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 - May 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 everybody who has taken part in our Heritage Network consultation over the past few months. It’s been inspiring to speak to so many fantastic groups, to hear everybody’s ideas on how we can work together to research, promote and celebrate heritage, and brilliant to see how much energy and enthusiasm there is for heritage across Wakefield District. A report is being prepared and will be presented at a public event later in the summer. More details to follow in the next e-news. In the meantime, we would still love to hear from anybody who would like to contribute to the Network. For more information, please get in touch with our Heritage Development Manager at heritage@wakefield.gov.uk
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Historic England launches new Local Heritage Hub
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Aerial photograph of Sandal Castle from the Historic England Local Heritage Hub
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Historic England has launched a new Local Heritage Hub with historic information about every district and major town in England.
From fascinating historic aerial photographs to information about listed buildings, videos, blogs, and podcasts, the Local Heritage Hub invites members of the public to discover their local area through a new lens.
Put Wakefield into the search bar for information about our district, including aerial photographs of Pontefract, Horbury and Overton, information about prehistoric settlements at South Kirby and Ferrybridge, and photographs of listed buildings from across the district.
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Registration has opened for this year’s Heritage Open Days. Heritage Open Days is England’s largest heritage festival. Heritage groups are invited to host free activities that take place during the festival, from 12-21 September and advertise them on the national website. From opening historic buildings to the public, hosting guided history walks, talks and exhibitions and more, our District always has a great showing for the festival, with over 2000 volunteers taking part last year. We would love this year’s festival to be even bigger and better! The theme for this year’s festival is architecture.Register your event and find out more about the festival on the Heritage Open Days website: www.heritageopendays.org.ukIf you would like some support with planning your event, or ideas about the sort of event you might host, please get in touch with our Heritage Development Manager at heritage@wakefield.gov.uk
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Integrating LGBTQ+ histories into heritage spaces – new toolkit
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June is Pride month, so it's timely that a new guide on how to introduce queer narratives to heritage sites has been launched by freelance researcher, writer and heritage professional Indigo Dunphy-Smith.
The 'How to: Queer Your Historic House' toolkit draws on the writer’s own experience at The Georgian House in Edinburgh, emphasising wider social context and direct (or indirect) relationships between queer individuals and specific cultural objects to tell a more complete story of a historic house.
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Author Indigo Dunphy-Smith with her new toolkit. Photo by Joe Setch. © A Queer Was Here blog.
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Jason and the Wakefield Adventure Exhibition Launched
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Still image from Planet Wakefield, a new animated film in Jason and the Wakefield Adventure exhibition
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Jason and the Wakefield Adventure exhibition has just launched at Wakefield Exchange (WX)! This is the first large-scale exhibition of work by artist Jason Wilsher-Mills in his hometown of Wakefield. Jason was born in Wakefield in 1969 and is very proud of where he comes from. When he was 11, he was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that meant he had to use a wheelchair. Through brightly coloured psychedelic inflatables sculptures and interactive digital projections, Jason’s artworks celebrate disability, northern working-class heritage, popular culture and social history.
Jason feels that Wakefield is still his home and shapes his whole creative practice. This exhibition shows both brand-new art and work, exploring his working-class upbringing and the wonderful memories he has of his childhood, in Ossett, Gawthorpe and Eastmoor.
Featuring in the exhibition is a new 20-metre inflatable sculpture, Jason’s largest and most ambitious artwork to date, created especially for Wakefield and inspired by a character from Wakefield’s past called The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield. The exhibition also features a new animated film called ‘Planet Wakefield’. In the film you can spot Vikings, Coal Miners, Rugby League players from Wakefield Trinity, iconic Wakefield district heroes like Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Jane McDonald and Bill Nelson. Many of the diverse characters from Jason’s memories also feature, from The Parrot Lady to Cowboy Dave and Radio Man. All these characters make up Wakefield’s rich history and here they live in the same timeline.
