Welcome to the Wakefield District Heritage Network newsletter. This is a regular update on heritage news and events taking place across 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.ukIf you missed the previous newsletter, you can catch up on all the news here: Wakefield District Heritage Network - April Update
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Heritage Network consultations update
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Illustration for Wakefield District Heritage Network, by Abigail Baldwin, Buttercrumble
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Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Heritage Network consultation so far. We have held events in Pontefract, Castleford, Wakefield and online with lots of positive discussion and suggestions from local heritage groups and societies. The consultation will finish in a few weeks, but thereâs still chance to have your say if you havenât already. There is an online survey running for the next few weeks, hosted by Buttercrumble who have been leading the consultation process. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our Heritage Development Manager, Tegwen, at heritage@wakefield.gov.uk |
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National report calls for ancient trees to be given same protection as historic buildings
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A veteran tree in South Hiendley, Wakefield district
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The Tree Council has published a report in partnership with Forest Research calling for ancient trees to receive similar protection to historic buildings.
The report highlights that trees of high social, cultural and environmental value currently receive only âincidental, rather than intentionalâ protection in England, unlike buildings of historical importance. It also reveals a comparative lack of protection for trees of cultural significance in comparison to other countries.
The Defra-funded report makes a series of recommendations, following a review of existing legislation, and consultation with experts from nearly 50 different organisations.
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Government recognises importance of UK living heritage traditions
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World Coal Carrying Championships, Gawthorpe 1970s. From Twixt Aire & Calder online archive. © Wakefield Libraries and Information Services
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After a public consultation, the Government have set out new steps to create a new inventory of living heritage traditions and practices across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This follows the UK ratifying the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage last year.
Living heritage can include (but is not limited to) poetry and storytelling, performing arts, festivals, crafts, sports and games and cooking traditions. In Wakefield District we have a wealth of living traditions, including the Gawthorpe Coal Carrying Races. A call for submissions will be opened later this year.
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Mental Health Museum at Fieldhead Hospital, Wakefield
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Earlier this month it was Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May) The Mental Health Foundation's theme for this year was 'community'. The week was an opportunity to celebrate the power and importance of community and to shine a light on the importance of everyoneâs mental health.Did you know that Wakefield is home to the Mental Health Museum, based at Fieldhead Hospital? Wakefield district has a long history of mental health care and provision. The Museum, which started out at Stanley Royd Hospital in the 1970s, is home to an extraordinary collection of objects relating to mental health care over the past 200 years. It is also a space for broader debates around mental health care history, to promote wellbeing, combat mental health stigma, and be active in social justice.
The museum is free and open Tuesday â Thursday to groups 10amâ12 noon and general visitors 1-4pm. Please contact the museum to arrange your visit, museum@swyt.nhs.uk or phone 01924 316360.
The Mental Health Museum are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Discover more in the Our Stories Wakefield District Heritage Anniversaries film.
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Teaching the Voices of the Victorian Poor
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The Distress in Sheffield: Relief Committee at the Institute, Sheffield Illustration. From the Illustrated London News, 1879. © The National Archives. Catalogue ref: ZPER 34/74 p109.
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A new project by The National Archives and Nottingham Trent University has digitised over 3500 Victorian letters and manuscripts to create a major new online archive and teaching resource.
The archive gives a unique insight into the lived experiences of poor people in England during the nineteenth century, through thousands of letters written to the Poor Law Boards, Poor Law Commission and, later, the Government by paupers, poor people and their advocates.
This is a unique insight into poverty in the Victorian period from first-hand accounts. The archive of letters can be searched by name or by area. One example from the Wakefield District is from John Banks, a school master in Felkirk on an annual wage of ÂŁ17 per year who wrote regarding a settlement from the Manchester Poor Law Union in 1845.
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Heritage Project Spotlight |
Rare Wakefield Circus posters scanned by the British Library |
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John Cryer Circus Poster Collection
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A series of rare historic circus posters from the Wakefield Libraries local studies collection have been showcased online alongside treasures from the British Library and other local authorities, as part of nationally important collection.
The posters are part of the Cryer Collection, scrap books and ephemera collected by John Cryer and other local historians in Wakefield in the early 19th century. John Cryer was a bookseller and stationer on Bread Row. The British Library interest follows a review of the collection funded by an Unlocking Collections grant from Arts Council England.
The posters include adverts for Pablo Fanque - a 19th century black circus performer from West Yorkshire - and a poster for the benefit of Mr Kite, immortalised by the Beatles on their Sergeant Pepper album.
