an entry fee of £3 payable on the door to help cover costs.
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If you have any special heritage events or opportunities that you would like other groups to be aware of, please let us know!
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Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. The Wakefield District Heritage Network is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players.
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