The exhibition is FREE to enter, with a wider programme of activities at WX and around the district. The exhibition runs until Sunday 7 September. For more information, visit the WX website: Jason and the Wakefield Adventure
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Festival of Archaeology 2025 banner
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Registration is open for this year’s Festival of Archaeology.The Festival of Archaeology is a national annual event run by the Council for British Archaeology. This year’s festival runs from 19 July to 3 August and is themed around archaeology and wellbeing. In a similar way to Heritage Open Days, the Festival of Archaeology invites community groups to host free archaeology events in their local areas (or online) and to advertise them on the national website. Registration for this year’s festival is now open. The festival of archaeology also features the ‘day in archaeology’ where archaeologists across the country submit blogs about their day so people can find out more about the wide range of things that archaeologists and heritage professionals do day-to-day. Last year, our Heritage Development Manager wrote a blog, which you can read here: Castles to Coalmining: Wakefield Heritage Development Manager Council for British Archaeology
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Heritage Toolbox Programme |
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Heritage Network UK event
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Heritage Network is the UK's umbrella organisation for community-led and grassroots heritage groups, and we run a range of programmes and activities to support heritage right across the UK.
They are currently running a special series of events for groups in Wakefield, as part of Heritage Toolbox - a programme of free online workshops and access to 1:1 bid-writing and fundraising support, designed to support groups operating from heritage buildings and spaces in Wakefield, Calderdale, Kirklees, Bradford and Leeds. The programme has been commissioned by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority as part of the You Can Make It Here programme, and delivered by the Heritage Network and Locality.
Participants who come along to one of the fundraising workshops are also able to access specialist 1:1 bid writing and fundraising coaching from Heritage Network partners Locality. This could be aimed at helping them to develop or refine a fundraising strategy, put in a bid to a particular funder, or explore options for funding a project or programme of works.
Find out more about upcoming Heritage Toolbox talks and events and book a free place here: Heritage Toolbox by Heritage Network | Eventbrite
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Heritage Project Spotlight |
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Fryston Memories - All Our Stories logo
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This lovely local history website, Fryston Memories, has been shared with us recently. It’s a great resource for anybody interested in the people and stories of Fryston near Castleford.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2014, the website Includes the history of Fryston Hall and the Fryston Estate, and stories of some of the people and places connected to the area’s important mining heritage.
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Normanton Junction Mural Film |
A new short film explores the Normanton Junction mural at Normanton Market, created by artist Harriet Colours as part of the Our Year - Wakefield District 2024 Crossings and Gateways Programme.
Throughout September 2024, Harriet worked extensively with the local community to engage people in her design process. The final design reflects on Normanton’s proud railway heritage and highlights the vital role of the local colliery. Also referenced is Normanton’s importance as home to the North’s first postal office, made possible by the station’s critical link between Scotland and London. 
Find out more about the inspirations for this amazing mural in the new film: |
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Horbury People's Museum 'Educating Horbury' display
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The Horbury People's Museum, found in Horbury Library, features historic items loaned by members of the public. It is a community display curated by a local volunteer. Last month, the museum celebrated its first anniversary.
A new exhibition has just launched - 'Educating Horbury'. This takes a peek at the surprising number of different schools which have existed in this small town. The exhibition will run until the New Year.
For more information on visiting Horbury Library, go to: Horbury Library - Wakefield Council
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Humanising Mental Health Events - Tuesday 8 July
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Humanising Mental Health Festival Afternoon - Tuesday 8 July, 2-4pm
Come and explore the creative work of the Humanising Mental Health project participants. This interactive afternoon event includes a showcase of participant-created materials and some live performances/readings along with a hands-on experience with the Mental Health Museum, including insights into the history of the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
Please note this work contains themes of mental health and does feature some strong language.
All in Your Head Performance - Tuesday 8 July, 6-7pmJoin Empath Theatre CIC for All In Your Head, a powerful new stage production that explores the evolution of mental health treatment through the eyes of those who’ve lived it. Written and created by participants of the Humanising Mental Health project, this performance contrasts historical and modern-day experiences in a moving and thought-provoking way.
This project is funded by Wakefield Council Culture Grants and Live Well Wakefield's Small Grants, and centres on improving wellbeing and cultural engagement among young adults.