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Historic Felkirk - new film and website launched |
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Felkirk St Peter's Church, South Hiendley
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Nestled in the parish of South Hiendley near Hemsworth, Felkirk is a village rich in history and heritage, dating back to the 1100s. Though small, it has a remarkable number of historical landmarks, including four listed buildings, two Scheduled Ancient Monuments, and ten listed monuments, such as tomb chests, gravestones, and a striking cross shaft.
Through the support of a Wakefield Council Culture Grant as part of Our Year â Wakefield District 2024, South Hiendley Parish Council partnered with Felkirk History Group and worked with filmmaker Nick Singleton to create a beautiful new film exploring the heritage and hidden stories of the village, through the voices of its local residents.
The film features on a new website where you can also read engaging blog articles, find out about local heritage walking routes, and explore an online image archive of the astonishing heritage sites in the village.
Felkirk Heritage Group have big ambitions for their village and are working with Wakefield Council to try and create a new Conservation Area for Felkirk.
Visit www.felkirk.co.uk to find out more about this historic area and watch the brilliant new film.
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Castleford Roman Festival - Saturday 31 May, 10am-2:30pm
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Uncovering Roman Castleford AR Roman Soldier
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During the Castleford Roman Festival, on Saturday 31 May visit Queenâs Mill to get a preview of âUncovering Roman Castlefordâ an exciting new digital platform that will tell the story of the Roman town. Have a go with Augmented Reality and meet a digital Roman soldier, or take a selfie in a digital Roman helmet. Help play-test a new interactive experience and uncover Roman treasure, or see where the Roman settlements were from aerial footage of the town.
There will also be a geophysics survey happening on the site of the Roman Bathhouse (on the corner of Saville Road and Church Street) with Leeds University. Come and see whatâs happening and chat to volunteers on site about the Roman archaeology of the site, and how we can use digital technology to see what is buried below our feet. |
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HER Legacy Exhibition - 28 May - 14 June
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HER Legacy is an exciting new project by artists Emma Hardaker and Emily Ryalls that uncovers the powerful stories of overlooked women of Wakefield. Commissioned by Historic England as part of History in the Making, the project weaves together feminist research and creative exploration, inviting audiences to walk in the footsteps of local women who shaped the cityâs past.
The artists worked with five young local women, coming together to delve into untold histories and create a captivating sculpture trail, including a hanging mobile inspired by Ann Hurst, a radical Yorkshire woman who ran a printing and publishing company, and an installation of life-size Suffrajitsu poses to celebrate the Great Pilgrimage of 1913 â a nationwide non-violent march in aid of women achieving the right to vote, with Florence Beaumont leading the Wakefield chapter.
Pick up a map from The Art House from 28 May - 14 June to explore the stories and tributes to the strength, creativity, and legacy of these Wakefield women. |
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Stanley Community Hall Display - Saturday 14 June, 10am-1pm
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Tom Puddings at Stanley Ferry
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For nearly 150 years, the Aire and Calder Navigation, built by local engineer William Bartholemew, took coal from collieries in South and West Yorkshire to Goole for export. The coal was transported in compartment boats known locally as âTom Puddingsâ.
To commemorate this unique part of Wakefieldâs history, members of the Wakefield Railway Modellers Society are creating a model of Newland Basin at Stanley Ferry. Here the Tom Puddings were hauled out of the Navigation. They then travelled over a mile by railway to St Johnâs Colliery in Normanton to be filled, before returning to the water and starting their journey to the UKâs most inland port.
Come along to Stanley Library Community Hall and see how they are getting on. The group would also love to hear any information, memories, or stories you may have about the Navigation, boats, railways, and collieries that were part of this now vanished piece of local heritage and history. |
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Grants for creative heritage projects in Wakefield communities
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Castleford Industrial Heritage Tapestry - Friends of Castleford Library. Photo by Nick Singleton
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Wakefield Council Culture Grants Small provide support of up to ÂŁ2,000 to constituted community groups, charities, CICs and other VCSEs based in Wakefield district.
The grants support groups to co-produce creative and heritage projects by Wakefield communities. Whether you want to create a new film inspired by local heritage, or improve health and wellbeing through creative writing or performance. Wakefield needs your ideas and passion to help make a lasting impact and inspire your community.
Application deadlines for Culture Grants Small are:
- Round 3 â Monday 14 July 2025
- Round 4 â Monday 15 September 2025
- Round 5 â Monday 17 November 2025
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We want to hear your heritage news!
Have you got some exciting heritage news you would like to share? If you have an article you would like us to consider for the next heritage e-news please send a short description (2 paragraphs maximum) and an image by Monday 16 June to heritage@wakefield.gov.uk |
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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 UKâs heritage. The Wakefield District Heritage Network is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players.
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