Welcome to the 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.ukIf you missed the first newsletter in November, you can catch up on all the news here: Wakefield District Heritage Network - November Update
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Is it Panto Time? Oh Yes it is!
At this time of the year, theatres across the UK stage their annual pantomimes. This unique theatrical artform is a British institution, and there is a long heritage of it within Wakefield district. One of the local groups who have been performing Pantomimes in the district for many years is the Saint Giles with Saint Mary’s Pantomime Society in Pontefract.
To celebrate the society’s 75th anniversary, Wakefield Museums & Castles have curated a new joint exhibition with them about the history of Pantomime in Pontefract. The exhibition opened on the 18 November at Pontefract Museum and will be open for visitors to explore throughout 2025. The exhibition is part of the final theme of Our Year 2024 - performance - and features posters and programmes from past pantomimes alongside colourful props and costumes from the society’s archive.
Jo Sykes from the Pantomime Society has also written a blog to accompany the exhibition, about her early experiences of pantomime in Pontefract, and what the society – and pantomime as an artform - means to her. |
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Visitors at Oh Yes It Is! Exhibition at Pontefract Museum.
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New plaque for heritage groups' shared anniversary
A new heritage plaque has been unveiled to commemorate the joint 100th and 60th anniversaries of the Wakefield Historical society and the Wakefield Civic Society. Both societies were founded in Wakefield Town Hall, almost exactly 40 years apart, and both continue to play an active and important role in the city. This includes supporting each other and the Council on heritage projects including the recent Westgate High Street Heritage Action Zone. The plaque was unveiled by the Mayor, Cllr Darren Byford, at a special centenary celebration event on the 14 December arranged by the Historical Society.
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Wakefield Historical Society and Wakefield Civic Society new blue plaque with representatives and the Mayor of Wakefield
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Wakefield Historical Society 100th anniversary celebration at Wakefield Town Hall
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Celebrity baker Karen Wright with her cake made to celebrate Wakefield Historical Society's 100 years
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To accompany the plaque, the Our Stories project has produced a short film about the two societies with current members, looking at their history and their ongoing work in Wakefield.
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Queen's Mill roof repairs underwayScaffolding has gone up at Queen’s Mill in Castleford this month, to allow essential roof and gutter repairs to be carried out. The work, which will be completed over the next few months, will help to safeguard this important historic and community building for the future. Roof slates will be re-fixed and the gutters, which are currently blocked and full of vegetation, will be replaced. The work is being funded by a grant from Wakefield Council as part of the Government’s Towns Fund. Queen’s Mill is one of the last monuments to over a century of corn milling in Castleford. The current building was established in the 1740s, with significant rebuilding during the 19th and 20th centuries. The mill was bought by Allinson’s in the 1920s, who were famous for their stone ground flour ‘with nowt taken out’. By the 1970s Queen’s Mill was the largest stone-grinding mill in the World, with 20 pairs of grinding stones. Commercial production ceased in 2010.The mill is now owned and managed by the Castleford Heritage Trust, who still mill flour on the site. Find out more about the trust and their work: Queen's Mill - Historic Venue & Community Hub in Castleford.November and December is a perfect time to carry out maintenance checks to historic sites and buildings, as promoted by the Society of Ancient Building (SPAB)’s annual maintenance week. Read more on the SPAB website: SPAB: National Maintenance Week
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Staff carrying out roof survey at Queen's Mill
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Launch of Foundling Hospital Archive
Children’s charity Coram have launched a new digital Foundling Hospital Archive, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This new archive shines a light on the previously untold stories of thousands of children who were part of the Foundling care system in the 18th century, including children who were housed at Ackworth Hospital and apprenticed to employers in Wakefield district. The Foundling Hospital was England's first home for babies whose parents were unable to care for them. It was founded in London in 1739 by Thomas Coram, a sea captain and philanthropist. Every child admitted to the Foundling Hospital was baptised, given a new name, and an identifying number. The Hospital then arranged for nurses across the country to care for the children until the age of 4-5 (an early form of foster care). They then returned to the Hospital to live and be educated until the age of 15, when they were apprenticed to local employers. Due to the large number of children being admitted into care six residential branches were opened across the country. One of these branches was in Ackworth, near Pontefract. It ran from 1757 to 1773. The hospital building is now Ackworth School. The records from Ackworth are included in the new online archive. There are tours of Ackworth School as part of Heritage Open Days every September. For more information about Heritage Open Days visit the national festival website.