Both events held at Mechanics' Theatre for Performing Arts, Wood Street, Wakefield, WF1 2EW. Free - to book visit: Empath Theatre Events | Eventbrite
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Have a Dabble Masterclass: Wonderful Woad (18+)Pontefract Castle Visitor Centre - Saturday 5th July, 10am-3pmEver wondered how to make and colour your own custom fabrics with natural techniques? Join the team at Pontefract Castle to take inspiration from the magical Medieval Herb Garden and discover the wonders of woad!Have a go at dyeing different fabrics with woad and seeing what colours develop. Explore how to create tie-dye patterns in a Shibori style. Use all your new skills to design and dye your own unique cotton scarf.Tickets cost £60 including all materials, expert instruction and light refreshments.
Book online at: Have a Dabble Masterclass: Wonderful Woad (18+)
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The Snailman of Pontefract
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Free Talk: The Snailman of Pontefract, and other recent discoveriesPontefract Castle Visitor Centre - Wednesday 16th July, 2-3pmFrom the surreal ‘Snailman of Pontefract’ to Bronze Age axes and fake coins made by the Romans, find out about recent discoveries handed in to the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme.
The British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) has recorded over 1.4 million archaeological finds since it began – each one a unique discovery made by a member of the public.
This talk is part of the Festival of Archaeology. The talk is for adults aged 16+
Free - Book online at Talk: The Snailman of Pontefract, and other recent discoveries
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Pontefract Liquorice Festival - 13 July 2025
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Wilkinson's Pontefract Cakes liquorice tins at Pontefract Museum
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Pontefract Liquorice Festival is back - a confectionary-themed bonanza celebrating Pontefract’s historic link with liquorice. The festival has something for everyone including a speciality food and drink market, street entertainment, live music, heritage talks and much more!
Heritage Talks - Discover the fascinating history of Pontefract’s liquorice heritage in Colin White’s FREE talks at Pontefract Library - 11:30am and 2pm.
Liquorice at the Museum - Pop into Pontefract Museum to discover more about the town’s liquorice heritage! Follow a liquorice trail and get stuck in with sweet crafts - 10:30am-3pm.
Find out more about what's on at the Pontefract Liquorice Festival here: Pontefract Liquorice Festival | Experience Wakefield |
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Wakefield Heritage Capital Grants Support Scheme
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Funded by UK Government logo
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Wakefield Council has launched a new small grants scheme for community groups and VCSE organisations who are restoring historic buildings within Wakefield district.
The grants are specifically for small-scale heritage capital projects of between £5,000 and £15,000. The deadline for applications is 5pm, Monday 14 July.
For more information and to apply, visit: UKSPF Wakefield Heritage Capital Support Scheme - Wakefield Council
This scheme is funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
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Heritage Open Days micro grants for new event hosts
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Heritage Open Days projects hexagon
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Heritage Open Days have opened a second round of micro-grants to support new organisers planning events that celebrate communities that are currently underrepresented in the festival, including people from a global majority background. Grants are available up to £350. The deadline for applications is Monday 30 June. For more information, including how to apply, please visit the Heritage Open Days website: Micro-grants for new organisers
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Heritage Revival Fund for historic buildings in England
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Architectural Heritage Fund illustrated logo
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The Architectural Heritage Fund have launched their new Heritage Revival Fund for projects that will help to rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings including theatres, department stores and former banks. It will do this by supporting community organisations, charities and social enterprises to take ownership of these sites, transforming them into vibrant spaces that meet local needs. Parish & Town Councils are eligible to apply. The programme is offering project viability grants of up to £15,000 to support early-stage work, project development grants of up to £100,000 and capital grants of up to £350,000. More information, including details of how to apply can be found on the Architectural Heritage Fund’s website: England | The Architectural Heritage Fund
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Wakefield Council Culture Grants
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Stanley Residents Group, Stanley Heritage Trail map. Photo by David Lindsay
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Wakefield Council Culture Grants Small provide support of up to £2,000 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 – Monday 14 July 2025
- Round 4 – Monday 15 September 2025
- Round 5 – Monday 17 November 2025
For more information on how to apply, and to find helpful guidance, visit: www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureGrants. 
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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 21 July 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 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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