Wakefield Historical Society welcomes all those with an interest in history both on a local level and more widely. We aim to promote knowledge of the area's past and raise awareness of local heritage.
We offer a programme of winter lectures and summer excursions, provide talks and organise conferences. Members receive a monthly e-newsletter, a quarterly newsletter and a Society Journal containing original research. Activities for members include participating in themed projects and historical research.
The next lecture will be on Thursday 9 May: Women of Westminster - the legacy of Yorkshire's first woman MP, Alice Bacon by Rachel Reeves. Town Hall, Wakefield, 7.30pm.
Alice Bacon was one of the twentieth-century's most remarkable female politicians. Born and raised in the Yorkshire town of Normanton, she defied the odds to be elected Labour MP for Leeds North East in the 1945 General Election. Famed in her home town for her unlikely love of sports cars, she was a much-respected, no-nonsense, hard-working representative for her beloved Yorkshire home in Westminster. Her political career spanned some of the most momentous decades in Britain's postwar history and she played an integral part in some of the most significant social, educational and political changes which the country has ever witnessed.
New:
Details of the Summer Excursions organised in conjunction with Wakefield Civic Society are now available, with a downloadable booking form. Please note excursions are only available for members of either Society and their guests.
A summary of the talks and film following the Society's AGM has been added to Lecture Notes.
Information about the new exhibition at the Gissing Centre, and opening times has been added.
A brief account of Peter Thornborrow's talk to the Society on 10th April "Wakefield's Historic Development and Special Architecture" has now been added to: Recent Events
Notes have been added about the talk on 13 February 2019: Potwallopers: the story of Britain's first secret ballot, Pontefract 1872. Lecture Notes
Information recently added to the News page:
Defending coalfields and communities (1984-93) 27 April Wakefield Labour Club (The Red Shed)
Play: Difficult Women 28 & 29 June, Mechanics' Theatre, Wood Street, Wakefield
Musical Event: A Day in the Life, 3rd, 5th, 11th and 25th May
Talk at South Leeds Archaeology about excavation at Kirkstall Abbey guest house, 24 April
'Wrenthorpe in the News' new blog with transcribed newspaper articles about Wrenthorpe
WarGen oral history project
Events at Chantry Chapel: talk about the Beaufort Family, and performance by Leeds Waits.
Events at West Yorkshire History centre in April
Festival of Archaeology 13 - 28 July 2019, website open for registration and information about events
Details of the Local and Family History Network meetings in 2019
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