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Page from General Register of Children: Ackworth, 19 August 1757-3 March 1773. © Coram Archives Foundling Hospital
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UK Disability History Month |
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Disability Livelihood and Employment
14th November to 20th December 2024 was UK Disability History Month (UKDHM). This is an annual event which began in 2010, creating a platform to focus on the history of disabled people’s struggle for equality and human rights. UKDHM is a chance to look, learn and to ask questions about the past – questions that might help everyone have a better and more inclusive future. This year’s UKDHM theme is Disability Livelihood and Employment. Visit the UK Disability History Month website to find out more: www.ukdhm.org |
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Hidden Histories of Disabled Mill Workers
Earlier this year, researcher and writer Gill Crawshaw delivered a talk in Horbury Library on her research into disabled mill workers. Gill has been researching the hidden histories of disabled people who worked in textile mills in the Yorkshire region, to challenge persistent and harmful stereotypes of disabled people, and to acknowledge the contributions that disabled people have made, and continue to make, to our history and culture. One of those hidden stories is of James Scott, a 19th century mill worker who lived and worked in Horbury. Gill has made James the subject of her informative zine, A Handsome Testimonial. To find out more about Gill’s research into James, read her Hidden Histories of Disabled Mill Workers blog: Hidden Histories Blog Post | Experience Wakefield. |
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Gill Crawshaw talk at Horbury Library in June 2024
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A History of Disability: from 1050 to the Present Day
If you would like to find more resources on disability social history, Historic England have a fantastic online resource focusing on the stories of disabled people, hidden and well-known, revealed through the built environment. All the content has been translated into British Sign Language. |
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New Friends of Kirkgate Station
We are excited to hear that Wakefield charity LonGBoaT have formally adopted Kirkgate Station in Wakefield city centre. The group are working closely with Northern, Grand Central, Transpennine Express and other stakeholders to help improve the station, with plans for new garden space and public art. They are also keen to celebrate the important heritage of the station and its historic buildings, where they are based.
LonGBoaT Wakefield CIO is a Wakefield charity dedicated to providing a platform for LGBT+ individuals and allies to come together and create an inclusive environment as well as delivering events, activities and services. It was established in 2018 as a community group and became a Charity Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in April 2024. For more information, visit: Kirkgate Station Adoption | Longboat Wakefield |
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Friends of Wakefield Kirkgate LonGBoaT Wakefield logo
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Friends of Waterton’s Wall – Lime Mortar Learnings
Over Heritage Open Days in September, the Friends of Waterton’s Wall held a creative heritage lime mortar workshop with support of a Culture Grant from Wakefield Council, as part of Our Year – Wakefield District 2024. The workshop was open to new volunteers to gain skills in working with lime mortar, a dying craft. The group were able to work with a stonework craftsman who shared his knowledge and experience of working with the complexities of lime mortar, upskilling the participants to mix and use the mortar to repair sections of Waterton’s Wall.
The historic 3 mile-long, 9ft high wall enclosed the world’s first nature reserve, built in the 19th century by naturalist Charles Waterton of Walton Hall, Wakefield. This project is an early milestone in the group’s aim to preserve a section of the wall for the long-term benefit of the people of Walton, Wakefield and the nation. Any work moving forward on preserving the wall will need to use the lime mortar process to maintain the integrity of the wall and its historic value. The group will be sharing their learnings and skills on to new volunteers to help contribute to further preservation work.
Watch this wonderful short film which documents the lime mortar workshop. Hear from the volunteers on their experience, and find out more about the Friends’ ambitions for the wall leading into their bicentenary celebrations planned for 2026: |
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Humanising Mental Health - Showcase Events January 2025
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Young people's responses to patient images from Stanley Royd Hospital
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Join the Humanising Mental Health project to explore the history of Stanley Royd Hospital and the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum. See brand new interpretive performances, artworks, and multi-sensory responses, all based on the research conducted by young artists and performers. When and Where:
- Wednesday 22nd January, 6pm at the Mental Health Museum, WF1 3SP
- Wednesday 29th January - 5:30pm and 7:30pm, at Westgate Studios - Studio A4, WF1 1BW
- Friday 31st of January - Stanley Royd – 6pm, at 95 Parklands Manor (formerly Stanley Royd Hospital) WF1 4DF
For more details and to book a space at one of the events, contact: sarah@yew-tree.com The project, co-facilitated by Yew Tree Arts, Yew Tree Youth Theatre and Empath Theatre, together with Spark Youth Arts Ambassadors and in partnership with the Mental Health Museum, is an ongoing 12-month project aimed at helping young adults delve into the history of patient experience and mental health treatment at Stanley Royd Hospital, culminating in developing new artistic works and theatre. This project is funded by a Culture Grant from Wakefield Council as part of Our Year – Wakefield District 2024, and Live Well Wakefield’s Small Grants. |
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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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